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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/26/2011 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I just got a notice for jury duty. The thought of being there at 8am and having to sit in a jury box without instant access to a bathroom is terrifying. Is it possible to get an exception for jury duty for Crohn's? I know they say accommodations for disabilities will be made but I don't want to raise my hand every 10 minutes to ask to go to the bathroom.
Posted 1/26/2011 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Get a doctor's note to dismiss you from duty.
Posted 1/26/2011 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
I've gotten called for jury duty about 4 or 5 times, each time I had my doctor write a note and I was dismissed. The note included the need for bathroom access and medication schedule. I have a new GI now so I hope the next time I get called he will be as accommodating.
Posted 1/26/2011 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Yep your GI will totally understand this one.

Just call & ask them to write you a script excusing you from jury duty.

Believe me...you aren't the first with crohns to be excused.

sukay~*

Posted 1/26/2011 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
i've gotten 3 notices- sent them back saying i have crohn's and got dismissed every time...
Posted 1/26/2011 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
My GI, who I've been seeing for 10+ years, including a number of hospital stays, was very understanding.

He wrote an excuse on official letterhead with a lot of big words and important sounding medical stuff and told the court I needed to be permanently excused from jury duty.

It worked, or at least it has so far. I haven't received a jury notice in about 6 years.

Like others, I couldn't bear the thought of having to sit in a box for 8 hours without being able to go to the can at my will. I don't like that I had to do that, I believe in doing my civic duty, however there is a point when it makes sense to get excused. If your GI won't do it, time to find a better GI.
Posted 1/26/2011 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
They won't always excuse you just because of a medical condition. This wasn't Crohns related but still required frequent trips to the bathroom (really bad morning sickness + gallbladder problems) My dr wrote a note to excuse me, but they required me to be there anyways. I didn't get picked so that was a plus, only had to sit in the room being extremely nauseous with no access to my crackers (no food/drink allowed in the room), and unable to leave the room to throw up. Anyways, that experience probably had a different outcome since it wasn't CD related, but it was still a valid medical condition. It's always worth a try though and I hope you don't need to go in.
Posted 1/26/2011 6:17 AM (GMT 0)
I must be the only crohnie that would love to be called for jury duty. My wife was just called and was furious because they still had her on notice despite the fact that she works full time and is a full time nursing student. I tried to see if I could switch her places but no way. Luckily they cancelled all jury duty for the week she was on notice. I really would enjoy it despite the numerous bathroom trips. I figure that if they still pick me while knowing about my disease, why should I be embarrassed if I have to get up? I am still waiting to be called because I think that it would add some fun to my life.lol Heck, even Vice President Biden had to show up to jury duty in his home state last week.For some reason they dismissed him too.
Posted 1/26/2011 7:49 AM (GMT 0)
I've had a note from my rheumatologist about Jury Duty...he DOES NOT want me going to jury duty...esp at that time it was in the middle of flu season...I was on high dose steroids and on 2x the dose of biologics...so mailed it in...and was excused...

I too have wanted to sit on jury duty (I have been called during the summer)...I didn't get picked...alas, most of my past work history will decline me from ever being picked (I worked in a morgue, I worked with the securities division enforcing states securities regulations and working with the attorneys, I've worked in DNA labs...the list goes on)
Posted 1/27/2011 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
I got called to jury duty some years ago, and like a naive idiot, I didn't even think about being excused due to my jpouch and erratic bathroom schedule.

Even though I wasn't picked to be seated on a jury, for me it was nerve-wracking to sit in the courtroom being unable to get up and leave to use the br whenever I needed to. In addition, I was in the jury rooms where deliberation takes place - there was a bathroom available, but it was like 5 paces from the jury-table, and I was imagining having to do my famous blasters in there while the rest of the jury was totally within earshot. And you're not allowed to leave the jury-room to use a different bathroom.

If I get called again, I will most definitely get a doctor's excuse. Just my personal experience!
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