Wednesday, February 07, 2007
A Doctor's Obligations
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A disturbing number of doctors do not feel obligated to tell patients about medical options they oppose morally, such as abortion and teen birth control, and believe they have no duty to refer people elsewhere for such treatments, researchers say.
The survey conducted by University of Chicago, of 1,144 doctors around the country is the first major look at how physicians' religious or moral beliefs might affect patients' care. According to an American Medical Association policy statement, doctors can decline to give a treatment sought by an individual that is "incompatible with the physician's personal, religious or moral beliefs." But the physician should try to ensure the patient has "access to adequate health care."
And one can only wonder how many of these docs find it well within their "obligation" to suggest and arrange adoptions!
A disturbing number of doctors do not feel obligated to tell patients about medical options they oppose morally, such as abortion and teen birth control, and believe they have no duty to refer people elsewhere for such treatments, researchers say.
The survey conducted by University of Chicago, of 1,144 doctors around the country is the first major look at how physicians' religious or moral beliefs might affect patients' care. According to an American Medical Association policy statement, doctors can decline to give a treatment sought by an individual that is "incompatible with the physician's personal, religious or moral beliefs." But the physician should try to ensure the patient has "access to adequate health care."
And one can only wonder how many of these docs find it well within their "obligation" to suggest and arrange adoptions!
# posted by Senior Mom @ 7:11 PM 
