Dr. Linda Marraccini, A Florida Doctor Says She Will Not Treat Unvaccinated Patients In-Person
A Florida doctor who pledged to stop treating patients if they were unvaccinated against Covid-19, Dr. Linda Marraccini stood firm on her oath and refused any face-to-face interactions with them.
Marraccini, who has a practice based in South Miami is only going to treat unvaccinated patients through virtual appointments starting from September 15.
Dr. Marraccini denies she’s in breach of her oath of ethics as a medical professional.
Marraccini insists that the policy is not in violation of the Hippocratic Oath, a medical code and requirement for doctors to treat patients as best they can.
‘The Hippocratic Oath is very science-based,’ she told Newsweek. ‘I am following the science. I’m applying this to the benefit of the sick.’
While Marraccini says the decision was motivated by science and not politics, she remarked that individuals had a responsibility to help end the pandemic by getting vaccinated. She added that it “didn’t have to go on this long.”
‘Responsibility has to do with each individual,’ Dr. Linda Marraccini added. ‘This is a global health issue, and everyone owns part of that responsibility.’‘
Marraccini made the decision with her oath in mind and knew she wanted to protect the most vulnerable of patients safe from exposure.
There are some people who just need to be vaccinated or prescriptions filled, and she’s willing to make an exception for them.
‘We’re not going to leave them out there in the cold,’ she proclaimed. ‘It’s not fair for people who are unvaccinated to harm other people,’ observes Marraccini.
Even though the policy will go into effect soon, she says patients who refuse to get vaccinated can still choose between opting for remote telemedicine treatment or finding an alternate primary care doctor.
The shift in medical policy comes as the state is grappling with its worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of this pandemic.
This change has come at a time when our state is facing its worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of this pandemic, driven largely by the spread from the Indian delta.
As of the last week in August, Florida has seen an outbreak with 705 new cases being reported per 100 thousand people. The state is averaging 244 deaths from this virus.
More than 46,000 residents of the Sunshine State have died from the virus, data from Johns Hopkins University shows.
The recent drop from more than 17,000 to 14,200 in hospitalizations from Covid-19 is a positive sign that Florida’s surge might be subsiding.
‘I understand that people are free to choose, but to me, it’s a problem when it affects other people,’ Dr. Linda Marraccini told NBC 6.
She says only about 10 to 15 percent of her patients are hesitant about taking the vaccine, and for those people, she gave them a month – until they figure out their plan going forward.
‘When it comes to the safety of others when it comes to the fact that it’s a global health problem and community health problem, at this point, I really say that this is where it draws the line in the sand for me,’ she added.
So far about 53.5 percent of Florida’s population has been fully vaccinated.
Overall, about 53.5 percent of Florida’s total population has been vaccinated. And the nationwide trend of coronavirus cases continues to rise, with a seven-day moving average of over 153 thousand new infections in recent weeks!
‘There’s been millions of deaths globally so that’s not something to ignore. People are getting to the point where everybody knows somebody that died from COVID,’ Dr. Linda Marraccini told NBC.
‘This is a problem that really everyone needs to help out with, and it’s affecting our collective communal health.’
Her policy may come into conflict with a new vaccine ban from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which measures go into effect on September 16.
Businesses that ask for proof of vaccination may be fined up to $5,000. But in Marraccini’s case, the law may be hard to enforce.
‘I don’t believe you can treat a medical clinic the same way you can a business,’ Attorney Juan Carlos Planas told NBC. Critically, he said that Marraccini’s medical argument may protect her from legal ramifications.
‘She lays out in a medical way how exactly she wants to protect her staff and she specifically states that no medical professional has found many people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons,’ Planas said.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Where is Dr. Linda Marraccini, MD’s office located?
Dr. Marraccini’s office is located at 6280 Sunset Dr Ste 407, South Miami, FL 33143.
Q. Is Dr. Linda A. Marraccini, MD accepting new patients?
On Healthline FindCare, Dr. Linda A. Marraccini is not currently taking on any new patients.
Q. Does Dr. Linda A. Marraccini, MD accept my insurance?
Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, and other significant insurance policies are accepted by Dr. Marraccini. To make sure your insurance is accepted, please call in advance.