i understand what you’re saying, but the example you used is pretty much the opposite of the subject of the post. in the case of a JW, you would have to force a medical procedure they don’t want to save their life. it may be difficult for a doctor to handle emotionally, but they shouldn’t be allowed to force medical procedures either. i may not agree with the religious reasoning, but it doesn’t matter what anyone else believes. if a person of sound mind rejects a medical procedure, it shouldn’t be forced on them.

but this post was about health professionals denying WANTED medical treatment to someone based on their religious or personal beliefs. that should not be allowed. this would be more like if i needed a blood transfusion to live and my doctor refused because they don’t believe in them.

@basher
No, that’s how most of you interpreted the post

The post does not clearly state this

The post has multiple potential meanings the way it is written

Regardless the knee jerk reaction from most of the replies assumes the medical provider is in error

My example above is one of a billion possibilities

And just because a patient wants something does not mean they automatically get it

It’s their license on the line everyday
It’s always their call

That is the patients decision in that case and is similar to DNRs (Do not resuscitate) or in less severe cases changing what medication you can use.

@DragonDust
I understand that
The point I was trying to make was that medicine and ethics are not linear

@darthfaja but the example you actually used was unrelated. if you want to make a point, you need to use an example that is actually relevant. it’s also a little rude to say “most of you didn’t interpret it that way” in... the way that i said. i see what you’re trying to say, and i agree in a way? but i think most people understood that this was about bias and discrimination.

my example is not unrelated And it is relevant
The post is not clear on its intention
My interpretation of what happened isn’t rude at all

What I see is an unfounded attack on medicine
Happens too often for my taste

@darthfaja Yes - agreed, medicine and ethics can be complicated and controversial. but this post is pretty clear : "people who want to refuse care to patients due to personal or religious beliefs".

It might be helpful to us all, for you to author a post about the other areas of which you speak.

@evergreen
Due to personal religious beliefs, can also infer the patients beliefs as well...
Meaning the patient’s belief systems

Regardless a medical provider has a choice on who they treat.

Patients come in demanding all sorts of medications good and bad everyday. At times what people want is just plain bad.

...
So I sat back here for a moment looking over the posts and replies and I think the tone of the post and replies got me triggered.

First off, the post is poorly constructed so it can be interpreted differently but moving past that....
I find it offensive how people view medicine. How often the Hippocratic oath is thrown about without any real understanding of what it is. Like it is done binding contract that has legal implications behind it.

How the public doesn’t really understand the job.

Medical providers are under no obligation to do whatever the patient wishes of them. So, unless they are in an emergency room or a state funded clinic they are not even obligated to see a patient.

Medical providers are real people not robots. They have real feelings, real emotions and make real mistakes. There is no magic book to look things up in and the job is hard as hell.

I don’t feel anyone has the right to judge unless they’ve done it, gone through the process, the trials, countless sleepless night, and drained their finances on school only to have student loans so high you can never pay them off.

Do I think catholic doctors not writing birth control is stupid and lame? Feck yes! But it’s their right and to them it is a moral dilemma (unfortunately). However, It doesn’t matter if you as a patient disagree or not, because you have the right to go somewhere else and to see another doctor.

Neither of you is bound together.
At the End of the day it’s their medical license, their right, their life, their call.

Don’t go to that doctor if you do not like it or them.

It’s not a perfect system and their are layers of difficulty in place. Access to care, cost of medicine, cost of insurance, mistrust.

I think overall the system does a decent job, but we have to find a way to fill in the gaps and holes.

I also think for the most part that most medical providers contain their belief system when practicing. Catholics and birth control and ending a pregnancy being what I hear about most.

The best thing is to just have an open conversation with each other and work as a team to promote good health.

The replies to this below I find short sited and bogus.

@darthfaja wow ... just wow.

@basher Doctors should not refuse to treat a patient because of their religious beliefs or how they feel about the religious or lack their of nature of the patient. However the patient can refuse treatment but until that moment all that can be done to help should be.

@DragonDust yes that was my point

@DragonDust
Doctors have the same rights as patients

The morning after pill does not require a prescription it’s over the counter at most pharmacies for 30 bucks.

All the more reason that people working in a pharmacy have the wrong jobs if they want to withhold it from people.

Well said

Treating people with beliefs different than your own and treating assholes is completely different

Really. Hmmmm.

I absolutely agree.