Pro-Family Doctors- Where are They?

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idrum677

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Can anyone explain the lack of ob/gyn’s that are nfp-only and actually support a Catholic view on sexuality and having children?

We are expecting #4 in April and my wife had an appointment today with her doctor. I’ll say that her regular ob is pretty good and respects our beliefs. However, she had a fill-in doctor today. When he found out that we already have 3 children and also home-school, he immediately asked if she “planned on doing anything permanant” to prevent any further pregnancies. It’s as if we’d be preventing some sort of disease.

This got me thinking about looking for another doctor in my area. After a Google search, a omsoul.com search, and several others. I found exactly 2 doctors between MA and RI and none are even near us.

Where are all the doctors?
 
idrum677 said:
Can anyone explain the lack of ob/gyn’s that are nfp-only and actually support a Catholic view on sexuality and having children?

We are expecting #4 in April and my wife had an appointment today with her doctor. I’ll say that her regular ob is pretty good and respects our beliefs. However, she had a fill-in doctor today. When he found out that we already have 3 children and also home-school, he immediately asked if she “planned on doing anything permanant” to prevent any further pregnancies. It’s as if we’d be preventing some sort of disease.

This got me thinking about looking for another doctor in my area. After a Google search, a omsoul.com search, and several others. I found exactly 2 doctors between MA and RI and none are even near us.

Where are all the doctors?
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Oh my goodness!~ That is awful!
I know my mother, had to look for a new doctor after number five, because the replacement for her old doctor was really pushing her or my father to get fixed! She was horrified. Did I mention I am the eldest of eight…🙂

I hope you find someone!
 
I would suggest that you call your archdioceses and ask them for a list. They should have something there to guide you.
 
Thanks st lucy. I did check out the doctor listed in my city and he may be pro life but he doesn’t appear to be nfp only. It looks like he performs sterilizations.
 
idrum677 said:
Thanks st lucy. I did check out the doctor listed in my city and he may be pro life but he doesn’t appear to be nfp only. It looks like he performs sterilizations.
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Oh that is sad. I would definitely call your archdiocese for a better list.
 
An NFP-only doctor is, unfortunately, a rarity. It is very difficult to make it through an OB/GYN (or family practice, or internal medicine) residency while refusing to prescribe or administer contraceptives. Not impossible, but difficult. Because of the difficulty, I think many Catholics who might choose those fields go elsewhere, to another specialty where that won’t be an issue. A pro-life physician might be the best you can do. Unfortunately, most medical schools and residencies don’t do an adequate job of teaching the sympto-thermal method (as NFP is known in secular circles), either. Some have started, as part of a more “holistic” kind of teaching.

OTOH, I’ve met many Catholics who are very defensive (not saying this is you at all!!) about this topic and become instantly offended when their physician asks about birth control or permanent sterilization. Because these are so ubiquitous in our society, most (yes, most) young women who present to their OB/GYNs office want some type of artificial birth control. More than likely (and again, I’m not commenting on your situation in particular) when a physician asks if you want permanent sterilization or what your method of birth control is going to be after the baby is born, he’s not making a comment on your family size or religious beliefs, but is asking what he sees as a very straighforward, simple question. Also, if a C-section should become necessary and the woman desires a tubal ligation, it is much, much easier for the doctor to do this at the same time as the C-section-- that’s why they always ask you when you’re pregnant.

I look at my OB visits as an opportunity to evangelize my doctor! We need more physicians who are well-educated in NFP.
 
Here is a link to the Guilds of the Catholic Medical Association cathmed.org/about/local_guilds/ my husband is a member. He suggested you contact a guild locally and network to find an Ob/Gyn. It is a challenge however. Ob/Gyn’s have to take out very expensive malpractice insurance and as a result it is hard to have anything other than a group practice and make it work financially. Catholic doctors have the challenge of finding others in their field, in their location, with the same beliefs, who are also looking for work at the same time. It’s not easy.
 
smallcat said:
An NFP-only doctor is, unfortunately, a rarity. It is very difficult to make it through an OB/GYN (or family practice, or internal medicine) residency while refusing to prescribe or administer contraceptives. Not impossible, but difficult. Because of the difficulty, I think many Catholics who might choose those fields go elsewhere, to another specialty where that won’t be an issue. A pro-life physician might be the best you can do. Unfortunately, most medical schools and residencies don’t do an adequate job of teaching the sympto-thermal method (as NFP is known in secular circles), either. Some have started, as part of a more “holistic” kind of teaching.

OTOH, I’ve met many Catholics who are very defensive (not saying this is you at all!!) about this topic and become instantly offended when their physician asks about birth control or permanent sterilization. Because these are so ubiquitous in our society, most (yes, most) young women who present to their OB/GYNs office want some type of artificial birth control. More than likely (and again, I’m not commenting on your situation in particular) when a physician asks if you want permanent sterilization or what your method of birth control is going to be after the baby is born, he’s not making a comment on your family size or religious beliefs, but is asking what he sees as a very straighforward, simple question. Also, if a C-section should become necessary and the woman desires a tubal ligation, it is much, much easier for the doctor to do this at the same time as the C-section-- that’s why they always ask you when you’re pregnant.

I look at my OB visits as an opportunity to evangelize my doctor! We need more physicians who are well-educated in NFP.
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great post, as someone that works the medical field I see both sides of the field so to speak and what most people don’t realize is that since what we Catholics believe is very much minority in today’s society it will be very hard to find a medical practitioner that is on the same page entirely. I’m not saying it’s right, but that’s the unfortunate truth. 😦
 
Since it was a fill in doctor, he probably didn’t know about your wife’s views on sterilization. I would not interpret it as him telling your wife that she had too many children, but him simply doing his job and asking about it the way he would ask any other woman.

It’s not like he out right told your wife that she should get sterilized. He probably saw it as part of his job routine to ask.
 
A couple of points–

First, there are at least some OBs (like mine) who, while sadly not being NFP-only, is very NFP-friendly and informed. Plus, she is the youngest of ten, so she doesn’t look askance at large families. 😃

Second, other good sources for referrals would be your local pro-life group and local Catholic home-schooling group. Between those plus the diocese you should at least come up with some good leads.

Best,

Margaret
 
Where are they? HERE! I live in NC and have a wonderful NFP-only practice. They don’t prescribe birth control and will not prescribe Viagra to any man who is not married. They host NFP classes (based on the Creighton Model) and are so charitably pro-life. It’s awesome! I have to drive almost an hour to get to them, and with our second baby due on Feb 5th, the drive to the hospital with which they are affiliated will probably be looooong, but it’s worth it.

The practice I went to with my first child was VERY different. Every single doctor on their staff performed abortions (supposedly only in cases of severe medical need, but I know for a fact that’s a lie – I know two L&D nurses who work for them) and at least two of those doctors who performed abortions were Catholic! I didn’t know most of this information until after my son was born (THANK GOD!) and so I left. But not before letting them know why. You would not believe the hassle I got for it. They finally had the head of Labor & Delivery nursing call me to “straighten things out”. She lied to me over the phone for 10 minutes before finally admitting I was right. SIGH

If you can’t find an NFP only practice where you are, you can either find a midwife and do homebirths or just continue to be a light in the darkness. God has put you where you are for a reason. Perhaps it’s your mission to convert the culture, little by little, by being visible to those opposed to life… You’re in my prayers.
 
There are several in the Detroit area. We moved recently, to the other side of the metropolitan area and thus, are now nearly and hour away from our NFP only doctor. When we moved, we thought we could check out other doctors closer to us. We never even looked. We realized just how important our doctor was to our family’s health, both physically and spiritually. It can be a struggle to get two small kids to a doctor’s office nearly an hour away, (not to mention if I have to take time off of work to go in for an office visit) but that is a sacrifice that we are willing to make-- especially when I hear how difficult it is for so many others to find any Catholic doctors.
 
I can sympathize. I’m not married or trying for children, but I’ve had the same sort of experiences looking for treatment for my health problems. (You’d think birth control pills were some sort of wonder drug, the way doctors kept throwing them at me.)

Personally, I tracked down the nearest pro-life doctor I could find. I knew I found the right one when his webpage said, in big bold print:

“This practice does not provide abortions, sterilizations, contraceptives, artificial reproductive technologies, or assisted suicide, nor do we refer for these services. This practice is founded on Catholic traditions and follows the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Facilities.”

Oh sure…I have to go all the way down to MA - it’s about a 4-hour drive to get there. And my next appointment is scheduled at 8am, so I have to be out my front door by four in the morning…:eek:…but it’s worth it!!!
 
I saw t he fill in doctor for my last pregnancy. When I said the pregnancy was asurprise, so I didnt know how far along I was, he immediately asked me if I had plans to terminate!

“well, do you WANT to be pregnant? Becuase you dont have to be if you dont want to be”.

The only thing I can figure is that I had my young duaghter with me in a stroller and he made an assumption that I would be overwhelmed or something. Still, I never saw him again, and when we eventually lost the baby (ectopic pregnancy), my feelings towards him only got uglier (which, yes, I knwo is completely irrational and makes no sense).

The Catholic newsletter here had an article about a doctor who is pro life (not sure about pro NFP?) so we’re going to try and get an appointment with him next time.
 
yellowdaisy said:
I saw t he fill in doctor for my last pregnancy. When I said the pregnancy was asurprise, so I didnt know how far along I was, he immediately asked me if I had plans to terminate!

“well, do you WANT to be pregnant? Becuase you dont have to be if you dont want to be”.

The only thing I can figure is that I had my young duaghter with me in a stroller and he made an assumption that I would be overwhelmed or something. Still, I never saw him again, and when we eventually lost the baby (ectopic pregnancy), my feelings towards him only got uglier (which, yes, I know is completely irrational and makes no sense).
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GASSSP! WOW… That’s horrible. I’m sorry…
 
Hi

I have a Catholic & pro-life doctor. His practice in fact is called Sacred Heart Medical Centre. His name is Stephen W. Bishop, MD. He specializes in family & individual care, as well as OB/GYN. His medical partner, Jeffrey P. Berger, specializes in alcohol & drug addictions. Dr. Bishop has been my PCP (primary care physician) for the past 5 years & counting! He even prays with me! The staff is also wonderful! For more info, Sacred Heart Medical Centre’s website is: www.sacredheartmedical.org They are located in Livonia, Michigan.

Everyone have a wonderful & blessed evening!

Easter Blessings,
Kim

:harp:
 
I’m in school to become a doc and while I understand that sometimes it can come off offensively, doctors truly don’t mean to offend. I know that’s a blanket statement, and there are some people who frankly shouldn’t be doctors (I’m already pretty scared of a couple of my classmates:eek:) but more often than not, they’re just trying to cover all the bases. We learn from day 1 that if we don’t ask, you won’t tell. If we don’t offer every available option, we could be sued. If we don’t ask if you’re on the pill, have plans to terminate, have plans to have more, have this kind of sex, have that kind of sex… we don’t get the whole picture of YOU and that can interfere with treatments and other things. It’s unfortunate that we have to ask these questions, but it’s the world we live in. You’re allowed to speak your mind to your physician though; from this end, if a patient is insulted that I asked about condom use or plans to prevent future pregnancies, I would want the patient to politely tell me that he/she is for family planning and against contraceptives. That way, I could tailor my approach to his/her needs specifically to give him/her the care they deserve. 🙂
 
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