Rape Victim Denied Contraceptives

[HYHYBT]

if you provide health care and receive government money, you should have to provide all legal standards of care that you are qualified to give.

Setting religion out of it for the moment, that's a terrible precedent to set. Physicians refuse patients all the time; either they aren't taking new ones at the moment, or things with a person have gotten to the point that it would be unreasonable to expect a professional relationship to continue (I know examples, but probably shouldn't use them), or the person doesn't pay their bills... OR it's something the doctor *could* do, but which he no longer does routinely for any number of reasons. GP's used to set broken bones, for example; now, at least around here, they'll send you elsewhere despite most of them still knowing how. Dad used to deliver babies; he gave it up long ago for a few reasons, but still could do it if trapped in a bad sitcom episode where it became necessary. Does that mean a woman in labor who has the option of going to the hospital should be able to force him to deliver her baby instead?

[draco664]

Setting religion out of it for the moment, that's a terrible precedent to set. Physicians refuse patients all the time; either they aren't taking new ones at the moment, or things with a person have gotten to the point that it would be unreasonable to expect a professional relationship to continue (I know examples, but probably shouldn't use them), or the person doesn't pay their bills... OR it's something the doctor *could* do, but which he no longer does routinely for any number of reasons. GP's used to set broken bones, for example; now, at least around here, they'll send you elsewhere despite most of them still knowing how. Dad used to deliver babies; he gave it up long ago for a few reasons, but still could do it if trapped in a bad sitcom episode where it became necessary. Does that mean a woman in labor who has the option of going to the hospital should be able to force him to deliver her baby instead?

To be fair, RRS did qualify the statement with "and receive government money". If you're in private practice, no problem.

[HYHYBT]

That doesn't help at all. Doctors in private practice generally do Medicare/Medicaid; that's no reason to force them to do specific procedures or take every patient. (Again, except in the exceedingly rare case that it's an emergency and it cannot be done by anyone else)

[Duelist925]

That doesn't help at all. Doctors in private practice generally do Medicare/Medicaid; that's no reason to force them to do specific procedures or take every patient. (Again, except in the exceedingly rare case that it's an emergency and it cannot be done by anyone else)

There are legitimate reasons to refuse a patient--you list many of them.

However, the majority of those reasons wouldn't result in a refusal--they'd result in a referral. Wether it be to a surgeon, or a specialised practitioner (obgyn, dermatologist, etc) , they would still be doing whats best for the patient overall--and not based off flawed morality.

As per payment issues, or simply unable to take on more regular patients, for, say, a family doctor, again, can be resolved with a referral to either a facility which could treat whatever illness or injury for less, or no money, depending on a persons financial situation, or by referred to another family practitioner.

[HYHYBT]

Some people see the difference between referring someone elsewhere rather than treating them yourself and outright refusal to help, and others don't... or, at least, I get a very strong impression from this thread that, for some posters, referrals aren't good enough unless it's something that particular doctor *can't* do.

[Panacea]

Sorry, but I cannot respect a belief that says contraceptives are wrong. I can understand being against abortion, but there is no logical reason to be against birth control. Birth control prevents (or at least lowers) the need for abortions.

The only reasons I hear against it are guilt based and "because God said so" which are NOT good reasons.

I had a conversation with my priest recently about contraception. I told him that for many years the Church's stance on contraception and abortion had been a deal breaker for me.

He tried to explain how the Church viewed every life as sacred. And I actually agree, when it comes to myself.

But as an ethical practitioner, it is not my place to force my religious beliefs upon other people, nor to judge their choices or their circumstances. How one relates to God, is an issue between themselves and God. As an ethical practitioner of nursing, MY duty is to help my patients, regardless of whether or not I agree with their choices, and to provide them with compassionate, competent care.

He saw my point of view, even though he didn't agree with it. Ultimately, he told me, I had to follow my own conscience.

Unfortunately, some health care provider's consciences tell them to withhold needed care from patients. I consider that immoral, and in some places, malpractice.

The ethical issues in regards to subjects such as these are very messy. Ultimately, I believe that if I as a nurse cannot provide a service a patient is legally entitled to, I have a responsibility to answer questions truthfully, and to find a provider who can help the patient.

Can you think of a reason why something like this should be legal? That a rape victim does not receive the care she needs, due to a doctors religious beliefs?

I'd really like a legitimate defense for such an action.

I don't there there is a legitimate defense to not show compassion to a rape victim.

A human being that a doctor, by very virtue of the hippocratic oath, is required and obligated to help.

The Hippocratic Oath is a formality, and not embodied in law.

Physicians are governed by the Medical Boards and the Medical Practice Acts of their respective states. Ethics requires them to serve all patients equally. The law may in some cases allow them to discriminate. It may not be right, but it is what it is.

Setting religion out of it for the moment, that's a terrible precedent to set. Physicians refuse patients all the time; either they aren't taking new ones at the moment, or things with a person have gotten to the point that it would be unreasonable to expect a professional relationship to continue <snip>

Does that mean a woman in labor who has the option of going to the hospital should be able to force him to deliver her baby instead?

He can refuse under the Good Samaritan law. No physician or nurse is required to help a stranger on the street.

In private practice, same applies.

In the ER, EMTALA rules. If, as I recall, the ER was the setting, then the physican had a duty to find another physician.