Bottomline: Hobby Lobby vs. Women

The Notorious Den.Tis.Try

It’s been a whole long year since news broke about Tulsa’s most notorious dentist, Scott Harrington, whose unsanitary practices (possibly) exposed upward of 5,000 patients to HIV, hepatitis B and C.

After genetic testing last September, Harrington’s unsafe practices led to the first documented report of patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C in a dental setting in the United States. But he still hasn’t answered to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.

To refresh your memory (and your horror), a year ago this week, state and local health department officials said they found the following in Harrington’s office: rusted instruments; improper sterilization; a messy medicine cabinet; expired medications; and his dental assistants performing IV sedation without training.

Harrington voluntarily gave up on practicing because, come on. But he’d eventually have to give up his license anyway because, obviously. The dentist’s hearing with the dentistry board has been postponed several times and is now scheduled for June.

Bottomline: It’s also been about a year since Harrington ran off to an undisclosed location in Arizona, where he’s been avoiding angry, traumatized (and possibly infected) former patients. He hasn’t shown his face in this town since. Though he’s avoided a hearing so far, there are currently about a baker’s dozen of lawsuits filed against Harrington by his former patients. Eventually, he will have to face what he’s avoided for the past year: the sick, scared, not-bright-smiling faces of his former patients.

Phelps dead, buy champagne!

Those infamous Westboro Baptist Church picketers are packing up and heading to Moore to protest a hometown liquor store. This time, church members are defending their former pastor, Fred Phelps, who died March 19.

Moore Liquor has built a reputation – and Twitter and Facebook accounts – on the funny, irreverent signs owner Bryan Kerr writes on the shop’s marquee. Kerr’s latest quote went viral with an unusual celebratory sale: “Fred Phelps 1929-2014. Champagne 10% off! Not a coincidence.”

Not one to turn down a publicity stunt, Westboro posted on Twitter – and notified every media outlet it could find, as per usual – that its members would picket the liquor store on April 5, probably between 10-11 a.m. Kerr told media outlets he’s brainstorming ideas for a new sign to greet the picketers.

Bottomline: Fun fact about the infamous bigot and Westboro pastor Fred Phelps: he was a civil rights warrior in his early days. Who knows where he went wrong? Unfortunately for us, Phelps left behind his like-minded clan to carry on his hateful, intolerant legacy.

Hobby Lobby vs. Women

Hobby Lobby, the Oklahoma City-based purveyor of grosgrain ribbon, scented pine cones and household knickknacks, took its birth control case to the U.S. Supreme Court late last month. The case – combined with a similar suit by a Mennonite-owned business – argues certain birth control drugs cause abortions. And Hobby Lobby is not so
cool with that.

The Affordable Care Act requires companies to provide employees with all FDA-approved birth-control medications, including the IUD and the much-villainized “morning-after pill.” The Supreme Court’s decision in this suit will have national implications as similar cases grind their way through the judicial system.

From its hardcore Christian perspective, Hobby Lobby owners believe a free-floating fertilized egg is a human life. It’s like they’re saying IUDs kill babies, and fighting for the right – no, the freedom! – no, the liberty! – to impose this belief upon the women who sell their Mason jars and scrapbooking supplies. Because that’s what religious freedom means, right?

Hobby Lobby CEO and founder David Green wrote in an open letter: “The government is forcing us to choose between following our faith and following the law. I say that’s a choice no American and no American business should have to make.”

The Supreme Court will decide whether legal protections should extend to corporations; the feds will have to prove they have a “compelling interest” in forcing Hobby Lobby to play by the rules.

Bottomline: Those like Green believe their business is more deserving of freedom than the living, breathing humans who work for them. How does one confer liberty upon a corporation? Religious freedom is a deeply personal, entirely human right, non-transferrable to a for-profit business – at least, not yet, it’s not. If Hobby Lobby loses this battle, it could face a fine of $1.3 million per day.