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Judge Rules Doctors Have Free Speech

By Kerry Grens on Thursday, July 6, 2006.

A recent decision by a Merrimack Superior Court judge ruled doctors have the same free speech rights as anyone else.

The New Hampshire Board of Medicine wanted to investigate Rochester doctor Terry Bennett for making offensive remarks to patients.

But the Judge stopped the investigation because it would violate the doctorâ€™s free speech rights.

According to Judge Edward Fitzgerald, calling a patient fat or unattractive to menâ€”though it may be offensiveâ€”is permissible.

New Hampshire Public Radioâ€™s Kerry Grens has more.