Conscientious objection to any procedure doctor's right, say medical students

[The Straight Story]

Conscientious objection to any procedure doctor's right, say medical students

Nearly half of respondents believed in the right of doctors to conscientiously object and refuse to treat a patient who wanted an abortion, contraceptive services, or who was drunk or high on drugs, or who wanted an intimate examination and was of the opposite sex.

This right was more frequently expressed among Muslim medical students, the survey findings showed.

The author contacted 1437 medical students at medical schools in Cardiff, London, and Leeds, and asked them to complete an anonymous questionnaire to canvass their views on conscientious objection to medical practices in 2008.

The students were also asked about their religious beliefs, their gender, ethnic origin and the type of medical degree they were taking.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-conscientious-procedure-doctor-medical-students.html

[Drale]

1. God damn it

These people are supposed to be our best and brightest.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. Note that Hindus were the least likely to hold this view. Let's hear it for polytheism!

[snagglepuss]

3. So would these idiots condone doctors refusing treatments to people who

are kuffir?

[The Straight Story]

5. I dunno, guess we will have to have more than one Dr for basic care

Like a back up one in case we piss off one by a t-shirt we wear.

[WinkyDink]

4. Well, good thing for me I'm not in the UK, then.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Somewhat worrying (and I note this is in *my* country...)

but I suspect that when asked the general question, "Do you think that doctors should be entitled to object to any procedure for which they have a moral, cultural or religious disagreement?", many British medics would think first of things like female genital mutilation.

Also, some medics might not want to treat an obviously drunk/high patient out of fear that the patient would assault them (it happens), rather than out of a moral judgement.

However, it's certainly worrying that a significant number would refuse to prescribe contraception.

[hifiguy]

7. Those people are decidedly in the wrong

profession. Medical ethics are apparently not high on their list of values. What would Hippocrates say?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Probably nothing, depending on the context

[dembotoz]

9. if they refuse to serve can i refuse to pay

[lapislzi]

10. That's an awfully big umbrella

How you can lump "intimate examination" with birth control, abortion, and treatment of drug abuse/overdose is beyond me. If a patient inappropriately requests an "inappropriate examination" (for example, I sprained my ankle and I ask you for a breast exam), it is entirely appropriate to refuse.

But, to refuse legitimate, legal medical treatment goes against the grain of medicine. If you will not perform the required tasks of your chosen profession, then you need to choose a different profession. I make the same point to the pharmacists who refuse to fill scripts for birth control and Plan B. It's your job. If feel that strongly, get out.

As in, I'm an atheist. So I'm not going to study for the ministry and then announce I can't conduct services on ethical grounds.

On the other hand, I work for a company. My company desires profit. Being a socialist, I don't like this idea very much, but I suck it up because I have to eat.