Dr. Amy beth Taublieb PH.D.

On Tuesday, January 7, 2020, I contacted Dr. Taublieb, a practitioner endorsed by Channel 7, to schedule a new patient appointment. After confirming my insurance information, she scheduled me for an appointment a couple of weeks out. Dr. Taublieb advertises in her media video interviews with Linda Pellegrino from AM Buffalo that she has a dog at her office that runs to greet patients, but if a patient expresses fear or concerns about the dog, the dog is secure in a separate room. I verified with Dr. Taublieb that the dog was still in the office, and when she confirmed it was, I asked her to please secure the dog in the other room because I am physically disabled and navigate with a dual purpose service dog (trained by Canine Companions for Independence). She then stated, "Then this is not the place for you". She went on to explain that it would "upset" her pet dog to have my highly trained service dog in the building because "dogs smell things, you know that". After some back-and-forth, during which she stated (contrary to her video advertisements) that she "doesn't see those patients" (referring to those who don't like dogs), I finally explained that this practice was discriminatory and she could not refuse to accommodate me simply because I have a service dog. She repeatedly justified her position and refused to acknowledge the illegality of it. She stated clearly that patients with service animals are not welcome, and that I was free to do "whatever [I] had to do" with regards to filing the appropriate complaints regarding access denial and discrimination. Complaints have been filed with the US Department of Justice, the NY State Attorney General Civil Rights bureau, the NY State Division of Human Rights, as well as the NY State Division of Professional Licensing. Disability Rights New York has also opened a file on this matter. It is a violation of state and federal access laws, as well as civil rights laws, to refuse to accommodate a patient with a disability who is partnered with a service dog. Dr Taublieb made it clear that her pet's comfort takes precedence over patient/human rights. When she stated "This is not the place for you", she was absolutely right. As a patient, a consumer, and a human being, I deserve an educated, competent professional who respects patient and human rights, and so do you.