I got to thinking about this after leaving my Dermatologist's office this afternoon. And I wonder if the medical speciality makes any difference.
The medical director at the skilled nursing/ retirement community I work at told me about a private Facebook group she's in that is for agnostic/atheist doctors, so I'm sure there are quite a few non religious medical folks out there. Apparently their banner photo is a a bunch of drawings of mythical creatures - Santa, the Easter bunny, Jesus, a leprechaun, etc.
There are some not as many as there should be
Patients like to bring up religion a lot
They ask me to pray for them or with them
I have one patient that I asked/told to stop handing out her religious material
I get asked if I believe in god all the time
My typical reply is “it’s my job to be neutral and available for everyone”
I wish there were way more atheist physicians. Especially ob/gyn.
Atheist doctors hold that information close to their chest. Remember that they are in fact selling themselves and most people are theist. A believer will likely not trust an atheist but an atheist might be more pragmatic and base their decision on how well they do their job.
As an atheist in the medical industry, I've met a few. There are many more providers (medical professionals) that I have no idea what their personal beliefs are about.
As it should be
Our lives should remain private and out of public scrutiny for the reasons you listed.
I don’t care if or what my doctor prays to as long as she is a good doctor.
i don't ask my doctors what they do or do not believe except as it relates to medicine. i did go to a chiropractor once, on the advice of someone i knew, and this chiropractor had a big picture of jesus (not his real name and not his real image) over the treatment table. that doctor also touched me inappropriately, and no, i am not shy with doctors but i know an inappropriate touch when i receive one. that's the only indication i ever had that a doctor believed in any religion much less a particular one, and it didn't work out so well even though we didn't talk about religion.
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Had a new dentist casually ask why I’d chosen ‘her.’ Told her, from the photos shown, the four guys looked like right-wingers … and that she didn’t. She smiled, saying, “And you’d have been right.”
I suspect they’re there.. Keeping as low a profile as necessary to maintain their hard-earned positions.
I work around a lot of doctors, and in the Bible belt. Seems to be a fair share of agnostics, at least, probably more than outright atheists. But you never know, that might be their self-preservating diplomacy on display.
Can’t see why there wouldn’t be, but a doctor is a doctor regardless of how many heads he/she has!
I'm pretty sure Drs fall along the same lines, belief wise, as everyone else, Being "sciency" but also devoted to defying the odds, seems to balance out with thed rest of humanity.
Umm, as long as they are competent, None of My Business, or yours.
..you’ve been in bitch mode as of late ...don’t ya think ~
I think it makes a difference. Especially in regards to women. I think those who are more religious are also more likely to be biased. They're less likely to take your complaints seriously, more likely to defer to a husband if one is available, basically more likely to treat you second class. In medicine and health, that can be a real detriment to care and life.
@Varn oh sweetie, been there going n 60+ years....(will be 71 Friday) and have definitely learned that many of everyone's problems would be bettered if people Butted Out unless asked.
I used to work in the regulation of various health professions. I think that it would be improper for a health practitioner to push religion at his patients. In fact I was once involved in such a case. Here is a link to the case for those who are interested [www8.austlii.edu.au]
Wish I could find one. I have had a couple doctors suggest prayer for stress.
In my years of being a Nurse I was fortunate enough to meet and get to know a great deal of Non-Believing Nurses and Doctors, etc.
Once even worked with and beside a well Respected and Highly Acclaimed Obstetric/Gynaecological Specialist Surgeon whilst he was desperately trying to repair the utter, undescribable CARNAGE that was wrought upon an 11 year old young girl who was repeated raped and beaten by her own father, a Minister in the Presbyterian Church.
He said, repeatedly, over and over again during the 7 and a half hours of the operation, " There CANNOT be a God of any type because NO God would stand idly by and watch and allow this to happen to anyone, let alone such a young, innocent child a this."
I was gonna ask a similar question! The closest round here is chi. Crosses and shit all over. My business partners daughter had a throat infection. Took her to the Dr, and she said she needed her toncels taken out. He explained they were already taken out. She is a box of rocks.