Physician Speaks out About Forced T.V.U.S. and Civil Disobedience

[K Gardner]

Last edited Wed Mar 21, 2012, 08:53 AM - Edit history (1)

This physician wrote anonymously and eloquently, and was hosted on John Scalzi's blog. The message needs to be spread far and wide, in hopes of encouraging other physicians to do the same.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/03/20/guest-post-a-doctor-on-transvaginal-ultrasounds/

In all of the discussion and all of the outrage and all of the Doonesbury comics, I find it interesting that we physicians are relatively silent. After all, it’s our hands that will supposedly be used to insert medical equipment (tools of HEALING, for the sake of all that is good and holy) into the vaginas of coerced women.

Fellow physicians, once again we are being used as tools to screw people over. This time, it’s the politicians who want to use us to implement their morally reprehensible legislation. They want to use our ultrasound machines to invade women’s bodies, and they want our hands to be at the controls. Coerced and invaded women, you have a problem with that? Blame us evil doctors. We are such deliciously silent scapegoats.

It is our responsibility, as always, to protect our patients from things that would harm them. Therefore, as physicians, it is our duty to refuse to perform a medical procedure that is not medically indicated. Any medical procedure. Whatever the pseudo-justification.

It’s time for a little old-fashioned civil disobedience.

The physician goes on to list ways of legal noncompliance with the new forced transvaginal ultrasound laws. The post has sparked what John says has been his "busiest day since 2008" and has required him to evidently sit guard with an iron fist on the comments section, and turn off comments in order to be able to sleep. The comments and stories elicited there are amazing and heartfelt.

It sounds like a country united.

[longship]

1. Let's Rec this to the top of the Greatest

Right on target.

[K Gardner]

7. thank you...this one needs exposure. nt

[BlueIris]

2. Token protests against misogyny here and there don't impress me.

I'll be impressed when the legalized brutalization of women is OUTLAWED. When it is no longer acceptable for anyone to even THINK about restricting our rights in these abusive ways. When people who engage in premeditated, organized attempts to torture and neglect women seeking basic medical care are PUNISHED and PREVENTED from doing further damaged. Especially when the perpetrators are people in positions of power like politicians, doctors and members of law enforcement.

Until then, one or two "Hey, it's wrong" statements and protests mean nothing.

[saras]

3. If no one says it's wrong or cares enough to protest, why bother changing the law?

Personally I think everyone should always practice civil disobedience. The only reason it fails is that the vast majority of us betray it most of the time. If no significant number of doctors would do TV ultrasounds, A. women wouldn't have it done to them between now and when the law changes, B. support for changing the law will be widespread and strong in the parts of the world that currently have the power, and C. the law will get changed a hell of a lot sooner.

In addition, I think it's a good thing that we all be reminded that there is such a thing as post-conventional morality, that these laws serve a purpose and are not a purpose unto themselves, and that responsible adults have, as part of their responsibility, that of bending or even breaking the law when the literal interpretation of it is clearly wrong.

[K Gardner]

8. Appreciate your rational and tempered

Response to above comment. You made valid and true points.

[Humanist_Activist]

4. I would agree, if it was only symbolic...

however, if this doctor refuses to implement the law, and other join them, then the law becomes unenforceable, and will be forced to change. If the law passes, and doctors would prefer to become criminals rather than violate their ethics, then what comes to pass is what we all want, making these abhorrent practices illegal.

[K Gardner]

10. This is what many MDs, nurse practitioners, ultrasound techs

and others in the medical field are hoping will happen. The doctor makes extremely valid points. And if something isn't done now, then there is no logical ending to the medical madness.

[Brettongarcia]

14. We might be able to bust this Texas law in COURT, as legalized/coerced rape

The Texas sonogram law passed one appeal to US District Court, in Louisiana; but it may be that other appeals will work

While the wording IS loose enough for physicians and others to play around with it.

There's a fair change we can convict Rick Perry and the Texas state legislature, of RAPE.

With a few good lawyers?

[Mopar151]

5. All or nothing positions - usually become nothing

And a lot of women picket clinics, go to fundie churches, and vote for fools like Santorum. Men - yes, us evil brutes - are often brutalized here too. Ask Trayvon William's family, or Scott Olson.

[trusty elf]

6. Glad to hear it.

The headline for this article is unfortunate, though.

"Physician speaks out against... civil disobedience"?

[K Gardner]

9. oops. Didn't notice that until you

Mentioned it.

[Aerows]

11. I liked this comment

from a poster at that site:

If you’re a doctor just coming out of medical school, would you want to practice in a state where procedures are dictated on a political instead of a medical basis? Laws like these are going to result in a shortage of ob/gyn physicians in those areas in 5-10 years, but by then it’ll be too late to do anything about it.

And I agree with that poster. If I was just coming out of medical school, I wouldn't want to practice in a state like that. These legislators are going to ruin health care for women in their states.

[hifiguy]

12. Kickety rec!!

[K Gardner]

13. Thank you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Kick and recommended

I was wondering when doctors would finally say ENOUGH!!!!