WashPost talks about how religious beliefs affects treatment decisions:
Patients around the country describe similar experiences — being shocked, judged, humiliated, frightened and angered when they have encountered health-care workers who are overt in some religious beliefs.Sometimes providers proselytize gay or unmarried patients but do provide care. Sometimes they refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control or morning-after pills but refer patients elsewhere. Other times they refuse to treat them at all.
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Those stories are incredible – how would they like it if I could refuse to treat them once they came in with their own medical problems because I disagreed with their views. I’m not a huge fan of the legal system, but if anyone deserves to get sued, this sure sounds right.
The hallmark of a professional is that the he does the job irrespective of his personal beliefs. My painter may not like the color I choose for my living room, but he still has to paint it that color.
My job is to try to help the patient. If I can, I’m obligated to do what is his nest interests. If I can’t I should sent him to someone who can.
People who can’t handle that concept don’t deserve to be called professionals.
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