Doctors and the Catholic church

[GuesSAngel]

Long story short:

I went to my family doctor today to start myself on Chantix (those of you who don't know what it is, it's a prescription to stop smoking). While we were talking I told him that I would like to start birth control soon and wanted to know if Chantix would affect the birth control in any way.
This was his response and I quote "I don't know...We actually aren't allowed to write out prescriptions for birth control, the Catholic church will not allow us. I mean, if it was a 15 year old girl who wanted to regulate her period, that would be fine. Other then that we don't do it. If you get it from your gynecologist, you can ask them"


I didn't know what to say to that, I was really taken aback with what he said to me.

Tim said that we are going to get a new doctor, which I agree 100%. There's no way that I want the catholic church to influence my family doctor.. What other diagnosis has he possibly given me that was influenced by the Catholic church??

It's fucken bullshit.

 

[brieze]

I fully agree.

 

[HK]

What the fuck?

I'd think about reporting him to someone for that. How can he say it'd be okay to give you the pill if you were young and unmarried, but not if you're an adult woman trying to have safe sex? That's insane.

Is the clinic he works in funded by a church or something? I've heard about hospitals having to refuse abortion cases because they'd lose support from the church, maybe it's along those lines.

It's still ridiculous though. Religion should have no place in a doctor's clinic. If YOU wanted to refuse treatment based on religious grounds then that's your right, but he shouldn't be able to withhold options because of his own beliefs.

 

[pjbleek]

When I was going with my wife to the fertility doctor we were discussing issues and I asked about Viagra and such and the doctor said he would give me a script for it. When I went to see my own physician and we were discussing about the fertility process and all and I told him that I was hoping he would write me a script for the medicine. he said he wouldn't have written the prescription for me (the doctor at the clinic did). I asked why and he said (he is a very staunch Catholic) "Do you think that Christ would have allowed us to do this?" I said, what, repopulate the earth?...silence ensued...thought he was going to hit me into next week...we have not brought up the subject since then...but you are right, physicians should stick to medicine not be another hand of God.

 

[GuesSAngel]

What the fuck?

I'd think about reporting him to someone for that. How can he say it'd be okay to give you the pill if you were young and unmarried, but not if you're an adult woman trying to have safe sex? That's insane.

Is the clinic he works in funded by a church or something? I've heard about hospitals having to refuse abortion cases because they'd lose support from the church, maybe it's along those lines.

It's still ridiculous though. Religion should have no place in a doctor's clinic. If YOU wanted to refuse treatment based on religious grounds then that's your right, but he shouldn't be able to withhold options because of his own beliefs.

they are not funded by the church. Family practice, 2 doctors.

When I was going with my wife to the fertility doctor we were discussing issues and I asked about Viagra and such and the doctor said he would give me a script for it. When I went to see my own physician and we were discussing about the fertility process and all and I told him that I was hoping he would write me a script for the medicine. he said he wouldn't have written the prescription for me (the doctor at the clinic did). I asked why and he said (he is a very staunch Catholic) "Do you think that Christ would have allowed us to do this?" I said, what, repopulate the earth?...silence ensued...thought he was going to hit me into next week...we have not brought up the subject since then...but you are right, physicians should stick to medicine not be another hand of God.

wow. yeah the more I think about it the more mad I get. I'm going to find another doctor and when I get my records transferred I'm going to tell them why I'm going to another doctor. Don't want anyones religion shoved down my throat when it comes to my health.

Why is he a doctor any way with that strong beliefs??? He should just sit at home and pray for his patients.

 

[HK]

they are not funded by the church. Family practice, 2 doctors.

Then he's got zero basis to refuse you contraception except his own beliefs and that's so wrong it's just ridiculous.

I agree, why become a doctor if you aren't prepared to help people in any situation?

 

[pjbleek]

well, about my doctor...
his sons went to a Catholic grade school and my father and he discussed it and before I knew it, my brother and I were enrolled in the grade school (we both continued to a Catholic high school, but that is another discussion)when my father passed away I caught up with the doctor to ask some questions about cancer, my dad's health and such. Well another few years later on I went to go see him again and did the whole physical thing and he mentioned my having diabetes and wanted a follow up visit. I never did the follow ups. Until last fall when I the wife and I were deciding to adopt and I saw him and that next appointment with him the discussion followed....

 

[AnitaBeer]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I knew the hospital I was going to have my boys at is Catholic and knew there were some things they won't do because of their religious affiliation.

 

[pjbleek]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I knew the hospital I was going to have my boys at is Catholic and knew there were some things they won't do because of their religious affiliation.

see, I think what the problem is generational. old Catholic doctrine clouding the judgment. it is not that they wish to do any preaching or such but it would be on their conscience if you did something against their beliefs.

 

[Peter Parka]

I'm speechless. The doctor should be struck off for that. He has no right to force his religion on you.

 

[GuesSAngel]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I knew the hospital I was going to have my boys at is Catholic and knew there were some things they won't do because of their religious affiliation.

no it's bullshit. I don't follow religion, I expect my doctor to take care of me to the best of his capabilities. And because of religion he isn't doing that.

 

[AnitaBeer]

see, I think what the problem is generational. old Catholic doctrine clouding the judgment. it is not that they wish to do any preaching or such but it would be on their conscience if you did something against their beliefs.

Yea one thing they've never done is preach their beliefs to me. I enjoy that. But they are by far the only hospital I've had all good experiences with.

My regular doctors office is affiliated with both of the hospitals here, which is nice because if I need something done that my hospital won't/can't do then she can have me go to the other.

Like if I was to get my tubes tied, by choice and no health reasons, I would have to have it done at the other hospital.

I guess it would really suck if I didn't have the option of another hospital, but in my case I don't have a problem with it.

 

[AnitaBeer]

no it's bullshit. I don't follow religion, I expect my doctor to take care of me to the best of his capabilities. And because of religion he isn't doing that.

It's really not BS though if that's how they chose to run their practice. Private practices don't have to offer all services, especially if they operate on a religious foundation.

I can understand being upset if you didn't know he operates on a religious bases, but we can't make him do anything against his beliefs. It's why I'm glad there are other options out there.

Atleast he was honest with you as to why he can't write the prescription. He's not trying to shove his religion down your throat he's just telling you he can't and as to why he can't.

 

[hart]

If my doctor said that to me I would stop seeing him immediately. I want my doctor to have ME in mind, not any religious doctrine.

But I will say this, at least the doc told you why he wouldn't, that's better than lying about it and not doing it anyway.

 

[Tim]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I knew the hospital I was going to have my boys at is Catholic and knew there were some things they won't do because of their religious affiliation.

You don't see anything wrong with a doctor telling you that, he doesn't have any idea if the medicine he is prescribing to you and your birth control have any contradictions?

 

[Tim]

If my doctor said that to me I would stop seeing him immediately. I want my doctor to have ME in mind, not any religious doctrine.

:homo:

 

[Zorak]

It's like those signs in shops: "We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

I know it's private business over there, but surely you have some sort of regulatory board?

 

[AnitaBeer]

You don't see anything wrong with a doctor telling you that, he doesn't have any idea if the medicine he is prescribing to you and your birth control have any contradictions?

I was referring to the fact that he wouldn't prescribe birth control because of his beliefs. If he doesn't regularly prescribe birth control he's not really going to know if the other med will have reactions to it. Doctors aren't pharmacists. This is why doctors always want to know what current meds a patient is on they usually consult a pharmacist to see how a new med will react to it. They don't always know how each med will react with each different meds out there.

So to answer your question no I don't see anything wrong with it because he was honest about the fact he doesn't know how they would react together. He would have to know what birth control she would be starting and then consult, typically a pharmacist, someone to see if they have any reactions to each other.

 

[Tim]

I think you have that backwards... Doctors are the experts on drug interactions. They don't consult with pharmasists before writing out a script. :24:

If my doctor ever said, "Hold on, before I write this prescription for you I have to make a quick call to the pharmacy" I would get up and walk out on him.
:24:

 

[sundvlfn17]

I personally don't think medicine and religion should be a part of health care.