A 14-year-old transgender girl and her family are accusing Emmaus Health Partners, a Catholic medical clinic in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of denying her mental health care due to her gender identity. Tiffinny Moutardier and her mother, Jean Oorbeck, claim that a physician at Emmaus Health Partners refused to treat Tiffinny for suspected ADHD, citing the clinic’s “religious affiliation” as the reason they could not provide care for transgender patients.
Emmaus Health Partners has vehemently denied these allegations, stating in an email from its executive director that they “do not discriminate against patients based on gender identity nor do we refuse to provide care.” Despite the clinic’s denial, the family has filed a formal complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, escalating the controversy surrounding Emmaus Health Partners and raising critical questions about religious exemptions and healthcare access for transgender individuals in Michigan.
This incident at Emmaus Health Partners comes in the wake of Michigan’s expanded Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which now includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. The central question emerging from this case and others like it is whether religiously affiliated medical providers will be granted exemptions from this law, potentially allowing them to refuse care to transgender patients based on religious grounds.
“We Don’t See Transgendered Patients in This Clinic”: A Family’s Account
Tiffinny Moutardier, a bright and articulate ninth grader, was seeking help for potential ADHD symptoms. Described by her mother as an honor roll student juggling music, art, and sports, Tiffinny’s family had become concerned about her focus and concentration. In May, seeking mental health support and believing Emmaus Health Partners to be a suitable option based on their insurance acceptance and positive online reviews, Jean Oorbeck made an appointment for her daughter.
Upon arriving at Emmaus Health Partners, the family noticed the clinic’s strong Catholic identity. “I noticed a lot of paintings on the wall, and they were all very religious,” Tiffinny recalled. During the initial intake, a medical assistant recorded Tiffinny’s medical history, including her estrogen prescription, a detail that would soon become central to the alleged denial of care.
Dr. Scott Waclawik, a family medicine physician at Emmaus Health Partners, entered the examination room. According to Tiffinny and her mother, the encounter quickly took an unexpected turn. After Jean explained their concerns about ADHD and mentioned Tiffinny’s medications, including Vitamin D, she felt the doctor deliberately avoided mentioning estrogen, despite it being on Tiffinny’s record.
Jean then elaborated on Tiffinny’s ADHD symptoms, describing coping mechanisms Tiffinny used, such as creating “stations” at home to manage her focus and making “funny noises” to self-soothe. However, instead of addressing these concerns, Dr. Waclawik allegedly stated he could not assist them.
According to Jean, Dr. Waclawik claimed Emmaus Health Partners lacked the resources for such an “extreme case” of ADHD and asked to speak with her privately. Leaving Tiffinny in the exam room, Jean recounts being told by Dr. Waclawik that Emmaus Health Partners is a religious clinic and they were uncomfortable with Tiffinny’s presence because “‘we don’t see transgendered patients in this clinic.'” Jean was further told, “‘We don’t see transgendered patients in this clinic,'” an assertion that sparked outrage and accusations of discriminatory medical denial. Jean recalls that Dr. Waclawik then seemed to backtrack, suggesting Emmaus Health Partners would treat Tiffinny for a cold, but not for her mental health concerns.
Emmaus Health Partners‘ website does include an FAQ section addressing its religious affiliation, stating it does not provide abortions or birth control due to beliefs about human dignity. However, there is no explicit mention of transgender patient care policies.
Michigan Radio contacted Emmaus Health Partners and provided them with the complaint filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Dr. Waclawik declined to comment when reached. Amanda McMillan, executive director of Emmaus Health Partners, issued a statement asserting they had not received official notice of any complaint and could not comment on specific allegations or patient matters. The statement reiterated, “While we do not have the expertise to provide hormonal management for transgender patients, we do not discriminate against patients based on gender identity nor do we refuse to provide care.” Notably, Tiffinny was not seeking hormone therapy at Emmaus Health Partners, but rather mental health services for ADHD symptoms.
Religious Exemptions and the Battle for Transgender Rights in Michigan
While Emmaus Health Partners is not explicitly seeking a religious exemption to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, the incident underscores a broader legal and ethical debate. The clinic’s adherence to Catholic medical ethics, which guide its policies on reproductive health, raises questions about its stance on transgender healthcare. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is considering revising its guidelines to potentially ban gender-affirming care in Catholic hospitals and clinics nationwide, citing concerns that such treatments are “not morally justified.” This potential ban could affect the 24 Catholic hospitals in Michigan and numerous Catholic healthcare facilities like Emmaus Health Partners.
The legal landscape is further complicated by lawsuits from other religious organizations in Michigan seeking exemptions from the state’s transgender civil rights protections. Christian Healthcare Centers in Grand Rapids, for example, argues that the law infringes upon their religious freedom by requiring them to hire individuals who do not share their faith and potentially provide gender-affirming care, which they oppose on religious grounds. These legal challenges highlight the ongoing tension between religious freedom and the rights of transgender individuals to access healthcare and other public services without discrimination.
Marcelina Trevino, director of enforcement at the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, acknowledges the legal uncertainty surrounding religious exemptions. While the expanded Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in secular settings, the extent to which religious organizations like Emmaus Health Partners can claim exemptions remains unclear and is currently being contested in courts. A recent court case involving Christian Healthcare Centers and other religious entities was dismissed on standing grounds, without definitively ruling on the issue of religious exemptions in transgender healthcare.
The Real-World Impact of Healthcare Discrimination
Experiences like Tiffinny’s reflect a larger pattern of discrimination faced by transgender individuals within the healthcare system. A 2021 study by the Center for American Progress revealed that half of transgender individuals reported experiencing mistreatment or discrimination from healthcare providers in the past year. This discrimination can lead to significant healthcare avoidance within the LGBTQ+ community, as individuals fear negative experiences and lack of understanding from medical professionals.
Roz Gould Keith, executive director of Stand with Trans, a Michigan-based non-profit supporting transgender youth, emphasizes the damaging effects of such discrimination, noting that trauma from past negative healthcare experiences can deter transgender individuals from seeking necessary medical care.
For Tiffinny, the alleged incident at Emmaus Health Partners had immediate emotional consequences. Waiting anxiously in the exam room, she felt “disgust” and described Emmaus Health Partners as a “terrible place” upon hearing her mother’s account of the interaction with Dr. Waclawik. Initially hesitant to speak publicly due to fear of being outed at school, Tiffinny ultimately decided to share her story to raise awareness about the challenges transgender individuals face in accessing healthcare and to advocate for change.
While now in high school and living openly as her true self, Tiffinny still awaits treatment for her ADHD symptoms. Her mother notes a reluctance in Tiffinny to engage with medical professionals following the Emmaus Health Partners experience. As the legal and public discourse around religious exemptions and transgender rights continues, Tiffinny’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the human impact of these complex issues and the urgent need for inclusive and equitable healthcare for all.
