why you can't always trust the doctor

[donsu]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020702078.html


Values Play Into Treatment Recommendations, Study Finds


Many doctors believe they have the right not to tell patients about treatments that they object to on moral or religious grounds and to refuse to refer patients elsewhere for the care, according to the first study to examine physicians' views on such situations.

In the survey of 1,144 doctors nationwide, 8 percent said they had no obligation to present all possible options to patients, and 18 percent said they did not have to tell patients about other doctors who provide care they found objectionable.

(how godly of them)

-snip-

The refusals have led to bitter clashes between medical workers and patients around the country. Dozens of states have considered legislation that would either require medical workers to deliver all legal forms of care or protect those who refuse. The issue is expected to intensify as medicine continues to move into controversial areas, such as therapies based on embryonic stem cells.

-snip-

Male doctors and those who described themselves as religious were the most likely to feel that doctors could tell patients about their objections and less likely to believe doctors must present all options or offer a referral.

-snip-

"How are patients supposed to make choices when they don't even know the range of choices that they have?" Charo asked. "Failure to inform completely disables a patient. It makes it impossible for them to even know what to ask or whom to ask or where to go to ask."

But Al Weir, director of Campus and Community Ministries for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, defended doctors' rights to adhere to their personal beliefs.

"The doctor has the right to follow their own moral compass and their own moral integrity," Weir said.
----------------------

these religious doctors need to post on the wall of the waiting room that they will not tell the patient all the sources and what the doctor will and will not do.

for pregnancy and women's issues I'd be very careful what doctor I went to. the wrong one could cost you your life.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I always give my doctors the third degree with the understanding

that if I get a smokescreen or obfuscation, I find another doctor. And s/he has to give me an answer I can understand and the rationale. (My father is a retired doctor, so I'm not dazzled by the spectre of the holy physician.)

[valerief]

2. Don't they get, like, Big Pharma finder's fees, too? nt

[Beausoir]

3. My ex gyn wore a huge wooden cross around his neck.....I dumped him.

He won't perform tubal ligations.

He sent me someone elses test results in the mail. (Wonder who got mine?)

I wouldn't trust him with my life. He's whacked.

[Katherine Brengle]

8. The main doctor at my previous office was like that --

when you called and got put on hold, the typical little messages and music would play, but with an occasional "Thank you for calling _______, we are a pro-life practice."

Turns out the head doc was an ex-abortionist turned fundie Christian psycho. He was very very unpleasant, the kind of doctor that just gives you the willies when he walked in the door.

Ugh.

Now I am going to a much better place, and thank the good lord lol.

[NashVegas]

10. My Ex-Gyn Had Right to Life Literature In His Office - I Dumped Him

..

[Rosemary2205]

4. HMO's are worse than "religion" on a doctor.

Kaiser doctors are contract bound to NOT tell you about treatments or testing available that Kaiser will not cover. Other HMOs do the same thing. Why any doctor would choose to work under those conditions is beyond my understanding.

I am extremely fortunate to live in a state with pretty strong patient protections and a city with a medical culture than doesn't take any shit from insurance companies.

What small town USA does with one corp that runs the only hospital and all the doctors in town and has it's own HMO contracts with insureres scares me.

[Warpy]

5. MSNBC's poll du jour yesterday asked whether

physicians were entitled to have their moral standards affect the care they delivered to their patients.

The last time I checked, 87% said NO!. Only 12% were crazy enough to allow them to be prissy when it came to care.

It seems though health care workers who are too fastidious to care for the sick according to accepted standards of care are setting themselves up for lawsuits.

The sooner the better that starts to happen, IMO.

[nashville_brook]

6. use this SEARCH engine to see if your doctor registers publically as xtian

http://www.cmawashington.org/index.cgi?BISKIT=2390105&CONTEXT=cat&cat=100008

[jilln]

7. I really don't know how people got decent healthcare before the Internet

These days you really have to be your own doctor as much as you can. Research it yourself and THEN go see a doctor, and usually end up telling them what you want them to do.

[Johonny]

9. You know maybe their moral compass

should of pointed them away from being a medical doctor. If your moral compass points you away from being completely honest with the person in your care then you probably should go into another field of work. Possibly run for congress.

[Horse with no Name]

11. I had a discussion the other day in a thread

where the OP touted the work of ONE doctor.
I'm here to tell you, Doctors are not above having hidden agendas.
It happens more often than you think.

[bobthedrummer]

12. "Justifying Genocide: The Role Of Professionals In Legitimizing Mass Killing"

remarks by Alex Alvarez at a symposium on preventing genocide December 2001.
http://www.ideajournal.com/articles.php?sup=10

The Bush administration has race, gender and ethnic specific biological and chemical weapons available and has asked for billions of dollars to continue that illegal program.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x128146

"Follow your own moral compass" then.

[Jonathan50]

15. Ethnic specific biological weapons?

Surely you jest?

There is a biological weapon that can select an ethnic Pole from an ethnic German?

Or an ethnic Englishman from an ethnic Scotsman?

[bobthedrummer]

16. Take some time and review the links-I'm just one of many messengers.

[bellasgrams]

13. This is so true, especially in breast cancer reconstruction.

There is a recon. procedure called 'diepflap' that only a few doctors can perform because it requires micro-surgery and therefore requires more training, so unless you do some research on your own or happen to hear about it from another woman you will end up having to have an implant or use muscle. With a diepflap only fat and skin from the lower abdomen is used and you end up with a tummy tuck to boot.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi bellasgrams!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[cynatnite]

17. I've worked with about every kind of doctor there this...

I can usually pinpoint the good ones pretty fast. If anyone has a shred of doubt about their doctor and the care they are receiving, get a second opinion.

If the doctor gets pissed you want a second opinion, lose him or her. They're not worth their salt. Any decent doctor would be glad to recommend someone.

Our family doctor is a real asshole. His bedside manner completely sucks, but he's one of the best.