Decisions Should Be Between Patients and Their Doctors—Not Catholic Bishops

[trotsky]

http://time.com/4067909/doctors-catholic-bishops/

As a medical professional, the oath I take is to first “do no harm.” I take that to mean that my job and that of my colleagues is to take the best care possible of our patients. We balance the available medical tools and best practices with the wishes of our patients, and we make decisions based on what would best serve them.

Hospital policies such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services that limit what physicians can tell and offer our patients can be extremely dangerous—and sometimes even life-threatening. That is why the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against the Trinity Health Corporation, one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems, is so important. Catholic hospitals should be held to the same standards as others around the country.

...

Nearly one in nine hospital beds in the country are in a Catholic facility. Few women may know that they’re entering a Catholic hospital before arriving. They may live in an area where that hospital is the only option, or have the doctor they know and trust affiliated with it. They shouldn’t have to compromise their care because of religious directives.

Medicine is not an exact science. Sometimes split-second decisions need to be made, and often, there’s no perfect answer. That’s why medical professionals are trained to act swiftly and with the best interests of our patients in mind. It’s not in the best interests of anyone, not least of all the people seeking our help, to have those decisions questioned by non-medical entities.

[Angry Dragon]

1. so true

[skepticscott]

2. Hey, as some arrogant posters here have declared

Catholic doctrine and policy don't affect anyone who isn't Catholic, even in areas where the Catholic Church has essentially monopolized hospital care, so what does it matter? And if women need birth control as a health measure, fuck 'em. (and yes, jury, that WAS sarcasm..I don't really think that, despite what the lying alerter is saying). They can just go to a drugstore and buy condoms (as that same arrogant poster opined).

[Act_of_Reparation]

3. In before some idiot says "Go to a different hospital." (n/t)

[trotsky]

4. Right, because that's always such a simple option...

especially for a woman having a pregnancy crisis and only one (Catholic) hospital in town!