Why Catholic's can NOT be doctors or pharmacists

[FullOfThought]

I’ll warn you right now, this has the ability to be contraversial! I do not mean to insult anybody, so please take this with a pinch of salt!

So, I am wondering what your opinion is of the statement that Catholic’s cannot be pharmacists, doctors or any medical career that provides contraception to the public.

My story- I am in medical school and I transferred to become a chiropractor as I completely disagree with contraception under ALL circumstances… I completely believe the Church teachings about contraception. During my journeys I asked many doctors if they had prescribed contraception, and they all said that they had not only provided contraception to many people but had also referred patients to other physicians/clinics for IVF, STERILITY and ABORTIONS. Even practicing as a family physicans or choosing to specialize you still encounter these often, and due to laws in America you cannot refuse care to patients, and referals are considered to be providing these services.

Here is my question:* Under the assumption that a person follows and believes the Catholic Church teaching, knowing that being a pharmacist/physician that you WILL have to provide contraception to patients and/or refer patients for abortons, sterility and IVF treatments, do you think that it is acceptable for a Catholic to be in these careers?*

Thank you,
FOT

 

[1ke]

I suggest you get some better information. Some contacts for you:

The National Catholic Bioethics Center

Catholic Medical Association

Physcians for Life

Pharmacists for Life

 

[FullOfThought]

I suggest you get some better information. Some contacts for you:

The National Catholic Bioethics Center

Catholic Medical Association

Physcians for Life

Pharmacists for Life

Thank you, but I am well aware of all of those organizations. I am looking for the general publics opinions.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

I suggest you get some better information. Some contacts for you:

The National Catholic Bioethics Center

Catholic Medical Association

Physcians for Life

Pharmacists for Life

+1

 

[maryjk]

Thank you, but I am well aware of all of those organizations. I am looking for the general publics opinions.

Well, I just love walking into my Catholic GYN’s office. Her staff is well versed in NFP. They didn’t roll their eyes when I said that I hadn’t ovulated, nor did they ask how I knew. When they asked if I was actively avoiding pregnancy and I said yes, they asked what type of NFP I was using. They then gave me a couple of pointers on my method as I move into the next stage of my life.

There is no reason that you, or anyone, can’t be Catholic and a doctor. In fact, if I think about it. ALL of my doctor’s are Catholic. My family doctor, my dentist, and my orthopedist, all attend the local parish.

 

[Schieffelin]

I don’t understand…I can name five doctors off the top of my head who in no way, shape, or form ever prescribe birth control or abortions; and they also don’t refer people to other doctors who would provide those things.

If you want to be a pro-life, ethical doctor, maybe you should get in touch with one of these doctors and ask them how they navigate all the complications?

 

[maryjk]

Here is my question: Under the assumption that a person follows and believes the Catholic Church teaching, knowing that being a pharmacist/physician that you WILL have to provide contraception to patients and/or refer patients for abortons, sterility and IVF treatments, do you think that it is acceptable for a Catholic to be in these careers?

Thank you,
FOT

Your problem is that you have a false assumption.

 

[FullOfThought]

Well, I just love walking into my Catholic GYN’s office. Her staff is well versed in NFP. They didn’t roll their eyes when I said that I hadn’t ovulated, nor did they ask how I knew. When they asked if I was actively avoiding pregnancy and I said yes, they asked what type of NFP I was using. They then gave me a couple of pointers on my method as I move into the next stage of my life.

There is no reason that you, or anyone, can’t be Catholic and a doctor. In fact, if I think about it. ALL of my doctor’s are Catholic. My family doctor, my dentist, and my orthopedist, all attend the local parish.

I don’t understand…I can name five doctors off the top of my head who in no way, shape, or form ever prescribe birth control or abortions; and they also don’t refer people to other doctors who would provide those things.

If you want to be a pro-life, ethical doctor, maybe you should get in touch with one of these doctors and ask them how they navigate all the complications?

Your problem is that you have a false assumption.

Idon’t have a false assumption at all. Not one of those physicans can legally refuse to prescribe contraception or refuse to refer patients. Also, on their journeys to specialize they definately during residency have encountered these areas.

Just because they focus more on the NFP side and/or attend Church does not mean that they are exempt from the law.

I have spent years researching this, attended two medical schools and EACH and EVERY physican/dean/professor has made it perfectly clear that care can never be refused.

 

[Schieffelin]

Idon’t have a false assumption at all. Not one of those physicans can legally refuse to prescribe contraception or refuse to refer patients. Also, on their journeys to specialize they definately during residency have encountered these areas.

Just because they focus more on the NFP side and/or attend Church does not mean that they are exempt from the law.

I have spent years researching this, attended two medical schools and EACH and EVERY physican/dean/professor has made it perfectly clear that care can never be refused.

What if the doctor does provide care (for infertility or whatever the problem is) but they just choose to recommend a different route (an ethical one) than most doctors would? It seems there is a level of discretion there for the physician. I don’t see how someone could get in trouble for failing to provide care because they recommend x over z.

I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m just looking for clarification. Like I said, I know some Catholic doctors that I’m 99% sure don’t provide or refer the unethical things you mention, so I’m wondering how they get away with it.

 

[maryjk]

Idon’t have a false assumption at all. Not one of those physicans can legally refuse to prescribe contraception or refuse to refer patients. Also, on their journeys to specialize they definately during residency have encountered these areas.

Just because they focus more on the NFP side and/or attend Church does not mean that they are exempt from the law.

I have spent years researching this, attended two medical schools and EACH and EVERY physican/dean/professor has made it perfectly clear that care can never be refused.

Well, there is a sign in my GYN’s office that states that she does not prescribe contraception and that she does not refer patients to doctors who do.

Maybe you live in a different country?

 

[Corki]

Idon’t have a false assumption at all. Not one of those physicans can legally refuse to prescribe contraception or refuse to refer patients. Also, on their journeys to specialize they definately during residency have encountered these areas.

Just because they focus more on the NFP side and/or attend Church does not mean that they are exempt from the law.

I have spent years researching this, attended two medical schools and EACH and EVERY physican/dean/professor has made it perfectly clear that care can never be refused.

In the US, as of right now, a doctor is not required to prescribe contraception or to refer for abortions, sterilzations or other immoral procedures. In other countries it may be more difficult. In the US, in the future, it may be more difficult. But as of now, a doctor in private practice can refuse to participate in those areas. Furthermore, a doctor in a specialty area outside of OB/GYN, urology or Family practice would almost definately refuse to prescribe those drugs/procedures simply on the basis of it being outside of his/her area of specialization. For example, a neurologist would not even get into a discussion of birth control beyond recommending an OB/GYN to a patient. A neonatologist wouldn’t even do that.

 

[SwizzleStick]

Well, there is a sign in my GYN’s office that states that she does not prescribe contraception and that she does not refer patients to doctors who do.

Maybe you live in a different country?

My OB/GYN does not prescribe contraception either.

Here is an an article about several new, young NFP-only doctors in the area who also will not prescribe contraception.

The new face of Natural Family Planning
stlouisreview.com/article/2012-04-02/new-face-natural

 

[Irishmom2]

Idon’t have a false assumption at all. Not one of those physicans can legally refuse to prescribe contraception or refuse to refer patients. Also, on their journeys to specialize they definately during residency have encountered these areas.

.

Sorry, but you do have a false assumption. Not all specialties see patients that would have to even be prescribing contraceptives, so I don’t know why you wouldn’t have just gone into one of those specialties instead of becoming a chiropractor.

Also not true is the statement about residency. You will not definitely encounter this.

 

[cargau]

Idon’t have a false assumption at all. Not one of those physicans can legally refuse to prescribe contraception or refuse to refer patients. Also, on their journeys to specialize they definately during residency have encountered these areas.

Just because they focus more on the NFP side and/or attend Church does not mean that they are exempt from the law.

I have spent years researching this, attended two medical schools and EACH and EVERY physican/dean/professor has made it perfectly clear that care can never be refused.

Maybe I’m naive, but doesn’ta doctor have the freedom to recommend a strategy for health. For example, if a patient had cancer, one physician may elect for chemo-therapy while another may choose surgery. No one is refusing care, they are simply recommending strategies that they believe best serves the patient’s needs.

Now, if a patient asks for a referral for an abortion, why can’t the physician say, I don’t recommend abortions to anyone. If that is your choice, you will need to find aniother doctor…

Seems reasonable to me.

 

[DWGarvin]

Well, I just love walking into my Catholic GYN’s office. Her staff is well versed in NFP. They didn’t roll their eyes when I said that I hadn’t ovulated, nor did they ask how I knew. When they asked if I was actively avoiding pregnancy and I said yes, they asked what type of NFP I was using. They then gave me a couple of pointers on my method as I move into the next stage of my life.

This is an amazing post! You must feel so welcomed in that office!

 

[PaulinVA]

I have spent years researching this, attended two medical schools and EACH and EVERY physican/dean/professor has made it perfectly clear that care can never be refused.

So, what do the Physicians for Life say? Were they not helpful to you? Did they cite information not applicable to your jurisdiction?

I’ll tell you, and I’m sure you know, that providers refuse treatment all the time.

"You might benefit from bariatric surgery but I do not perform it because I feel it is too risky. You might benefit from it, so you should find a surgeon that does it. "

“I don’t prescribe “drug x” because I find it is not effective and I’ve read about certain complications.”

“You are not compliant with my other instructions, so I can not prescribe this drug because I don’t think you will take it according to the treatment plan, and it could really hurt you if you don’t”

“As the sign at the nurses station says, I am a pro-life doctor who does not prescribe artificial birth control, but I do consult on NFP related issues.”

“No, you’re not a candidate for that procedure”.

Quite frankly, unless you are an OB/GYN or ER doc (completing botched abortions), this won’t really touch you. Your med school docs are spouting the liberal AMA party line. There is a prolife OB practice in my towm, and those docs don’t prescribe birth control, you can bet on that. There is a pharmacy next door that doesn’t fill birth control prescriptions, either.

 

[Irishmom2]

Quite frankly, unless you are an OB/GYN or ER doc (completing botched abortions), this won’t really touch you. Your med school docs are spouting the liberal AMA party line.

 

[Fireflylight]

Doctors have a pretty good leash.

It’s the insurance purposes you may have to worry about, as a patient will need a referal to get a procdure cheaply. But your supposition makes no sense.

Patient- I want insulin
Doctor-you don’t have diabetes
Patient- my mom and aunt and uncle all died of diabetes, type one!!! so its not like they were fat
Doctor- I understand, but you have no signs of this disease
Patient- refer me to a specalist
Doctor- I do not believe that is appropriate at this time

End scene

The patient can pay out of pocket to see the specalist.

I believe (from a dr friend of mine) that the obligation begins at WRITTEN dignosis. So even if tests are run the dr can avoid trouble by

For instance I have hypoglycemia. The doctor diagnosed the problem. She is obligated to perscribe and treat the condition she diagnosed OR refer me to someone who can. All a dr has to do is simply say that XYZ (not getting pregnant) is not a condition that they want to diagnose. In my case my dr didn’t believe in medicating my condition so she diagnosed me then refered me to nutritionalis as my treatment.

Unlike the shopping mall patietients can’t demand everything they see.

 

[Em_in_FL]

tepeyacfamilycenter.com/

These guys seem to have it right.

 

[Schieffelin]

tepeyacfamilycenter.com/

These guys seem to have it right.

Yep. That’s the OB/GYN office I used to go to when I lived in Virginia. Actually, Dr. John Bruchalski would be an excellent person to talk to a med student who is concerned about these things.