Or should GP surgery's not be allowed to advertise themselves as 'pro-life'?

[Clownwithafrown]

I'm job hunting and came across an ad for a medical receptionist at a GP surgery. I wasn't sure where exactly this particular surgery was so googled it and this statement was on the home page; 'The Doctors here at xxxx Surgery are committed to a 'pro-life' policy. This means that the Doctors value each individual’s 'life' from conception to natural death.'

I'm not reading that wrong am I, they are stating that they're anti abortion aren't they? Surely that shouldn't be allowed at an NHS practice should it? I'm a bit gobsmacked that it's blatantly there on the home page, literally the first thing you see when you click on the site. And it clearly means all the doctors, I mean obviously people don't have to register with that surgery but for there to be no options for those who already are registered just doesn't seem right to me. Does anyone know if this is actually allowed?

I'm going to be asking about this at work today. I've never come across such a bizarre statement. It's the thin end of the wedge. I would be deeply uncomfortable about working in a practice where the GP s feel comfortable putting a statement out like this. Nothing about this is ok.

Absolutely outrageous. No HCP should be forced to act against their conscience-but must refer patients on to someone else. This statement would potentially put off women seeking help in a situation where time is of the essence. Oh and @YankSplaining "I’ve heard several stories about women who were very clear with their doctors that they weren’t going to have an abortion, only to have the doctors keep bringing it up again and again."
Yeah, sure you have.

They do not offer all the services I expect from a GP.

They do not offer many popular forms of contraception - IUDs, the implant.

They do not offer the morning after pill.

They will not refer a patient for an abortion if requested.

For all of these they would, if requested, refer you to another GP (or pharmacist for MAP), for you to request that they provide the contraception or refer you for an abortion. Given that timelines are already tight for abortions and many women already wait longer than they should, this would delay things even further.

@olympicsrock " They must refer to alternative services. They are simply informing their staff / patients of the policy so that patients know the score."

If you needed an abortion how would you know that?

I live in a village with only one GP. He will not refer for terminations, nor will he prescribe the morning-after pill.

I wouldn't register with them or work for them.

No, I don't think a medical provider should be able to refuse to give legal medical care to a woman who needs it.

@GirlOfThe70s would he at least tell a woman she can get it over the counter at a pharmacy?

Its incredibly difficult getting an abortion in a rural area. I found it hard to arrange around childcare and had to travel about 30 miles which would have probably been impossible without my own car. Imagine a young girl or single mum who doesn't drive, or someone who wants to keep it from an abusive partner. Its disgusting that there are so called professionals in the UK blocking women from accessing a perfectly legal and vital part of healthcare. It's not publicised so people don't realise it's going on. Thank goodness they kept the mail order pill scheme going, although that won't be appropriate in many situations.

I'm very shocked by that. I'd interpret that as them being terrible on contraception, morning after pill, abortion and palliative care.

I'm all for the general public being allowed to have an opinion, but I think if a Doctor wants to say they are pro life, then they shouldn't be an NHS GP. This isn't about religion, opinions, morals - if you want that talk to a Priest. This is about healthcare paid for by the tax payer.

They don't offer the MAP, or the IUD (many GPs don't do the latter tbf). They just refer you on. And they'll refer you on for abortion requests.

"We provide advice on the risks and benefits of all methods of contraception. We provide the oral contraceptive pill (both combined and mini-pill) and the contraceptive injection.
We will refer patients to the appropriate service provider for contraceptive implants, intrauterine devices, emergency contraception and requests for termination of pregnancy."

I did think reading it - “resolution of a missed miscarriage” would have been clear enough.
It’s effectively the same procedure as an abortion. Medically it was called an evacuation of retained products of contraception when I had one and I think that’s not really much better in terms of a sensitive description 😕

That's terrible. The surgery the OP is talking about is in an urban area at least with other surgeries around.

I think ask them. Drs do not have to refer for TOP but they can provide details of somewhere that can so that will be provided.
It's an odd thing to put re natural death - we all care until natural death !! Euthanasia isn't legal in the uk and even if it were it wouldn't be GPs doing it!! Maybe it reflects the patient population queries or something ??

Possibly they're all Christian but they're certainly not all the same cultural background.

I wouldn’t want to work there. Doctoring is not about inflicting your views on your patients.
I’d be running that job ad past the GMC for advice as well.

You cannot force people to act against their beliefs in any circumstances. We aren’t Russia, we aren’t Afghanistan, we aren’t North Korea. You cannot have a society where we actively encourage difference of opinions then tell people ‘no, not your opinion, that doesn’t count’. What we do have is an NHS system whereby women can access abortion services in different ways. Fortunately, we don’t live in a country where abortion is illegal in the vast majority of cases.

Beliefs don't trump scientific evidence.

That's outrageous. It's one thing being able to opt out of performing abortions, it's quite another to refuse treatment for someone with medical needs because you don't like something they have done. That absolutely should be illegal.

It clearly says they will refer for termination.

Many gp surgeries do not offer those services in my area it’s all done at the sexual health clinics the gp just refers. So they aren’t actually doing anything different they don’t even need that ‘pro life’ statement for any reason other than to draw attention to something as it’s not affecting the level of care they offer ?

It’s either some kind of wording mistake (which would make them stupid to not know the offence it would cause!) or they mean they aren’t restricting services but you would then know they are judging you which is unecessary and unprofessional .

I am pro-choice, and in fact find the term pro-life offensive. They mean anti-choice. It's crazy to me that GPs are allowed to choose what healthcare they think is allowable.

I had a really horrible and traumatic experience with a GP when pg though, that was the opposite of this. I had hyperemesis and was hoping to be prescribed anti-sickness meds, as I had in a previous pg. The GP asked me if I'd considered abortion. I said that it wasn't a consideration for this pg, that we wanted the baby and were in a good position to care for it. But she pressed and pressed, asking me if I thought termination was akin to killing, etc etc. I told her I didn't believe that at all and that women should feel free to choose, but she went on about it. I was quite upset about that, because I agreed with her stance but not the way she went about it.

Everyone is pro-life. This GP is anti-choice and not a provider of women's healthcare.

This is disgusting. Yes individual doctors should be able to hold a ‘pro-life’ opinion, but to advertise the whole GP service that way? How is that allowed?

I think it's good they advertise this way. It might save women the run around or a difficult experience if they know before even making an appointment.

Being pro-choice to me also means allowing for people to have different values. I fully support doctors and other professionals having the choice over participating in services that are contrary to their personal consciences. As long as they are professional in how they carry that out and make the referrals to someone who will refer as required.

I would refuse to participate in an abortion in a professional context. I don't mind what the woman does but I have to sleep at night too. If she is comfortable, fine. I don't have to be.