Since I don't work for Edwards, would it be impolitic to describe these people as some of the worst scum in our society?
Many doctors believe they have the right not to tell patients about treatments that they object to on moral or religious grounds and to refuse to refer patients elsewhere for the care, according to the first study to examine physicians' views on such situations.
In the survey of 1,144 doctors nationwide, 8 percent said they had no obligation to present all possible options to patients, and 18 percent said they did not have to tell patients about other doctors who provide care they found objectionable. [...]
When the researchers asked the doctors about their sense of obligation when patients request such procedures, they found that 86 percent felt obliged to present all possible options. But 6 percent were undecided and 8 percent felt no such responsibility. Sixty-three percent felt it was ethical to tell patients about their objections, and 18 percent felt no duty to refer patients to another doctor. Eleven percent were undecided.
Male doctors and those who described themselves as religious were the most likely to feel that doctors could tell patients about their objections and less likely to believe doctors must present all options or offer a referral.
Seems like a fine time to remind folks that Planned Parenthood of CT will be hosting a phone bank for the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill this Monday evening, February 12th in New Haven. Click here for address info and to RSVP.
UPDATE 2/9: There's also a great article hosted by the American Constitution Society (the progressive counterweight, if you will, of conservative legal think tanks like the Federalist Society) titled "Health Care Provider Refusals to Treat, Prescribe, Refer or Inform: Professionalism and Conscience" that details the legal issues and existing case law surrounding a doctor's refusal to treat his or her patients.
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