Does A Doctor

[mangell6]

Does a doctor have the right to not prescribe the pill?

On the news and in todays paper is the article about the Nelson Doctor who has written to his women patients advising them that he can nolonger prescribe "contraceptives".

The media has now pronounced that teen pregnancies are going to be rife and I guess that these women are going to be responsible. I wonder how many of them are teenagers.

Thoughts??

And how many people will recognise what the issue actually is?

[TLDV8]

The media has now pronounced that teen pregnancies are going to be rife and I guess that these women are going to be responsible. I wonder how many of them are teenagers.

Thoughts??

Last time i looked NZ had one of the highest teen pregnacy/abortion rates in the western world,so contraception doesn't seem to be high on the list as it is. ?..to add to that as far as contraception goes,its a 2 way street and should not be left to the Woman anyway. (imho)

[James Deuce]

I have no problem with a Catholic doctor sticking to the letter of his beliefs.

[M1CRO:Me]

I think the point is and it begs the question:
Can a "General Practitioner" decide to treat some things and not others? If you move residence (or decide to change doctors), do you now ring a doctor and ask "Can you provide an anti-pregnancy service? Can you provide innoculations? Can you treat my cold?"

IMHO.. How ridiculous to narrow on SOME medical issues that they will and wont do based on their beliefs.. If you dont want to do the whole job, then dont do ANY of it!!..

Lets expand that idea to some other occupations:
Cop - I will only give out speeding tickets but I will not attend any accidents cos I hate the site of blood!
Ambulance Officer - I will only treat people that are sick but I will not attend if a fight breaks out as I am a pacifist and dont like violence!

[Biff]

Does a doctor have the right to not prescribe the pill?

Yes. Any medical practitioner has the legal right to refuse treatment on ethical or religious grounds. But it's a grey area.

[El Dopa]

Yes. Any medical practitioner has the legal right to refuse treatment on ethical or religious grounds. But it's a grey area.

Well they bloody shouldn't have that right.

If I went to the doctor for, oh, I dunno, a cactus stuck up my arse, and the doc turned round and told me he wouldn't treat me bcause I was a dirty perv, I'd be pulling it out myself and shoving it up his. Hard.

It's none of their fucking business what their patients do or don't do. If they smoke, drink or eat to excess, they can certainly tell them in no uncertain terms that they'll end up in an early grave, but it's most definitely not their business to refuse treatment to ANYONE. I don't see prescibing the pill as any different. The patient isn't catholic.

It's not a fucking smorgasboard. They don't get to pick and choose the illnesses etc that they like and want to treat.

[curious george]

I have no problem with a Catholic doctor sticking to the letter of his beliefs.

I do. They are there to help me, not judge me.
If they have a belief against my wishes, it is their responsibility to make sure I have access to another who will help me with my medical decisions.

Yes. Any medical practitioner has the legal right to refuse treatment on ethical or religious grounds. But it's a grey area.

Not very grey at all actually. They have to help. Same as lawyers cannot refuse legal aid.
In practice though, both professions simply refer the person to someone who can.
Bit of a bitch in rural areas where there might only be one quack.

[mangell6]

IMHO.. How ridiculous to narrow on SOME medical issues that they will and wont do based on their beliefs.. If you dont want to do the whole job, then dont do ANY of it!!..

GPs also apply 'descretion' to their own personal 'preferences' regarding 'cures' and 'specialists'.

preference = based on personal opinion and experience.
cures = latest mag sez (insert brand here) will cure (insert malady).
specialists = 'currently accepted by the scientific community' and 'not currently accepted by the scientific community'.

Mike

[onearmedbandit]

I think that he does have the right. This isn't treatment, this is prevention. If you decide to bash yourself in the head with a hammer and then seek treatment, sure the doctor may think you're an idiot, but they will still patch you up. However, seeking contraception, be it prior to conception or post, really isn't treatment, it's prevention. And from his religous viewpoint (and I rank alongside the least religous people on this site) that goes against his belief.

Don't like it, go to another doctor. I'm sure he'll suggest an alternative.

[SixPackBack]

Fucken religous zelot should be struck off

[M1CRO:Me]

I missed the show and I might be wrong.. BUT, didn't he have a patient list and THEN decided to not "prevent" pregnancies??

So, in other words, he was a "normal" doctor one day, woke up one morning and then decided to change his belief? I wonder if next week he will wake up and change back

[James Deuce]

I do. They are there to help me, not judge me.
If they have a belief against my wishes, it is their responsibility to make sure I have access to another who will help me with my medical decisions.


Not very grey at all actually. They have to help. Same as lawyers cannot refuse legal aid.
In practice though, both professions simply refer the person to someone who can.
Bit of a bitch in rural areas where there might only be one quack.

it's a free country and you don't have to use him as a Doctor. Plus, the whole thing is a truly GREAT piece of marketing for his business.

By the same token any kosher Jewish restaurant is judging you and placing you into the Gentile category. Bet it doesn't stop you eating the chicken soup though.

[Paul in NZ]

I have no problem with a Catholic doctor sticking to the letter of his beliefs.

I'd agree with you if the Doctor was performing a normal 'competitive' service.

However, the issue is clouded by the state funding for a part of the service he performs (the state and religion being seperate being an important fundemental of our system) AND that doctors are the biggest / richest / protectionist trade union out there.

It's ONLY fair if the women have a viable alternative open to them.

In our case here in Paraparaumu for instance it's feckin' hard to get even an appointment let alone get enrolled in a decent practise.

If the medical council and authorities allow more practicioners and a more competitive environment, fair enough but you can't have your monopoly and morals as well...

Cheers

Just a thought....

[mangell6]

Does a mechanic have the right to not service my car when I asked him to?



As a side note, the GPs on the Kapiti Coast are not taking any new patients.

[madboy]

I believe he has a right to observe his religious beliefs. Where I struggle is how he just woke up to the idea after how many years of practice? I think so long as his patients have a viable alternative, then fair enough. If he was a solo rural GP then I would have a problem.

I'm sure no one is too concerned they get a day or two off at Easter. Nobody minds those religious beliefs that were transferred into government policy.