Welcome to Obama's America.
On Tuesday, Jim Hoft of the Gateway Pundit wrote that Terrence Lee Lakin was denied a license to practice medicine in Kansas because he questions Obama's birth certificate.
Lakin, a licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine, was denied the license by the 15-member Kansas Board of Healing Arts, KCTV reported.
According to KCTV, the board focused on the Bronze Star winner's political views rather than his "spotless medical record."
Terrence Lee Lakin rose to the ranks of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. He served on the front lines in Afghanistan and the war zone in Bosnia as well as a medical mission to Honduras. He saved lives around the world and received a Bronze Star for his service.
"I like helping people," said Lakin. "And I've been, since college wanting to be in medical field and help others."
But a dispute over whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States led to Lakin being forced from the military and apparently led to the Kansas board in October denying him a medical license to practice in the Sunflower State.
The board repeatedly refused comment on their decision, but a transcript of Lakin's shows board members didn't concern themselves with Lakin's 18-year spotless medical record.
In 2010, Lakin refused to deploy to Afghanistan, citing the President's birth certificate.
"I will disobey my orders to deploy because I believe all servicemen and women and the American people deserve the truth about President Obama, the office of the presidency and the commander in chief," he said in a video posted at www.safeguardourconstitution.com.
As a result, Lakin was brought before a court martial and found guilty of missing movement and failure to obey a lawful order. The Army stripped him of his rank, sentenced him to six months at Fort Leavenworth and gave him a dishonorable discharge.
Lakin, however, still had a license to practice medicine in Maryland and Colorado.
But the Kansas board argued that Lakin's refusal to deploy to Afghanistan "…potentially jeopardized the health, safety and welfare of the military troops for with applicant was employed to provide medical care."
KCTV added that Lakin's board meeting lasted all of 16 minutes:
...Lenexa physician Michael J. Beezley kicked off the questioning about Lakin's thoughts on the president.
"So I guess you need to explain the difference between going to Afghanistan in 2004 and going over there after President Obama was elected," said Beezley. "Is that the big kick?"
"Yes," replied Lakin.
Ellsworth Dr. Ronald Whitmer then followed up.
"Do you believe he was a U.S. citizen, President Obama?" he asked.
"I don't know," Lakin replied.
"...the long form of his birth certificate has been publicized," Whitmer said. "What does it take to make you believe that he is a U.S. citizen?"
"I think that I have a question and I don't think that question's been answered, but if this has to do with my medical capabilities...," said Lakin.
"What would make you have that answered?" said Whitmer.
Whitmer kept pressing Lakin.
"Say if and when he's elected again and the Reconciliation Act becomes law, which it already is, and all of a sudden we have 20 million more people who've got healthcare, are you going to refuse those people because this is?" asked Whitmer.
"No. No. No," insisted Lakin. "I was being ordered to a combat zone to, you know, put my life on the line."
Lakin can make a judicial appeal, but is uncertain he can afford it.
The decision has at least one medical ethicist concerned.
"Political beliefs, I think, should play no role," University of Pennsylvania medical ethicist Art Caplan.
"Is it going to be a popularity contest that decides what political views you can have as a doctor? Or is it going to be the majority views that decides what political views you can have? Obviously, again - I don't think this is relevant to who practices well," he added.
After investigating, KCTV reported that "Just as Lakin's medical record didn't matter to the board, another doctor's medical record also didn't matter to the panel."
In 2008, for example, the board "approved the license of another doctor with a history of medical mistakes and malpractice payouts."
KCTV added:
One patient died after a drill mishap in the operating room. A surgical error caused repeated electrical shocks to a second patient. And a third patient wasn't even that doctor's patient. The physician didn't notice, ended up performing brain surgery on the wrong man and caused permanent damage.
The board did not comment on Lakin's case, nor did it comment on the disparities uncovered by KCTV.
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