Jury Duty ugh....
I received a jury duty notice in the mail today and am very nervous about going. I would like to ask my Endo for a note to get excused. Has anyone ever done this before? Did your doctor give you a hard time about it? I have a difficult time keeping my numbers regular on a normal day. It makes me very nervous to be in a restricted court room where I may not be able to check my sugars when I like or eat something when I get low. How should I go about getting a note from my Endo? Would I need to make an appt or over the phone would be ok you think? Thank you in advance. Very anxious about the whole thing.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lois on -
I, too, feel that I have contributed to my community. From volulteer services such as certifying to take blood pressure for the local Health Dept., volunteering to teach CPR for 8 years, taking my blood pressure screening skills to a local pharmacy every Saturday for 6 hours, etc., etc., etc. If I were ever paid for these hours, I'd be rich. Just keep going on being an extraordinary person!
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Permalink Reply by Rae on -
Thank you all for your quick replies. I also believe you were very lucky Christy, if I only knew things would work out for me as they did for you. I just don't do well out of my routine and the unknown. You are right Zoe, I should probably call the office and let them know my concerns and request. That is a great idea. But also like you said, I won't know what kind of court personnel I will have to deal with once I get there. I do not have much trust at all in our system. Here's a bit of a different situation but all in the same realm; I've read of 2 people who had been arrested who, held under our local police/judicial system, have died this year because of not getting the proper diabetes treatment they had required. I know that is extreme but most people could care less if you have Type 1 diabetes and most don't know what it is in the first place. I do not have faith that I would be taken seriously if something happened. I have heard of some courts not letting you take your meter in because of the lancets. That scares me. I am NOT giving up my meter, or my insulin or any snacks that I may need and I am afraid that could cause problems. I live on the outskirts of a big city but have to serve in the city. Another annoyance.
Sorry Spock but I have to whole heartily politely disagree with you about this being my duty. It is sooo not my duty. They just like to make it sound like it is. I have followed the laws all my life and I do not feel it is my "duty" to risk MY health and undergo undo anxiety & stress for someone who cannot obviously follow the same laws. There are plenty of people who would be glad to serve and I should not get in trouble with the law just because I do not feel that I can. I should have rights about this too.
I have to think this one through to see what I am going to do. Maybe I will be lucky and not have to go at all. But I guess if nothing works and if I have to go, then I have to go and will pray that things will go ok. I really hate this.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
I've read of 2 people who had been arrested who, held under our local police/judicial system, have died this year because of not getting the proper diabetes treatment they had required.
This is EXACTLY why we need to be on the juries.
If diabetics are self-excluding from juries or excluded by rule from juries (it doesn't matter which, result is the same), then the man KNOWS he doesn't have to treat us right in any circumstance.
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Permalink Reply by karen on -
More people try to get excused than are willing to serve, for all kinds of reasons.
There is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States who is diabetic and sits on that court without special treatment. She is Sonia Sotomayor and I celebrate her for her service.
For jury duty, I just serve if asked. Not because I feel a duty so much, but because if I were to be on trial with a jury deciding my fate, I'd like someone like myself to be on that jury.
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Permalink Reply by Rae on
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I really do admire Judge Sotomayor. But the judge controls the courtroom. If she needs something she can call a break whenever she likes. I on the other hand will have no control whatsoever and that is what makes me nervous.
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Permalink Reply by Zoe on -
I agree that it is the loss of control that makes me anxious in situations like that as well. I also admire Justice Sotomayor, but remember that is the life she chose and worked for, not something she is being forced to do.
I love and support fostering the attitude that "Type 1 shouldn't hold us back" and "we can do anything we want to do" (there's that want to again). I had a student this semester who is also Type 1; she tried to use it as an excuse not to make it to class and I gently let her know that as another PWD I don't think of it as something that should limit us.
But sometimes that philosophy of "you can do anything" can go to far or be inappropriate. We are all different. We all have different comfort levels. The best thing we have learned to do is to take care of ourselves. And sometimes that self-care takes an emotional or personal form, not a physical one.
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Permalink Reply by Laddie on -
I personally would not asked to be released from jury because of Type 1, but you have to do what you think is right for you. I have only been called to jury duty once. When I got called up for a case, I mentioned to the judge that I had Type 1 diabetes. She indicated that they would accommodate whatever I needed. When I reported the next day for the trial,the case had been dismissed because the witnesses were too scared to testify and disappeared. So the case was dismissed.
I had my meter and glucose tabs with me at all times and had no problems with security. I have never once in my life been caught or scolded for testing my BG or discreetly eating a glucose tab.
But you have to decide what's right with you. Call your doctor's office and see what they say.
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Permalink Reply by christy on -
LOL everyday going through security at the court house I had to show them my meter and pump, because NO electronics are allowed, but I had no issues with being allowed to keep them. I just explained it's my insulim pump and glucose meter, both of which I need because of my diabetes, and its like ok, go on. End of story. Like I said LOL it was something I had to go through literally EVERY Day, but so many people pass through the courts there, it's not like they are going to remember, and I'd rather be safe with security than sorry.
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Permalink Reply by Stemwinder on -
I have served jury duty and found it to be a rewarding experience. Before serving I would have done almost anything to get out of it. But all that was before D, before I was insulin dependant and wearing a pump.
Today it is a different story. Today I have bg to test, meal requirements to consider and bolus decisions to make. I have to be concerned about maintaining a presence of mind to listen to and understand the testimony and evidence given which means no lows or extreme highs to effect my thinking.
I would still serve if I was able but would want to know that they can accommodate my testing, diet, and treatment needs and that they understand how an out of whack bg might effect my performance. I know I could maintain good bg levels but would need to be allowed to.
If you decide to try to be excused don't feel badly after all sometimes D is not a excuse it is a reason. The decision to serve is a personal one for which no one should be judged no matter what they decide
Gary
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