Doctor Turns Away Guide Dog For The Blind And Owner From Office

Published August 12, 2011

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According to a Fox Philadelphia affiliate, a man with a guide dog for the blind was turned away from waiting in the office of a doctor.

The local Fox affiliate in Philadelphia is reporting that a man with a guide dog for the blind was turned away and refused service in the office of a doctor.

According to the report, Dr. Priya Punjabi, a medical professional in the Philadelphia area, refused to allow local man Joe Cichonski and his dog Hero to wait in the office for his wife's appointment.

"The dog is not allowed in the office, it is a pet," Punjabi allegedly told Cichonski.

The catch: Hero is Cichonski's lifeline, as Cichonski is considered legally blind. He can only see a small bit of light from one eye, and from the other eye he can see nothing. Without Hero, it is impossible for Cichonski to get around.

After the incident in the lobby, the doctor refused to conduct the scheduled examination with Cichonski's wife.

All in all, it's not very nice treatment for a guide dog during a week that is supposed to honor assistance dogs.

Should there be legal ramifications for this doctor's supposed actions? Let us know what you think in a comment!

Ryan Karpusiewicz Ryan Karpusiewicz is the Assistant Editor, Lifestyle, for Digital Works @ NBC U, whose main…

Filed Under: News & Blogs, News
Tags: Dogs, assistance dog, doctor, dogs helping humans, guide dog

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Comments (81)

LazyP (Unverified)

Added 08-03-2012 02:59pm

I am on the doctors side here, I am allergic to dogs, I realize that they are necessary for some people, but they are potentially deadly to me, causing wheezing, constriction of my airways and eventually anaphalatic shock, petting a dog causes a severe rash. I can't be in the same elevator with a dog without beginning a allergic reaction. Dander, which is the root cause of my allergies, and is on all dogs that have fur, falls off dogs and lingers in the air for hours. Imagine someone like me coming to a doctors office for a regular checkup and having to leave in an ambulance because of a dog in the waiting room?

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Kat (Unverified)

Added 08-09-2012 02:18pm

There is a law that states that service dogs and their owners can NOT be denied services of any kind because of their service dogs. LazyP if you are allergic you can step out of the office but the man that is blind can not go without his service dog.

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Anonymous (Unverified)

Added 08-03-2012 02:18pm

Disgusting behavior on part of this physician. Yes, he should have dire consequences. People who need these guide dogs to get around are protected by law. I am assuming this doctor is from India or Pakistan and has cultural issues with animals? Maybe he should not practice in America if he has trouble with our laws.

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Jesse (Unverified)

Added 08-03-2012 02:01pm

What a pig! This doctor should be charged with something for being a disgusting jerk and discriminating against someone with an obvious disability. Their office should be boycotted. I'm surprised no one stepped in to say something. I sure would have, without hesitation.

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Edward Smith (Unverified)

Added 08-03-2012 12:22pm

Put the doc out of his Misoury!

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R Lewis (Unverified)

Added 08-03-2012 12:14pm

I believe it may be against the law to discriminate against those with a physical impairment. Seeing eye dogs have been recognized as essential equipment for the blind and are suppose to be accepted into any public place without discrimination. I believe the guy has a legal claim against the doctor.

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Marcus (Unverified)

Added 08-02-2012 01:25pm

So much verbal filth on all these comments. Maybe there's a lot more to the story. Media is notorious for giving an incomplete story or sensationalism. Here's just one scenario: Is the doc an allergist? That could totally ruin every other patient's treatment for days. i.e. Look at it in a different perspective: Would you want a patient with TB coughing on you? No, course, so you put them in isolation. Interfering with right to breathe in public? What if the doctor has a problem w/ dogs.