Lance R. VickMar 11, 2024

It's official. After 3 months of back and forth, a major medical provider has elected to drop me as a patient for not having a Google or Apple device.

It is unclear if this is legal, but it is very clearly discriminatory and unethical.

Any tech journalists or lawyers interested in this?

I would like to do anything I can to ensure this never happens to anyone else.

Show threadJenniferMar 11, 2024
@lrvick what?? Why on earth would you need an Apple or Google device?
Show threadThomas PhinneyMar 11, 2024
@Jennifer @lrvick I am imagining that the org is using some kind of patient service system that (1) is required, and (2) only works on iOS and Android, but has no web option. (Or if it does, they are not using it.)
Show threadLance R. VickMar 12, 2024

@tphinney @Jennifer Exactly this, and they chose to introduce it months after I became a patient, having known from the outset that I do not have or want a Google or Apple device.

I gave up my smartphone 3 years ago, and am a lot happier being disconnected when I am not at my desk. It would seem some don't consider this a valid lifestyle choice.

This is the first time anyone has refused me services for not having a phone.

Show threadRobert MMar 12, 2024

@lrvick @tphinney @Jennifer Nothing like a medical provider electing to drop me as a patient, but last week I dropped off 3 boxes at FedEx in Walgreens and couldn't get a receipt because I didn't have a smart phone with me. They were prepaid returns worth several hundred dollars.

People are being forced to have a smart phone on their person at all times to do ordinary everyday things.

Show threadPiggleston PecanpantsMar 12, 2024
@rob11563 @lrvick @tphinney @Jennifer I would report the Walgreens incident to your Attorney General. Not everyone can afford a smart phone. I'm sure the Attorney General would be interested in a major corporation excluding a vulnerable portion of the population from being able to do business with them.
Show threadjust adrienneMar 13, 2024
@LilPecan @rob11563 @lrvick @tphinney @Jennifer Yeah, if you're in even a halfway decent US state, your state Attorney General is often a really good resource for shit like this. Even in red states!
Show threadJenniferMar 14, 2024
@adrienne @LilPecan @rob11563 @lrvick @tphinney lol nobody in my state would give a shit about something like this (Tennessee)
Show threadjust adrienne
@Jennifer @LilPecan @rob11563 @lrvick @tphinney You MIGHT be surprised, tbh. Tennessee's elected/appointed government sucks rocks, but the AG's office is still gonna have a lot of salaried, boring people in it who actually do want to do their fucking jobs.
Mar 14, 2024 at 12:47amWeb