Why Catholic's can NOT be doctors or pharmacists

[In_Training]

Fine, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to…anyway…

My last girlfriend took BC pills and maybe my next girlfriend won’t, but I don’t think she’s a bad person for preventing pregnancy, and I don’t think it’s a doctor’s business to use anything other than a medical point of view. All I was saying is that I will never feel that I have the right to control someone else’s decisions or judge them for what I think are failures. Obviously I have a lot of failures of my own that I’m not over yet, so I don’t think I’m in a position to be telling others what to do, and I would not want a doctor to impose his religious beliefs on me instead of treating me like a medical patient. I didn’t mean to sound like a…whatever, can’t type it here.

 

[maryjk]

Endometriosis. Menometrorrhagia (depending on the cause). PCOS. Birth control pills are the best initial treatments for these conditions. They are not always definitive but certainly the safest. My understanding is the Church is fine with the Pill being used in these settings.

Very interesting, I had heavy and irregular bleeding and my doctor didn’t give me birth control pills. And yet, I am better. How did that happen?

See, if you take away the option of handing over a Group 1 carcinogen doctors come up with better treatments.

 

[Corki]

Endometriosis. Menometrorrhagia (depending on the cause). PCOS. Birth control pills are the best intial treatments for these conditions. They are not always definitive but certainly the safest. My understanding is the Church is fine with the Pill being used in these settings.

In many cases of these conditions, taking birth control pills only treats the symptoms and not the conditions themselves. They are not necessarily the safest but are certainly the easiest for the doctor. A doctor can prescribe BC pills without doing the testing that would be needed before treating the actual condition. If the symptoms go away, great. And the patient is usually happy to have the contraceptive effect too. I am a good example. I had one of those conditions you mention. I was put on TEN different versions of birth control pills. Some worked a little, some not at all. In the end, I had surgury which treated the actual condition.

 

[Rence]

Very interesting, I had heavy and irregular bleeding and my doctor didn’t give me birth control pills. And yet, I am better. How did that happen?

See, if you take away the option of handing over a Group 1 carcinogen doctors come up with better treatments.

It happened because you are one person and whatever you did worked for you. You are very fortunate. Many others aren’t as fortunate. However, prescribing ABCs for heavy and irregular bleeding is a standard of care.

See, this is why we’re not allowed to give medical advise on this forum.

 

[THP]

In many cases of these conditions, taking birth control pills only treats the symptoms and not the conditions themselves. They are not necessarily the safest but are certainly the easiest for the doctor. A doctor can prescribe BC pills without doing the testing that would be needed before treating the actual condition. If the symptoms go away, great. And the patient is usually happy to have the contraceptive effect too. I am a good example. I had one of those conditions you mention. I was put on TEN different versions of birth control pills. Some worked a little, some not at all. In the end, I had surgury which treated the actual condition.

You are right, it depends on the cause, obviously OCPs won’t treat a submucosal fibroid or endometrial polyps very well. However, the dangers of OCPs are way over stated on these forums.

 

[THP]

Very interesting, I had heavy and irregular bleeding and my doctor didn’t give me birth control pills. And yet, I am better. How did that happen?

See, if you take away the option of handing over a Group 1 carcinogen doctors come up with better treatments.

There is a big difference between making a moral argument on why OCPs should not be used and trying to make a medical argument. The risks of OCPs are really quite minimal and I would hate for women reading these posts to disregard their doctor’s advice on ways to treat legitimate problems very safely.

The connection of OCPs to breast cancer is dubious, we know OCPs don’t cause cervical cancer, and they definitely decrease the risk of ovarian cancer significantly.

Your risk of a blood clot is much higher during pregnancy than while taking OCPs.

Of course, there are women who should absolutely not take them but that is for her doctor to decide.

 

[THP]

In many cases of these conditions, taking birth control pills only treats the symptoms and not the conditions themselves. In the end, I had surgury which treated the actual condition.

This is correct, but if you can safely control the symptoms while avoiding surgery, why not do it? Depending on the surgery, the risk of surgery can be higher than taking OCPs.

 

[THP]

There is a big difference between making a moral argument on why OCPs should not be used and trying to make a medical argument. The risks of OCPs are really quite minimal and I would hate for women reading these posts to disregard their doctor’s advice on ways to treat legitimate problems very safely.

The connection of OCPs to breast cancer is complicated. It increases the risk while they are being taken but that risk goes away 10 years after stopping them. Most women taking them are young and the absolute risk is still very low. We know OCPs don’t cause cervical cancer its HPV, however if you have HPV and are on OCPs for more than 10 years your risk of cervical cancer increases. Both of these situations may reflect the fact that women taking OCPs are more likely to be screened for these disease although that is not definitive., They definitely decrease the risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial significantly. Its very important that obese anovulatory women have some sort of endometrial protection. There are lies, damn lies, and statistics and it can be a mess to sort through all of these stats and the point is care needs to be individualized.

Your risk of a blood clot is much higher during pregnancy than while taking OCPs.

Of course, there are women who should absolutely not take them but that is for her doctor to decide.

edited my previous post for clarification.

 

[Karoline]

See, if you take away the option of handing over a Group 1 carcinogen doctors come up with better treatments.

Alcohol
Tobacco
X-Rays
Tanning Booths/Lights
Solar Radiation (sunlight)
Tamoxifen (breast cancer treatment)
Chemotherapy

All of these are also Group 1 Carcinogens but I don’t see people staying inside, refusing to use tanning salons, putting out their cigarettes, stopping drinking and refusing their cancer treatments. Although I am very pleased when people do stop drinking and smoking

Whilst it may increase your chance of breast cancer, your risk returns to normal after 10 years of stopping the pill, and the increased risk of cervical cancer is not a direct cause of the pill, more an indirect cause, as women taking the pill may have more sexual partners and may be exposed to the HPV virus. The pill has a protective effect against ovarian and endometrial cancers.

I researched the pill thoroughly before agreeing to start it as I am concerned about any side effects of medication I take, especially as I now take so many to manage several long term conditions. Whilst it is brilliant that not taking the pill worked for you I am sure there are many other women with the same condition who would agree that it has made a difference, myself included.

 

[Pink_Lemonade]

My last girlfriend took BC pills and maybe my next girlfriend won’t, but I don’t think she’s a bad person for preventing pregnancy, and I don’t think it’s a doctor’s business to use anything other than a medical point of view. All I was saying is that I will never feel that I have the right to control someone else’s decisions or judge them for what I think are failures. Obviously I have a lot of failures of my own that I’m not over yet, so I don’t think I’m in a position to be telling others what to do, and I would not want a doctor to impose his religious beliefs on me instead of treating me like a medical patient. I didn’t mean to sound like a…whatever, can’t type it here.

Who said anything about judging people? Doctors are within their rights to prescribe (or not prescribe) whatever they think is best. If you do not like a particular doctor or would prefer a second opinion about anything, you’re free to go elsewhere. Doctors who do not prescribe contraceptives are very up front about it, so just don’t choose one if you don’t like it. In the same way, if I go to a doctor who tries to prescribe me contraceptives and gives no alternatives a consideration, I am free to find another doctor who I am more comfortable with.

 

[1ke]

My last girlfriend took BC pills and maybe my next girlfriend won’t, but I don’t think she’s a bad person for preventing pregnancy

Abstaining from sexual relations while not married also prevents pregnancy.

 

[FullOfThought]

One article written by Catholics. Very informative. The scope of study was so wide that it made me change my whole understanding of biology.

And it is obvious that you didn’t read the article.

I have noticed that this is a huge issue with this forum in general. As great as one article is it does not account for the fact that a few good articles out weigh the mountains of research againest what we believe!

I contacted Physicians for Life again… they cannot make it clearer that a physician AND pharmacist must provide contraception when needed. If for example a patient comes in with endometrious and asks for the pill to help control pain, and because it is the ONLY non surgical treatment proven to help this condition, a physician MUST prescribe it. There is no personal opinion, religious rights etc of the Doctor taken into account.

Throughout, this post people have told me I am wrong yet I keep getting the same information. So I am wondering if a physician practices privately if this is how they get around it?

Nonetheless, I am happy with my career choice

 

[FullOfThought]

In many cases of these conditions, taking birth control pills only treats the symptoms and not the conditions themselves. They are not necessarily the safest but are certainly the easiest for the doctor. A doctor can prescribe BC pills without doing the testing that would be needed before treating the actual condition. If the symptoms go away, great. And the patient is usually happy to have the contraceptive effect too. I am a good example. I had one of those conditions you mention. I was put on TEN different versions of birth control pills. Some worked a little, some not at all. In the end, I had surgury which treated the actual condition.

Soo this is my main issue with ABC. Most pills don’t stop ovulation but implantation. Which means you could conceive and be pregant, but the pill prevents the egg implanting and so a miscarriage occurs. This is why I hate birth control. Unless the person is abstaining I would never prescribe BC.

 

[Schieffelin]

I have noticed that this is a huge issue with this forum in general. As great as one article is it does not account for the fact that a few good articles out weigh the mountains of research againest what we believe!

I contacted Physicians for Life again… they cannot make it clearer that a physician AND pharmacist must provide contraception when needed. If for example a patient comes in with endometrious and asks for the pill to help control pain, and because it is the ONLY non surgical treatment proven to help this condition, a physician MUST prescribe it. There is no personal opinion, religious rights etc of the Doctor taken into account.

Throughout, this post people have told me I am wrong yet I keep getting the same information. So I am wondering if a physician practices privately if this is how they get around it?

Nonetheless, I am happy with my career choice

Did you call the doctors that I recommended to you twice in this thread? It seems like you keep doing the same thing and getting the same answers–so maybe it’s time to try some new sources.

 

[FullOfThought]

Did you call the doctors that I recommended to you twice in this thread? It seems like you keep doing the same thing and getting the same answers–so maybe it’s time to try some new sources.

Yes I did thank you. I sent an email with my questions and contact information - wanted to ensure they would actually have answers for my questions.

I also asked Physicians for Life about organizations such as Tepeyac, and they explained that they are a private organization so they can choose their ‘niche’. They are not physicians who work for major hospitals as they would not be able to refuse ABC.

I really appreciate your help! Thank you

 

[1ke]

I have noticed that this is a huge issue with this forum in general. As great as one article is it does not account for the fact that a few good articles out weigh the mountains of research againest what we believe!

I contacted Physicians for Life again… they cannot make it clearer that a physician AND pharmacist must provide contraception when needed. If for example a patient comes in with endometrious and asks for the pill to help control pain, and because it is the ONLY non surgical treatment proven to help this condition, a physician MUST prescribe it. There is no personal opinion, religious rights etc of the Doctor taken into account.

Throughout, this post people have told me I am wrong yet I keep getting the same information. So I am wondering if a physician practices privately if this is how they get around it?

Nonetheless, I am happy with my career choice

The above example is NOT an example of an OB/GYN prescribing contraception.

 

[Yeoman]

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

Ummmm. . . .

Not all doctors have to prescribe contraceptives. Whole class of physicians never have to deal with that.

And. . . I know that people will not like hearing this, but. . . chiropractors are largely really message therapist engaged in a pseudo science. Before switching to that, you may wish to look at it objectively.

 

[FullOfThought]

The above example is NOT an example of an OB/GYN prescribing contraception.

I’m sorry I don’t understand what you mean?

 

[FullOfThought]

Ummmm. . . .

Not all doctors have to prescribe contraceptives. Whole class of physicians never have to deal with that.

And. . . I know that people will not like hearing this, but. . . chiropractors are largely really message therapist engaged in a pseudo science. Before switching to that, you may wish to look at it objectively.

I already have switched to it. I never have thought of it as ‘pseudo science’. Our family physician has always been a chiropractor, and for the record massage therapy is fundemantal in sport recovery, whiplash, circulatory problems, headaches… I could go on! I love my massage therapist!

I appreciate some people don’t see/understand the advantages of chiropractic medicine but many do! I am happy with my career choice, feel free to visit me once I’ve qualified… I may be able to change your mind

 

[1ke]

I’m sorry I don’t understand what you mean?

the example you gave is of a person prescribing hormones to treat pathology, not a person prescribing contraception.