Fla. doctor tells Obama supporters to take a hike

Sure you expect heated rhetoric from Washington politicians. Democrats slam Republicans and visa versa, but what if the partisan sniping entered your doctor's office? A Florida doctor recently suggested patients who voted for President Obama should seek care elsewhere, according to a newspaper report.

Jack Cassell, a Florida urologist posted a sign on his office door that said: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."

Cassel told the Orlando Sentinel he opposed to the Democrats' health plan and while he would not turn patients away, if Obama supporters read his sign and left "so be it."

In recent years some doctors in Pennsylvania and New Jersey angered by the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance premiums have posted signs in their waiting rooms and offices asking patients to support changes to the laws governing such suits. But Cassell's sign and Republican literature he distributed in his waiting room appear to takes advocacy to an entirely different level.

So what do you think? Did Cassell cross the medical ethics line or was he exercising his right to free speech at his place of business?

Has anyone seen something similar here from a doctor on either side of the political divide? Were any of you offended by a doctor advocating in favor of expanded health coverage or a one critical of such efforts? Either way share your stories in the comments here or email them to CheckUp@phillynews.com so I can follow up on it.