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AIBU?

About this GP

458 replies

slightlyconfused85 · 11/08/2015 15:24

Now before I start I generally think Gps are amazing people, I'm not dissing the profession. Today, however, I booked an appointment to get the contraceptive pill after the birth of my 2nd child. I was given an appointment with a locum who explained my options to me, then said he didn't prescribe contraception for ethical reasons. I then had to wait 45 minutes for another gp to be able to fit me in to prescribe this for me. Aibu to think that if the gp surgery is going to have locums that won't do this then they could have let me know on the phone when I booked? I know the receptionist didn't know what I wanted but they could say if it's an appointment to discuss contraception then say and we will find a different GP. Had loads of time wasted today and feeling (probably irrationally) irritable about it!

OP posts:

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Pneumometer · 11/08/2015 17:25

bullshit I think she got her job back.

She didn't. She took it to the ECHR (funding by the "we like losing cases so we can pretend we are martyrs" Christian Institute) and lost.

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SilverdaleGlen · 11/08/2015 17:25

The thing is even if they pre-warn patients say with a sign in reception it still implicitly adds a stigma to that service. Like it's something shameful to be dealt with by the GP with lesser "ethics".

It's wrong. Don't choose it for yourself fine. Don't choose a job where you are forcing your choices upon others.

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ConferencePear · 11/08/2015 17:30

I wonder what the reaction would be if, as a patient, I said I would only consult a doctor who is an atheist ?

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spanisharmada · 11/08/2015 17:31

But they're not forcing their ethics on anyone, and neither are they having anyone else's ethics forced on them. It really is a two way thing. Just because their ethics are different from yours doesn't suggest they consider yours to be lesser, or vice versa. Especially if you both are given the rights and freedom to live according to your own ethics withoutfear or recrimination. sorry too many ethics there like I say I don't know how else the system could work really.
45 min wait was shit though obviously!

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shazzarooney99 · 11/08/2015 17:32

I dont think they should be able to practise if they cant prescribe because of religion, there used to be a doctor in Manchester that used to be like that and i think its unfair. Does that then mean if another religion that a patient needs a transplant they wont refer them for one?

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didyouwritethe · 11/08/2015 17:32

Maybe it should be taught as part of PSHE in schools that doctors can express their own personal views to patients, and that it is different from doctor to doctor. It is awful that children aren't aware of this. They think they are getting objective advice.

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petalunicorn · 11/08/2015 17:34

I don't swear much, but in this case I think what Ten said.

How old was the GP OP? If they are 50+ I wonder if they have 18 children.

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slightlyconfused85 · 11/08/2015 17:35

He looked very young, 23 or so

OP posts:

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CoogerAndDark · 11/08/2015 17:36

What if every GP holds that belief? If the right to refuse treatment is enshrined in the NHS where does that leave women wanting a legal treatment but unable to access it? We can't leave it to the law of averages and say "oh well, there'll be someone, somewhere who will ok it"

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happygirl87 · 11/08/2015 17:40

People up thread have said that Drs can't/shouldn't perform a pelvic exam without a chaperone- but the poster (think it was mygranchildrenrock, sorry if not) stated that she offered to wait for a chaperone and he still declined! So he won't do them at all- anti vaginas?!

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Bullshitbingo · 11/08/2015 17:41

Pod point cooger and if society takes a swing to the right and Drs are allowed to indulge their 'beliefs' who's to say we won't end up back in a world where abortion and contraception cannot be accessed by everyone. Scary.

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Bullshitbingo · 11/08/2015 17:42

Good point! No idea what a pod point is

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lunar1 · 11/08/2015 17:42

To anyone who is remotely sticking up for the gp, imagine I'm a woman in an abusive marriage. (Hypothetical situation) I've mustered up all my courage to quickly sneak out to get the depo, my husband rapes me several times a week so even though it's a risk and he could find out as long as I'm quick I can be back before he knows I've been somewhere I shouldn't. The benefit outweighs the risk of what he would do, how could I risk bringing a child into this?

What the fuck happens if a woman in this situation is presented with this cunt of a GP? He is not fit for the job he is doing and should not be allowed to practice. There are many areas of medicine where he wouldn't have to deal with contraception, he should stop using his religion as a stick to beat women with.

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CalmYourselfTubbs · 11/08/2015 17:44

ok - i'll go for it....

can you describe him physically?
had he an accent?

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CoogerAndDark · 11/08/2015 17:46

Ethnicity isn't really relevant, Tubbs, is it? No one is knocking individual faiths here. The GP described his refusal on ethical grounds. It doesn't matter where that's coming from, just that he is allowed to refuse treatment that is legal.

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tiggytape · 11/08/2015 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ElkeDagMeisje · 11/08/2015 17:48

I think his beliefs should be made public, since he is working in role dealing with members of the public. So there should be a big sign up next to his name and online and whatever saying "this doctor does not prescribe contraception to women" or similar.

If he suffers a loss of patients which makes him less employable, its his own fault.

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CalmYourselfTubbs · 11/08/2015 17:48

just curious really....

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tiggytape · 11/08/2015 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spanisharmada · 11/08/2015 17:59

Sorry coogar just saw your post at the top of the page, the thing is under the current system women aren't refused treatment (as op wasn't refused treatment), I think legally they have to refer the patient to someone else who will provide it, so both the patient's health and the doctors rights are protected.

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Peaceloveandcustardcreams · 11/08/2015 18:00

A GP at a surgery I was once registered with had adorned his walls with crucifixes and religious quotations, which I thought was a bit heavy, especially if you were there to talk about a termination.

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CassieBearRawr · 11/08/2015 18:03

Yes, legally they do have to refer you to someone else who will do it. The point it you shouldn't be able to palm part of your job off onto someone else in the first place.

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whois · 11/08/2015 18:03

I don't think they should be allowed to opt out of providing legal medical treatment because of ethical reasons.

I had a GP while I was at uni refuse to prescribe contraception for ethical reasons. I hadn't realise they could do that, and it was a pain to have to go back and get another appointment.

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Pico2 · 11/08/2015 18:05

It's not like people who hold these views can't be doctors. There are plenty of alternative career paths if general practice doesn't suit. It must've harder if a pharmacist takes this approach as most community pharmacists work only with assistants.

I'd rather we stopped calling religion "ethics".

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Indomitable · 11/08/2015 18:10

I just want to say I agree wholeheartedly with Ten's posts.

Also, that he wasn't objecting for ethical reasons. Ethics (I think) is quite an objective area of study.

This doctor (and those individuals mentioned) are objecting because of their own religious reasons. Or at best, their personal reasons.

It is utterly unethical to grant a woman agency over her own body.

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