Atheist doctors must come out of the closet

[rug]

DAVID MANN, MD | PHYSICIAN | DECEMBER 2, 2016

Reading about the opening of the Noah’s Ark Theme Park in Kentucky brings to mind the days when I worked as a physician in that state. I had moved from an academic position in Colorado and joined a large group of private practice cardiologists in Louisville. I found that people in Kentucky were different from those in Colorado. They were much more overtly religious.

As an interventional electrophysiologist, I would meet with each patient’s family before and after every procedure. Not infrequently, one person from each group in the waiting room was introduced as “this is our pastor.” Usually, at some point, the pastor would suggest a round of prayer, and I was expected to participate, at least by bowing my head and maintaining a respectful silence. If the prayer was before the procedure, the primary focus was usually to make sure God guided my hand, and the outcome would be good. Prayers after the procedure usually focused on thanking God for safely getting the patient through the procedure and asking for a speedy recovery.

It was not a good time to bring up the fact that I was an atheist. So I just went along with it, only briefly and mildly discomforted. Religion gives strength and comfort to people in life and death situations that doctors often deal with. I rationalized that my silent participation was helping my patient and the family psychologically. Besides, how would they feel about my performing complicated heart procedures on their loved one if they thought I was an unbelieving heathen incapable of accepting God’s guiding hand?

It’s uncomfortable to be an atheist and a doctor, just as it uncomfortable in America to be an atheist in general. Polls show that the public distrust atheists to about the same degree they distrust Muslims. Being an atheist is practically taboo for someone running for public office. George W. Bush, Sr. famously said, “… I don’t think that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God.” Atheists are considered immoral by religious people. They point to the atrocities committed by Stalin, Mao or Hitler. Atheists, in turn, point out the Crusades, the Inquisition, the burning of witches or, more recently, the atrocities of al-Qaeda and ISIS. Neither the religious nor the non-religious have a monopoly on morality.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2016/12/atheist-doctors-must-come-closet.html

[Jake Stern]

1. There are respectful ways to decline participation in prayer circles, etc.

Call me old fashioned but a physician's religious beliefs (or lack thereof) should be kept to themselves. The task of a physician is to be focused on the patient and, at least in this country, the majority of patients will have some sort of religious beliefs.

Being respectful doesn't mean a physician is endorsing religion, it means he or she is respecting the faith of their patients a troubled point in their lives. That guy wasn't laid on an operating table to discuss the trout fishing in Idaho Springs.

If a patient asks then yes a physician can be open about who they are.

[struggle4progress]

2. I think I'd avoid a doctor who was too interested in discussing religious matters,

much as I'd avoid a doctor who was too interested in discussing political matters: I'm interested in the person's medical competence, not in the person's personal beliefs

I don't really care whether my doctors are Republicans or Democrats, and I don't really care whether my doctors are atheists or Jains or Baptists or Jews.