Can you be a pediatrician in the US and still stand by your faith?

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Oh girl!! I’d never make it! Now I like it to be cold for the holidays, but before or after that, no thank you!! We can’t very well have our Mardi Gras parades at those temperatures!! 😉😉😂:joy:Plus we have no idea how to drive in that kind of weather!!
 
joyful said:
Are there places to practice where you do not need to prescribe birth control when a patient asks for it? Or is it mainly in Catholic institutions?
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If you check the state by state list, currently Individual doctors, nps, pharmacists, etc may refuse to give contraception in:

Arizona
Arkansas
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Idaho
Illinois
Kansas
Maine
Mississippi
Tennessee

In 17 states the individual may refuse sterilization, in 45 of our 50 states an individual medical professional may refuse abortion.

The laws across our nation are not what some media outlets would lead one to believe.

There are also Federal protections, and, as pointed out already, protections for religious beliefs.

 
Not to mention you are home to some of the best food in the US.

I’d have dinner at the Mayflower for my last meal on earth! (Grilled Amberjack with fries and the bread pudding)
 
joyful said:
I would hate to go into work every day as a practicing Catholic knowing full well I’m forced to be an accomplice in sin out of fear of losing my license and not helping these kids out at all.
Addendum: what if you’re a nurse or physician assistant where a doctor is your boss?
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I don’t understand how would you be an accomplice to sin if you are a pediatrician or “not helping these kids out at all.” The patient in question would be a child. You would not be treating their psychological struggles, only their physical problems. Mostly the pediatricians my children have seen are like primary care physicians, any problems that are beyond the scope and practice of the office are sent for referrals to specialists. I don’t see that as going against your faith.

If you are considering medical school, or currently attending, you may want to choose a specialty where you will not have to make those kinds of choices.
 
Tobit 1:3 I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nin′eveh. 4 Now when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still a young man, the whole tribe of Naph′tali my forefather deserted the house of Jerusalem. This was the place which had been chosen from among all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes should sacrifice and where the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was consecrated and established for all generations for ever.5 All the tribes that joined in apostasy used to sacrifice to the calf[c] Ba′al, and so did the house of Naph′tali my forefather. 6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is ordained for all Israel by an everlasting decree.

Revelation 2:2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicola′itans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Sirach 15:15 If you will, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
 
Was it a job interview or a college entrance interview?
 
The practice has changed drastically in the past decade, especially in liberal areas like CA, NY and Oregon. Pediatricians prescribe birth control pills for girls as young as 14, sometimes even parents ask that their kids have the pill, they even have to discuss sexual “safety” in addition to alcohol and drug use. Usually girls under 18 don’t see a gyno unless they are pregnant or have a reproductive issue like PCOS. Also many people see their pediatrician until they are 21 because of going away for college
 
Ahhh I’ve never been there but people here start rumors that the deep South is full of racism and stuff. I feel like liberal areas tend to be a lot more intolerant honestly. As a Catholic I feel like I’m the “closeted” one.
 
I recommend that you go to a catholic medical school. Once you establish your practice you can let your patients know your general philosophy and they can choose whether it’s in line with their’s or not. Where you practice shouldn’t be limited. In fact, if you advertise as a dr who practices based on catholic teaching, you’ll probably develop a very loyal patient base.
 
My daughter is studying education at Ole Miss and hopes to settle in Biloxi because it appears to have such a strong Catholic community!
 
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So, again, I say to you:

" you may want to choose a specialty where you will not have to make those kinds of choices."
 
This is getting increasingly difficult as large hospital corporations swallow up small medical practices and then belch loudly. Most doctors are hospital employees subject to rigid hospital protocols. I’ve heard them lament that it’s hard to practice medicine with any degree of flexibility. Take my anecdotes with a skeptical grain of salt, but the corporatization of medicine is something to consider. Rural doctors may have an easier time, especially practicing in small, conservative towns.
 
I am very drawn to pediatrics though, like many Catholics that go into public school education who feel that children are being manipulated by the system, we really need people to step up and stop groups like planned Parenthood from brainwashing kids especially the ones who grew up in Christian homes. Planned Parenthood actually goes into middle schools now during sexual education to teach kids how to use the pill and condoms. Pregnancy crisis medical centers are also trying to get into schools to counter this force by educating kids on the truth of abortion
 
We all need to pray that our current government administration does more to protect the rights of doctors religious liberty
 
Are Jesuit schools okay? I hear very iffy things about this order especially with Fr James Martin giving borderline heresy messages
 
And you feel that as a pediatrician you will be able to influence brainwashing by Planned Parenthood?

I am not saying I don’t applaud your wish to serve by your faith, I am saying that I think you have unrealistic expectations of what you are going to be able to accomplish in the medical field.
 
Then what do we do? If we have children, their PCP may be sending them satanic ideas once they start kicking their parents out of the appointment room. If fewer Catholic doctors exist who are allowed to practice their faith then where will Catholic parents take their teens to the doctor? Especially ones who live in California and New York?
 
We’re all able to have some influence. A pediatrician will play his/her own unique role in countering PP propaganda. We’re all small next to the PP behemoth but grow large as we fight it en masse.

If nothing else, the OP will carve out a niche for parents seeking a pediatrician compatible with their faith.
 
Assuming you find a place that everything lines up, there’s a possibility that could move a different direction with a simple policy change, or the hiring of a new director. New elected officials as well.

The reality is if you go into family medicine or pediatrics, you will need to prepare yourself for a metaphorical fight eventually, regardless of where it is. People change, policy change. Only the doctrine of the Catholic faith is immutable. If this is insurmountable, you may want to find a different specialty.
 
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