Pro-Life OBGYN?

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I am looking for some opinions about finding a pro-life OBGYN (Chicago Area). (For normal checkup for now but potentially if I have a kid as well)

To put it bluntly, I would really prefer a female, and my search of the pro-life doctors networks for the area are not promising. They are few and far between, and it’s hard to imaginie creating a 9-month “intimate” relationship with most of these male doctors.

I had thought for a little bit about just using a random female doctor. I thought if I explained to her before I ever got pregnant my views on carrying the baby to term, it would not make a difference if she was not specifically pro-life. But I can’t help but think that with OBGYN’s it’s kind of all or nothing - either you are pro-life, or you are actively involved in helping women obtain birth control, morning after pills, birth defect screenings, and so on. Also, I like the idea of fiinancially supporting the pro-life doctors.

Although a recommendation for a great pro-life OBGYN in the Chicago area would be appreciated, I am really looking for advice on how to solve my struggle here. Are we morally obligated to patronize pro-life doctors?

(Oh, and by the way the pro-life doctor websites were great in helping me find a family practice doctor, so I am not trying to say the lists are not good)
 
If you are not high risk, you might want to expand your search to a nurse practitioner (much more likely to be female) or a midwife (it is my understanding they’ll see you even if not pregnant, but don’t hold me to that).
 
Oh, that’s a good idea! Actually, I am a little high risk - I want to ask the doctor about the risk of low platelettes in pregnancy, as I have low platelettes now.
That, and I wanted to have a normal screening before getting pregnant to make sure everything is OK - do nurse practitioners do those?
 
shelby2014 said:
I am looking for some opinions about finding a pro-life OBGYN (Chicago Area). (For normal checkup for now but potentially if I have a kid as well)

To put it bluntly, I would really prefer a female, and my search of the pro-life doctors networks for the area are not promising. They are few and far between, and it’s hard to imaginie creating a 9-month “intimate” relationship with most of these male doctors.

I had thought for a little bit about just using a random female doctor. I thought if I explained to her before I ever got pregnant my views on carrying the baby to term, it would not make a difference if she was not specifically pro-life. But I can’t help but think that with OBGYN’s it’s kind of all or nothing - either you are pro-life, or you are actively involved in helping women obtain birth control, morning after pills, birth defect screenings, and so on. Also, I like the idea of fiinancially supporting the pro-life doctors.

Although a recommendation for a great pro-life OBGYN in the Chicago area would be appreciated, I am really looking for advice on how to solve my struggle here. Are we morally obligated to patronize pro-life doctors?

(Oh, and by the way the pro-life doctor websites were great in helping me find a family practice doctor, so I am not trying to say the lists are not good)
Click to expand...
First start with Catholic Hospitals. I live in North West Indiana and My OBGYN is a Male and IS prolife. He is a good ole catholic boy! He has 6 children and I see him at mass all the time. Even thought you don’t have to be Catholic to work at a Catholic Hospital, Its a good place to start. So far my Obgyn, Family Practice, Pediatrician and Surgeon are all Catholics and Go regularly to mass!! The ones out here are Franciscan Owned. They are not allowed to give out birth control, or perform any abortions or birth control procedures. They are pretty strict about that. All there doctors have to sign something that says they will not do this. I only support the Franciscan Hospitals.

I am from Chicago, Have you tried Resurrection Hospital on the Northwest Side?

Blessing Sister!
Jill
 
I understand! For a long time I really hesitated to go to a male pro-life doctor. In the end I’m glad I did. I was having some health issues, and the FOUR female doctors I sought guidance from before I went to him basically dismissed my concerns. It turned out the concerns were serious ones. When he determined the problem, he was shocked that no doctor before had identified the issue. The issue was quite advanced when he identified it. He was able to remedy the issue, and the remedy included an approach that is rare for doctors to undertake but is in the best interest of female patients.

Looking back, I’m rather shocked too at how cold and ineffective the female doctors were. You would think a female would be especially caring and compassionate toward another female, right? Nothing could have been further from the truth. (In addition, there were times when I endured some inappropriate comments from female doctors related to the beliefs of our faith.) I suppose when a professional does not respect the dignity of women as daughters of God, she may not do what is in the best interest of the patient–perhaps not causing direct harm, but in my case, rather serious neglect.

Further, some professionals, despite their advanced education and training, cannot suppress their scorn for Catholic beliefs regarding family planning. (The inappropriate comments I mentioned above included an ignorant reference to abstinence.) Now that we have moved to a new town and I am looking for new doctors, I am again considering going to women’s practice that likely does not have pro-life doctors (at least, it’s not presented as having any). The advertising for the place includes language such as “Advocating for Women’s Health”…sounds similar to some of the anti-life spin we hear in the media currently, no? I really don’t think I can do it. I prefer to use some of my time off to go back to my male pro-life doctor.

I’ve reflected on these incidents quite a bit since they took place, and the Bible verse that keeps coming to mind is Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gender really became less of a concern than the need to find a doctor who would do the right things.
 
shelby2014 said:
I am looking for some opinions about finding a pro-life OBGYN (Chicago Area). (For normal checkup for now but potentially if I have a kid as well)

To put it bluntly, I would really prefer a female, and my search of the pro-life doctors networks for the area are not promising. They are few and far between, and it’s hard to imaginie creating a 9-month “intimate” relationship with most of these male doctors.

I had thought for a little bit about just using a random female doctor. I thought if I explained to her before I ever got pregnant my views on carrying the baby to term, it would not make a difference if she was not specifically pro-life. But I can’t help but think that with OBGYN’s it’s kind of all or nothing - either you are pro-life, or you are actively involved in helping women obtain birth control, morning after pills, birth defect screenings, and so on. Also, I like the idea of fiinancially supporting the pro-life doctors.

Although a recommendation for a great pro-life OBGYN in the Chicago area would be appreciated, I am really looking for advice on how to solve my struggle here. Are we morally obligated to patronize pro-life doctors?

(Oh, and by the way the pro-life doctor websites were great in helping me find a family practice doctor, so I am not trying to say the lists are not good)
Click to expand...
Go to this guy if you can find him 😉

“A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I’m pregnant again. I don’t want kids so close together. So th e doctor said: ‘Ok and what do you want me to do?’ She said: ‘I want you to end my pregnancy, and I’m counting on your help with this.’ The doctor
thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: ‘I think I have a better solution for your problem. It’s less dangerous for you too.’ She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let’s kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we’re going to kill one of them, it doesn’t matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms. The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It’s a crime to kill a child! ‘I agree’, the doctor replied. ‘But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.’ The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that’s already been born and one that’s still in the womb. The crime is the same!”
 
It’s been a few years, but I believe Dr. Robert Lawler of TRE Medical in Downers Grove (Good Sam Hospital) is an NFP-only doctor. If you prefer a woman, one of his partners, Dr. Virginia Kelly is very good. Not NFP only, but pro-life (or at least refuses to be involved with abortions) and at least knowledgeable about NFP via her practice partner. You’d be amazed how few doctors know the first thing about NFP, how it works and the implications that wealth of patient data have for quality care.

This was a big deal for us when my wife was searching for a doctor. I’m amazed how few pregnant women seem to care if their prenatal care doctor also happens to conduct abortions on the side! You’d think you’d not want someone like that anywhere CLOSE to you…
 
I understand your reluctance to see a man but I do want to challenge you there. In my lifetime experience with more than 10 OBGYNs, I have to say that the men were WAY more respectful of my pro-life stance and use of NFP. In my experience, many female OBGYNs are very pro-choice feminists and have a difficult seeing past their own biases to support me in my approach to fertility and health care.
 
Thank you all - after doing more research, I am thinking of going with one of the pro-life male doctors on the list - it is going to help take a big burden off my mind.
 
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