To think that religion shouldn't come into contraception advice?

[Sugarmuppet]

or am I being terribly nieve?

Having grown up in the country in the middle of no where, religion has never been a part of my life. Everyone just go on with everyone regardless of what religion you were. The question just never came up.

I recently moved into a very 'catholic' area of Glagow, my husband and his family are all practicing catholics. What an eye opener!

I joined his Doctors practice. Had nothing but great care during my pregnancy. Didn't even know it was a 'catholic' practice. Went today to get some contraception advice, I had eclampsia and the consultants at hospital warned me against going back on the pill. Anyway, my Doctor today says 'we are a Catholic practice. It is against my religion to deal with contraception requests, please go to your local family planning clinic'

Is that the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard?

SparklingExplosionGoldBrass That link and quote are FANTASTIC and just about say it all don't you think?

legally your doctor, can't refuse to treat your wishes to recieve contraception, the only thing they can refuse to treat is abortion, which goes for nurses too.

He may be religious, I too am catholic, and practice a no contraception rule, but wouldn't think of judging someone for wanting to go on the pill.
He needs to bring his practice into the 21st century.

You know what would take the pressure off GPs and make them less likely to have to make appointments for another day... People who went to FPCs when it is something as basic as contraception they need.

Not aimed at OP, just pointing out that it works the other way around. Until I was 27 I only ever went to the FPC, didn't occur to me to go to the doctor when there was nothing wrong with me.

From the General Medical Council Good Practice Pages

1. If carrying out a particular procedure or giving advice about it conflicts with your religious or moral beliefs, and this conflict might affect the treatment or advice you provide, you must explain this to the patient and tell them they have the right to see another doctor. You must be satisfied that the patient has sufficient information to enable them to exercise that right. If it is not practical for a patient to arrange to see another doctor, you must ensure that arrangements are made for another suitably qualified colleague to take over your role.

So he said contraception conflicted with his beliefs and suggested you went to the Family Planning Clinic... which looks like he stayed within the guidelines. However, like you, I'm very shocked that this happens in 2010.

GiddyPants If you were advised not to have any more children for health reasons would you change your mind about contraception? Would you be offended if someone in your family chose to use contraception? I am just curious and want to understand, not having a go!

The Doctor was female, think I would have been slightly less surprised if she had been male. But that is just me stereotyping.

I think the law is that a doctor could refuse any treatment that went against her beliefs but had to refer you directly to another doctor who could help.

I suppose they sort of did this...

My local FPC, th eaverage age of the "customers" is probably 15, I'd be mortified to go.

Yes, but is the OP seeking straightforward contraceptive advice? In view of her medical history I'd have thought the GP rather than FPC was more apt.

I'm on the pill more for medical reasons than fertility (PCOS, I needed intervention to get pg not prevent it!) - I needed a clued up GP who could work out the right pill to treat my wonky hormones, order the blood tests (the best pill for me has blood clot risks in some people, but tests showed I was low risk). Would an FP clinic have been able to do this? Would a 'catholic practice' have been able to deal with it because ooh, I was reducing my chances of conception from 2/5 of bugger all to 1/5 of bugger all?

I think that I would be expecting to get referred to a doctor in the same practice tbh, or at least somewhere nearby.

And I thought my logic was unassailable! I have used FPCs as a younger person but it makes sense that you use the GP if you want. Particularly in this case where there are medical reasons (well known by the GP) why some methods are not medically indicated.

I just object to this. There are large areas of the USA where there are NO doctors who will either prescribe contraception or refer for abortions. If one GP can object then they all can. Unless we are willing to have this scenario, can we let anyone opt out of the system? I don't see why they are allowed to do part of their job and not others. If they don't want to prescribe, fine... Go be a vet or a bus driver.

Not aimed at OP, just pointing out that it works the other way around. Until I was 27 I only ever went to the FPC, didn't occur to me to go to the doctor when there was nothing wrong with me.

That was in response to another post. As I said, not aimed at the OP, I can see why she went to her GP in the first instance although only she will know whether the FPC will be suitable for her needs.

Ask away it's not a problem
So far I have been ok with the no contraception, I only have 1 child which was planned, we have an average sex life, but use timing to avoid any unwanted pregnancies.

If anyone wanted to use contraception family friend whatever, it's upto them I'm not going to force my religious views down someones throat, what works for me may not work for someone else, I understand/accept that its not for me to judge anyone.
Actually by BF of about 16 years fell pregnant by accident, and wanted me to hold her hand while she went for an abortion. It was hard to choose, while I don't agree with abortion, I wanted to be there for my friend. In the end she decided against it and now has a beautiful daughter! and couldn't be happier.

I think there have been cases of people whose bullshits superstitions prevent them from being in the same room as alcohol. Some of these people have, knowing this, taken jobs in places wehre alcohol is served and yet refused to sell it to customers. ON being told to either do their jobs or fuck off, they have run off whining to lawyers claiming that their human rights are being infringed. I think that refusing to do any part of a legitimate job due to superstition should be a sacking offence. There are plenty of other jobs a superstitiious dickhead person can take on.

Katey I can totally see your point and I am really just arguing for the sake of it, but you could use the same argument for patients who only want to see a GP of a specific sex. If you don't want access to healthcare, don't use it.

I think the reason it is acceptable is because not everyone is opting out. I think if this became an issue, maybe things would have to be changed, but at the moment there is the scope to give GPs freedom to practise medicine and stand by their religious beliefs. I would far rather have an excellent GP who referred me elsewhere for one small area of medical treatment than have a mediocre one who did everything (and I see a lot of mediocre GP bashing on MN). My view is that there are options so at the moment it is not an issue.

Katey1010 where are these large areas.. I can only think possibly in amish town.. Maybe salt lake? But ive never actually heard of that

I see GPs as intelligent people and I hate having that belief shaken by some of them insisting on believing in this claptrap and being choosy about what to offer because of their beliefs.

I would be worried about their ability.

I don't think it is acceptable. If it is acceptable within the guidelines then the guidelines need to be changed.

I can understand GPs not being involved in abortion for ethical reasons, and likewise I can understand pharmacists not dispensing the morning after pill. But contraception is a very basic part of healthcare that is used by most women at some point in their lives. Every GP should be able to deal with contraception, particularly in the case of the OP where her contraceptive decisions have such a major overlap with her other health needs. Contraception is such a common request that it is absurd to be sent somewhere else; it would be like turning up at A&E and being told nobody was prepared to deal with fractures.

At the very least there should be one doctor in every practice who deals with contraception.

I assume it is because of issues like this that women's groups in the US have set up their own women only health centres and women only pharmacists.

I get that Serendippy. I think that the problem is that by the time more people are opting out, there is a tipping point, it becomes acceptable and then there is nothing you can do. It reminds me of the poem, "They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I was not a Communist..." By the time we get our knickers in a twist, no one can get contraception and you can't then start forcing GPs to offer it.

Just as an aside, more of my GPs than not have been from Muslim countries or had Muslim names etc. I have no idea whether they are practising or not. I have never been refused contraception by them. I wonder how people would feel if this was the scenario (considering the level of hysteria that headscarves seem to elicit). The DM would have kittens!

Scurry My MIL and SILs are of high intelligence, 'normal' people in every other aspect of their lives except when it comes to religion and their beliefs. Their lives revolve around believing the catholic 'claptrap'. Not something that I understand either, but it is obviously very important to them.

My OH has been married before. He got divorced because his wife had been cheating on him for 5 years! His own mother and father had difficulty accepting that he was getting a divorce. Most likely if his father had still been alive they wouldn't have attended our wedding (in Gretna Green wouldn't have been allowed to have it in Church). That is how much of a hold their relligion has on them. So can kind of see where the Doctor is coming from.

I can see it is important to some but I cannot equate intelligence with belief in religion.

It is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard!

Religion has no place in medicine, politics or education in my view!

Katey same argument should be used for abortion, then. Every doctor who is trained and able should be able to carry them out. I don't agree with this as long as a woman who wants an abortion and is within a legal timeframe can get one.

I don't think an intelligent, caring person should be discouraged from becoming a GP when there are other HCPs who can do the small part of their job they feel they cannot do.

As long as FPCs offer contraception and advice it will never become like the poem as they are a seperate branch of healthcare specialising in one area. Even if all GPs opted out, FPCs would still exist until nobody will give out contraception at all. And when this becomes the case, nobody will need it otherwise people who believed it was necessary would be training and working in FPC.

How strange that an intelligent person such as a Doctor should also talk to imaginary friends.

That is what worries me newwave.