Court rules for breast-feeding Harvard student

BOSTON (AP) -- The highest court in Massachusetts has ruled that breast-feeding mothers must be given special accommodations when taking state medical licensing exams.

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled Friday in a lawsuit filed by Sophie Currier, a former Harvard student who sued in 2007 to get extra break time during her licensing exam so she should could pump breast milk for her infant daughter.

The court said it recognizes that barriers remain preventing new mothers from being able to breastfeed or pump.

The court said that in refusing to provide additional break time, the National Board of Medical Examiners did not violate Currier's civil rights.

But the court said Currier had provided enough evidence to raise an issue as to whether the board violated her rights under the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act.

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