AAPI Condemns Bigoted Comments Made by Herman Cain About Minority Physician
Nov 22, 2011
Chicago, IL - The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) issued the following statement condemning the bigoted remarks made by businessman Herman Cain, implying he would not see a physician whose name sounded "too foreign," or practiced a different religion from his.
"Herman Cain's latest remarks are completely insulting to physicians of Indian origin across America," said Dr. Sunita Kanumury, AAPI president. "It doesn't matter to a physician what race, religion or creed their patient belongs to. All they care about is providing the best health care possible to them. Similarly, our patients don't care about our race and religion. What they want is the highest quality health care from the best doctor of their choice," said Kanumury.
During remarks made yesterday in Orlando, Fla., Cain noted that while he was receiving treatment for cancer, he was concerned that one of the surgeons working with him in the chemotherapy process was named Dr. Abdallah. He told a physician's assistant that the name sounded "too foreign." He then expressed relief when he was told that the physician was a Christian from Lebanon, and not Muslim.
"Herman Cain as an African American man has surely experienced firsthand or witnessed unlawful discrimination based on race, religion or national origin," said Kanumury. "As AAPI was founded nearly 30 years ago to fight this very backward thinking, it is simply incomprehensible that someone of Mr. Cain's background can make such thoughtless comments. AAPI members come from all walks of life, from every part of India and represent every major religious group: Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Jews. We also have names like Patel, Shah and other names that may not sound that American to Mr. Cain, but we are in fact proud to be American and proud that we are the largest ethnic association of physicians in the United States.
"We will always strive to provide the best health care possible to our patients, and we will never look at our patients the way Herman Cain looks at his physicians," said Kanumury.