I am so angry and need to deal with it...

cp418 · October 2014

I had no idea where to post this topic so I came here. I was summoned for superior court Jury duty on the same week that I have an apt with my Oncologist for a Zometa infusion. I submitted a postponement and it was DENIED. I am so disgusted as I had to juggle several Dr appts with GP and dentist to space apart from the Zometa infusion - especially the dental. The following weeks would have been fine.

I went through this same crap when I was getting chemo treatments back when they made you wait in a hall until your number was called. I was bald, immune suppressed with WBC below 2.0 and anemic. I had to wait with about 200 other jurors in a crowded hall for hours until my number was called for a judges courtroom. Of course I was let go -- but still I had to appear and be exposed while I was not capable of sitting hours in a courtroom and NOT able to miss chemo infusions. This is a WTF post.

cp418 · October 2014

Sorry for duplicate - I get a message my previous post had an error...............

MusicLover · October 2014

That's bs, they should let you out of jury duty.

Imheretoo · October 2014

I'm angry too, just reading this. Don't know if you knowing that help you deal with it or not.

Tinkerbells · October 2014

in my jurisdiction you can submit medical forms for postponement. I would call the commissioner of jurors (number should be on paperwork) and explain the situation. I'm sure your one will fax a note. It will take a long time on hold to get through. Good luck- it is really crappy how you are being treated. So frustrating. We are angry with you!

cp418 · October 2014

Thanks so much for letting me vent. I'll attempt some phone calls on Monday and see where it gets me. Another concern I have is bathroom breaks if I am selected - - I always have to pee!! Jeeze - it's always something.

Racy · October 2014

Surely they would have to accept a doctor's certificate that you are unfit for duty. Hopefully your doctor would be willing to certify that for you.

GG27 · October 2014

That is unbelievable!!! If anyone ever had an excuse to be excused from jury duty, you certainly do. Like others have said, call them on Monday. You cannot compromise your health for the sake of the court. I got a terrible infection when I was on chemo & ended up in the hospital for four days & I was extremely careful, not going out in public etc.

I don't know where you live, but I know here in Canada ongoing health issues are excusable for jury duty. Try not to fret about it until Monday when you can talk to someone about it. This is the time to throw out the "cancer card" I don't use it very often, but I would if I needed it. Dee

Racy · October 2014

well said, GG/Dee.

Marple · October 2014

CP, I hope you get this sorted tomorrow. How can the justice system be so unjust? No wonder you are angry.

badger · October 2014

hi cp418, WTF is right. I sent you a PM. ((hugs))

208sandy · October 2014

Before we all get carried away with thinking "this doesn't happen in Canada" I was preliminarily (is this a word) chosen for jury duty here in Ontario for the term starting January 2015 - I have "played the cancer card" (I will be on chemo in January again and am presently Stage IV) - the paperwork states that it is up to the "trial judge" to exempt me or not and they will be in touch - soooooooo here's hoping "they" exempt me - but for sure it will require a letter from my onc and PCP and I am not worried what they will say - no way I want to be in a crowd of strangers while my immune system is down - btw I have wanted to be on jury duty since I was old enough to vote (50 years ago) and have never been called - timing is everything.

cp418 - hope everything works out for you.

GG27 · October 2014

I was called for jury duty & I didn't have to write anything, I just called the jury co-ordinator & explained that I was in treatment for breast cancer & felt that it was possible that I would be too sick after chemo to be on a jury at this point. I was released immediately but I was told that I could be called again. Now this is in BC, I don't know if it's different in different provinces, as this was provincial court. HTH, Dee

proudtospin · October 2014

personally, I would try to contact the court by phone, if not successful, then I would send a letter (maybe registered if you want) but I would also just not show up!

when I was in the middle of moving from NY to NJ, they sent me a jury notice, it arrived in NJ late after the date and wanted me to serve in NY.........I ignored it! they have not come after me yet! and it is 25 years

good luck and certainly they will excuse you,

cp418 · October 2014

UPDATE - I called the clerk at the courthouse who was completely understanding of the situation. I explained the conflict with dates but my other need was frequent bathroom breaks. I usually need to go once per hour and certainly cannot make it for 2 hrs without a break. (Long planes rides usually 3-4 times.) She could easily change the dates for me but then the issue was how long would I need to sit without a break. In the end, I contacted my GPs office to FAX a medical excuse for me. Now I just need to track it so that the Dr office does indeed send it and confirm the courthouse has it.

glennie19 · October 2014

CP, I hope this works out for you. It's just crazy for you to have to deal with jury duty while in treatment!!

NatsFan · October 2014

Wow - our jurisdiction has a very liberal deferment process that allows you to reschedule for any reason whatsoever - if you receive your jury duty notice for a time that's inconvenient, just contact them and they'll reschedule you without any hassle at all. You don't get out of it completely, but they'll reschedule you when needed. We also have a "one day, one trial" system. You go for one day, and unless you're chosen to sit on a jury that day, you go home and you're done for some number of years - I think you can't be called again for at least 5 years. If you are chosen for a trial, once that trial is done, you go home and are done for the same number of years. For me, I usually seem to get called every 8-9 years or so under this system. We used to have the traditional system where you were called for 2 weeks and they were very stingy with exemptions or deferments, but changed over about 20 years ago to our current system.

I can't believe some jurisdictions still have that old system. What good are jurors who are doing chemo, or even healthy people who are called to serve during a busy time at work? If I ever had a jury judging me, I'd much rather have people whose minds are fully on the courtroom, not extraneous personal matters!

proudtospin · October 2014

cp, I can understand how upsetting it is but it sounds like they are helping you.

Nats, yeah we in NJ are on the one day or one trial thing and every time they have called me here, they never seem to have any cases and I end up coming home by mid day! Then again, years ago in NYC, much different story and once was locked up~~as we had not reached a decision on a murder trial. We were put up in a hotel and when we came together in the morning, you better believe we had a decision then!

dlb823 · October 2014

Fingers crossed that your GP's medical excuse does it for you, cp! I hate it when stupid things like this add to our frustration level. So unnecessary. (((Hugs))), and hang in there. No one deserves to be mandated to do something detrimental to their health! Deanna

Tomboy · October 2014

cp418, yeah! WTF!!!!

I just got my letter, too. And i always wanted to get picked too and never did. but not now! I just got done with most of the after treatment stuff, and I just don't feel like I would be able to give the quality of attention to the future of someone else regarding whether they would be guilty or not. I can barely remember to put the butter back in the fridge instead of the sock drawer lately. i cannot be responsible for another. and physically? Fuggitaboudit!!

I registered by phone, and said told them i could not. The recording said they would call for further instructions. Meanwhile, I asked my oncological endocrinologist to sign the dr excuse part of it. She asked me how long i needed, and i said maybe next year? I might have it together by then! I am pretty curious about seeing first hand how our justice system really works too.

sandy208? I loooove "preliminarily"!!! Can I use it?

LittleMelons · October 2014

cp418 - That's terrible that you had to sit in a hall full of people at a time when your immune system was compromised. There is something wrong with a system that requires that of a cancer patient. I am in Ontario and received a jury duty letter shortly after my breast surgeon found a suspicious lump in the bc breast. I wrote a letter to them stating that I had a possible recurrence, the dates of scans, my breast surgeon's and oncologist's phone numbers and even a copy of my pathology report. A couple of days later I received a call from a very sympathetic lady saying I was off the hook. I thought maybe she had bc herself.

Can you send a letter enclosing documents related to your cancer diagnosis and treatments, appointments, etc.? That is seriously ridiculous that you should have to attend. Hope you can resolve this quickly!

208sandy · October 2014

Kathec - you can certainly use it

cp418 · October 2014

The court clerk did say she can reschedule me for the following week - if my Drs office does not follow through on the medical form. At least I will not have to cancel the 2 scheduled Dr appts especially for my Zometa infusion. If I go in the following week and am selected I will simply be honest and tell them I need timely bathroom breaks. Then they can decide if they want to use me as a juror. Whatever - that is my situation and they will need to be aware of it. Thanks everyone for your support. I was so upset but getting your feedback helped me get my perspective back. I will make more phone calls today to find out what my status is.........

FeDragonfly · October 2014

That was just asinine!!! What city do u live in!! No not a question just used for expression of WTF!! LOL!! Crazy ppl and non compassionate judges! I'm sorry you are going thru this AGAIN.

Nash54 · October 2014

I too have jury duty the Monday following my completion of rads. I'm doing the internal rads 2xday for 5 days . Most women tolerate it well. But you really have no idea until you go through it yourself. I've been trying to decide if I should just wait and see ( I may not have to go...I have to call each night to see if they want me to show up the next day). Or if I should try to cancel. Really don't feel like dealing with it at all.

Rosevalley · October 2014

That's outrageous. You should write the local newspaper and or TV station to describe the situation. It was a health risk for you to go down there and that is wrong. It needs to be remedied. They can pick some one else. I would have refused to go in and taken a contempt of court. Then called the local TV station with my bald head and port and said really??? I can't get off for CHEMO? WTF!!!

Vent away! Extra hugs for you.

cp418 · December 2014

I cannot believe how screwed this situation is. I get an email last night that I MUST appear in court TODAY at 8am for Jury duty. I realize this is all computer sent emails - BUT it appears their court scheduling system did not recognize my change of date to week Dec 8. I have my Zometa infusion TODAY at 1:30pm - I explained this numerous times and emailed the court. Now I am waiting for my Oncologist office to open so I can get them to FAX a medical excuse to this court - judge. My stomach is a mess over the stress of this nonsense. How can a legal system be so f****d up?!

note- When I called my GPs office to get a medical excuse faxed to the court - the Dr office did not get back to me for over 2 weeks. By then I had already changed the court date. When I called the Dr office the receptionist just kept taking my messages even when I expressed the importance of it. We are at the mercy of these office people.....

MarcelaBR · December 2014

I'm so sorry you are going trough this!!! I'm so angry with you!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly I would just not show up and if anything happened later I would write to a newspaper or TV stations as someone suggested. You have an excuse for anything...!!!!!

Keep us posted on how everything goes...

cp418 · December 2014

Finally got through to a "human" and they confirmed the new date for next week. It appears whatever scheduling software they use it doesn't recognize a date change and continues to send emails using the old information. The message was very direct that it was mandatory that I appear in court today. IMO it was tracking my status as a no show yesterday - guessing. So this is how our tax dollars are used....... Bawling

april25 · December 2014

That's terrible!!!!

I have had nothing but BAD experiences with jury duty so I'm not at all surprised. They've had a shortage of people for juries here (big, populated area), so they make nearly everyone show up no matter what. I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled something like that where I am!!!

I wonder what would happen if you didn't show? Say you had a medical emergency on the day? ... Humph... probably would throw people in jail for that. Stupid system!!!

I am so angry and need to deal with it...

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