Dr. Jennifer Chaffin and Two Top Defense Officials Calling For End of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

(stoppingthehate.com)

A major step towards allowing gays to openly serve in the U.S. military was achieved, when two top defense officials called for an end to the 16-year old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law reports The New York Times.

“No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have a place in policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens,” stated Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The AMA advocated the end of DADT in December 2009, requesting that discussion of sexual orientation with a physician be allowed without it becoming a basis for dismissal from the military.

“DADT puts our doctors in the ethical dilemma of whether to do no harm and not ‘out’ a service member or to forge a legal document that places ourselves at risk of losing our license,” said psychiatrist Jennifer Chaffin. According to Vitals.com, Dr. Chaffin completed her medical degree at University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Change of policy is not expected to happen quickly. A Pentagon review would take about a year, before Congress could act on a repeal.