No Rx because we use NFP instead of ABC

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prstoessel

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I have a question concerning options to medically treat my health condition. The first and preferred method of treatment is the use of an oral drug known to cause severe birth defects and/or miscarriage. The secondary means of treatment is cost-prohibitive at this time because my insurance will not cover it unless I have tried the primary method(s) first.

My doctor will not prescribe the first option because my wife and I do not practice a “medically approved” form of birth control. We use NFP, which works exceptionally well for us for almost 20 years. We have five children (all planned) and both of us are in our 40’s. So there is somewhere around 10 years to go before my doctor will prescribe this drug. In the meantime, I have to live with the effects of my illness.

The thought has occurred to me that I could lie about our use of ABC methods so I can get the prescription. However, I cannot see a justifiable reason for this and do not want to do it. It’s one of those “ends does not justify the means” things.

I am looking for a specialty doctor (preferably a rheumatologist) who is Catholic and appreciates Catholic teaching and understands the sound science behind NFP. So far, no success (and no surprise). Natural methods for my illness have been somewhat successful, but not enough.

If anyone can provide options in line with Catholic teaching, I would appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut. PLEASE – no debates over NFP vs ABC. That ship has sailed a thousand times on this board and I am well versed in the catechism.

If anyone has suggestions for me to see someone in the great state of Texas, that would be a bonus. I’ll make a day-trip if I have to.

Thanks & Peace,
PRS
 
I do not have anything useful to say, but I am praying for you to find a doctor who understands and respect your faith and NFP. You may not be able to find a Catholic doctor, but you could make some calls and find a doctor of another faith or even no faith at all that is understanding and willing to help you.

Frankly, in a last ditch effort, I’d have some stern words with the doctor. As in, this is my illness, my choice. I am aware of the possible consequences and am a grown adult who has made a treatment decision in full awareness and good conscience, so write the prescription already. If not, then thank you for your help these past months/years but I am going to seek another medical professional that is more willing to work with me.That is, if you haven’t tried that already. If you haven’t tried it, do!

I had issues with a blood pressure medication. I was showing signs of allergy and had elevated liver enzymes on top of the other symptoms. Doc swore the meds were just fine and couldn’t be the cause of the liver issue even though I researched it and the drug manufacturers website even stated elevated liver enzymes were a possible side effect and the medication should be terminated immediately. I finally went in, basically told Doc that I had done my research and to either write me a prescription for another med or I was going to stop taking the meds altogether and seek another doctor. He wasn’t happy about it, but he did it.
 
Before I was married, I needed to take a prescription drug that was known to cause severe birth defects. The drug was only administered through a program which required you to log in periodically to a website and reaffirm your continued use of two (!) forms of temporary birth control (i.e., a condom and the pill) or one form of permanent birth control (i.e., sterilization). I was able to get around this requirement by pledging every month to be abstinent. It was definitely not encouraged by my doctor but the program made allowances for women who were not having sex.

If this drug does have such serious risks that your doctors don’t feel comfortable prescribing it to you while you are practicing NFP, and yet you still feel it is the best therapy for you, you may want to consider discussing with your wife and your current doctor the possibility of taking the drug while remaining completely abstinent. This will be a cross to bear, for sure; it might be worth it for your health and financial situation.
 
I wish I had an answer for you, but unfortunately I do not. However, I did want to encourage you. I admire your determination and your faithfulness to the Lord!!! I hope he provides you a positive answer soon. You will be in my prayers.
 
MJJean said:
…so write the prescription already.
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While the OP and his wife are certainly within their rights to find a physician who is more respectful of their desires, I’d be very wary of a doctor who allowed himself to be bullied into writing a prescription that he/she did not feel was right for the patient.
 
BettyBoop416 said:
While the OP and his wife are certainly within their rights to find a physician who is more respectful of their desires, I’d be very wary of a doctor who allowed himself to be bullied into writing a prescription that he/she did not feel was right for the patient.
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We’re talking about an adult who has an illness, requires a better treatment, is fully aware of the risks, and has chosen to accept those risks. It’s not the doctors place to deny the treatment based on those facts. If the OP was using artificial birth control the doctor would write the script. But the doctor is refusing to write the script because the OP has been successfully using NFP? C’mon! Doctors aren’t infallible. Patients should stand up for themselves and doctors should recognize that adults have a right to make informed medical decisions for themselves.
 
MJJean said:
Frankly, in a last ditch effort, I’d have some stern words with the doctor. As in, this is my illness, my choice. I am aware of the possible consequences and am a grown adult who has made a treatment decision in full awareness and good conscience…
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This is a good idea that I had not really thought of. Though, I don’t think it will be necessary to be harsh, but to make it clear that I am aware of the risks. Perhaps I can sign a release or something that will remove liability. Thanks for the idea.
 
prstoessel said:
This is a good idea that I had not really thought of. Though, I don’t think it will be necessary to be harsh, but to make it clear that I am aware of the risks. Perhaps I can sign a release or something that will remove liability. Thanks for the idea.
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I think the issue here is that it’s not a risk you’re taking on yourself but one you may possibly be subjecting an unborn child to. I think it’s moral and good of the doctor to be concerned with the welfare of a child who might be conceived while a patient of his is on this drug. Though, of course, I don’t think the doctor’s solution ought to be to require the couple to contracept.
 
prstoessel said:
This is a good idea that I had not really thought of. Though, I don’t think it will be necessary to be harsh, but to make it clear that I am aware of the risks. Perhaps I can sign a release or something that will remove liability. Thanks for the idea.
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The liability waivers will not cover the doctor if he blatantly violates the standard of care which is what you would be asking him to do. It’s only an issue if there is a bad outcome of course. If there is a bad outcome even if you don’t sue (and he has no way of knowing what you would actually do, nor do you when you are potentially facing hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical bills) he could still be penalized by the hospital system that employs him, his group, etc. for violating a very specific guideline. Now it may be that the standard of care is wrong, but that takes a paradigm shift to change.

In the US a sufficient number of patients expect their medical care to be perfect and want the ability to sue for every thing that happens and this is an unfortunate side effect of our liability system for better or for worse.
 
MJJean said:
We’re talking about an adult who has an illness, requires a better treatment, is fully aware of the risks, and has chosen to accept those risks. It’s not the doctors place to deny the treatment based on those facts.
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If, in the doctor’s professional opinion, the treatment desired by the patient is medically inappropriate, it certainly is his place to deny that treatment.
Patients should stand up for themselves and doctors should recognize that adults have a right to make informed medical decisions for themselves.
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Agreed. They can stand up for themselves by finding another doctor who might be willing to offer the specific treatment they desire. They do not have the right to bully a doctor into treating them in a way the doctor feels is inappropriate.
 
prstoessel said:
The first and preferred method of treatment is the use of an oral drug known to cause severe birth defects and/or miscarriage. The secondary means of treatment is cost-prohibitive at this time because my insurance will not cover it unless I have tried the primary method(s) first.

My doctor will not prescribe the first option because my wife and I do not practice a “medically approved” form of birth control. We use NFP, which works exceptionally well for us for almost 20 years. We have five children (all planned) and both of us are in our 40’s. So there is somewhere around 10 years to go before my doctor will prescribe this drug. In the meantime, I have to live with the effects of my illness.

The thought has occurred to me that I could lie about our use of ABC methods so I can get the prescription. However, I cannot see a justifiable reason for this and do not want to do it. It’s one of those “ends does not justify the means” things.

I am looking for a specialty doctor (preferably a rheumatologist) who is Catholic and appreciates Catholic teaching and understands the sound science behind NFP. So far, no success (and no surprise). Natural methods for my illness have been somewhat successful, but not enough.
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Sadly, the doctor and insurance company are both requiring you to violate your freedom of conscience. Unless you truly don’t mind using the drug which potentially causes birth defects. NFP is effective, but not 100% effective.

The second drug option may not be on the insurance company’s formulary (which is a list of drugs the insurance company covers), but that does not mean the doctor cannot submit a request for the insurance company to provide it.

I recently needed a drug not listed on the formulary – the drug for my condition which was approved did not work and caused severe side effects. I had to advocate for myself, but ultimately I’m now using a non-formulary drug, fully covered. I hope you can fight a little more for the second drug – don’t just accept the doctor’s word for it.

A Catholic doctor might fight better for you, true – I hope you can locate one.
 
MJJean said:
We’re talking about an adult who has an illness, requires a better treatment, is fully aware of the risks, and has chosen to accept those risks. It’s not the doctors place to deny the treatment based on those facts. If the OP was using artificial birth control the doctor would write the script. But the doctor is refusing to write the script because the OP has been successfully using NFP? C’mon! Doctors aren’t infallible. Patients should stand up for themselves and doctors should recognize that adults have a right to make informed medical decisions for themselves.
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The same argument is made against doctors who refuse to prescribe contraceptives. Forcing a doctor to go against his conscience will go both ways. 🤷

NFP has a much higher failure rate than other contraceptives, and the doctor is well with in his rights to not prescribe something that causes birth defects to a woman who he believes will likely become pregnant. A doctor has to follow his conscience and isn’t a simple dispensary for medication.

The OP should find another doctor who will prescribe the medication if they agree to completely abstain and not rely on NFP. That solution will not put a fetus in harms way and will not in any way go against Catholic teaching.
 
It’s not warranted for laymen to criticize this doctor unless we know all the facts (which I, for one, don’t). It’s entirely possible that the doctor may be aware that the Rx in question has side effects that mess up the fertility symptoms, thus making NFP unreliable. If that’s the case, then it IS warranted to refuse to prescribe it to otherwise fertile married woman when it is known that the drug causes birth defects. That’s not discrimination, it’s medical prudence.

Again, I can’t say that the above is the case because I’m an outsider to the medical world. The OP’s initial instincts are dead on: look for an MD who understands and respects NFP and get advice from him.

I believe if you web search “NaPro Technology” you should be able to hunt down a local doctor who medically understands NFP and respects catholic moral theology.
 
Thanks, everyone, for your replies and suggestions. He’s a good doctor and has earned my trust. I would never bully him, nor ask for him to violate his own conscience. I wish the medical industry would recognize NFP as a valid and scientific means of family planning. But, it is what it is. 🤷

So taking the advice of many here, I will pray and I will look for another doctor (the NaPro-Technology Network was a great idea) to get a second opinion. It’s always prudent to get a second opinion, anyway. Thank you all for the discussion and prayers.

Peace,
PRS
 
manualman said:
It’s not warranted for laymen to criticize this doctor unless we know all the facts (which I, for one, don’t). It’s entirely possible that the doctor may be aware that the Rx in question has side effects that mess up the fertility symptoms, thus making NFP unreliable. If that’s the case, then it IS warranted to refuse to prescribe it to otherwise fertile married woman when it is known that the drug causes birth defects. That’s not discrimination, it’s medical prudence.
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The OP is a man. He comments that “my wife and I.”

I know of no NFP method that uses any information from the male. All symptoms are female related.

I would, either 1) find another doctor that simply asks if the patient uses a reliable form of birth control or 2) explain, until the doctor understands, that NFP when used by motivated couples is as reliable as “the pill.”
 
I can’t help but think in this case that the doctor is practicing the virtue of prudence. I understand the Church’s position on birth control, and I think it probably works just fine when you have two committed people who are in good health and have enough money.

However, I think the logic really breaks down when illness enters into the picture. If I were using my own conscience instead of what the Church says, I would believe that taking the pill in this situation would be a moral thing to do, and I’ll bet there are priests out there who would agree with me.

The prohibition against birth control is an interpretation of a moral law. Sometimes the Church fine-tunes its thinking about the moral law to fit in with the times.

Example 1: It used to be a mortal sin to cremate someone. The Church changed the thinking on this, and cremation is now allowed.

Example 2: The Church said that the death penalty was just fine. Then the thinking changed because times have changed, and it is now much easier to keep a person in prison for life.

Example 3: Usury (collecting interest on borrowed money) used to be forbidden. Again, the Church reinterpreted this to fit the times.

All three of these have to do with moral law rather than Church law.

Many years ago, the was no such thing as a prescription drug that would cause a woman to have a child with birth defects, so I’m sure the Church had no reason to rule on that.

Maybe, one of these centuries, the Church will fine-tune its teaching on birth control just a little bit for such extreme cases.

If it were me, and I didn’t want to take the pill, I think I would just let the doctor hand me the prescriptions for both pills. Then I would fill the one for my illness and ignore the other prescription.
 
Listener said:
I can’t help but think in this case that the doctor is practicing the virtue of prudence. I understand the Church’s position on birth control, and I think it probably works just fine when you have two committed people who are in good health and have enough money.
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Why do you need money for NFP?

Before I followed the teachings of the Church, I tried many different kinds of birth control. NFP is by far the cheapest method.

In fact, after buying a thermometer at Target for a couple of bucks, I haven’t spent a dime. 🤷

I would agree that both partners have to be committed. But isn’t that what marriage people are? Committed.
 
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