Doctor Forced to Apologize to Pagan Patient
Monday May 25, 2009
In Great Britain, a report reveals that a doctor was ordered to apologize to a Pagan patient, who complained that her practitioner "oozed Christianity." The patient complained that her doctor's overt religious beliefs "made it impossible to forge a doctor-patient relationship." She also said that "her medication had been drastically changed" and that the doctor made "condescending and threatening' statements."
Now, the report doesn't go into detail about what specifically was said, and in fact the study from Britain's Healthcare Commission indicates that several hundred people complained about their doctors' beside manners last year. But really, it does make me wonder about a few things. You see, I've worked in a doctor's office, for many years, in fact. And I know that one of the key aspects of being an empowered patient is to let the doctor know if you have a problem. If you feel a doctor is being condescending or offensive, as the patient, you need to let him or her know. Also, I'm wondering exactly what "oozing Christianity" consists of. Did he simply wear a cross around his neck, or tell the patient to have a "blessed day"? Or was it far more overt, with preaching and attempts at conversion?
Regardless of what this particular situation was, if you feel as though a doctor or other professional is treating you differently because of your beliefs, it's important to be upfront about it. Chances are that they don't realize their behavior is offensive - they may not even be aware of it. It's up to you, as the patient, to say, "You may not even know you're doing this, but I feel as though you're trying to push your beliefs on me, and that makes it hard for us to have a good doctor-patient relationship." If your complaints are not addressed or responded to, then you should really consider finding another physician.
Also, remember that in most places you are not obligated to answer questions about your religious beliefs. When you are checked into a hospital or health care facility, there is often a box you can check for religion, but you are not required to answer it -- it's strictly for demographic purposes and has no bearing on your health care.
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Now, the report doesn't go into detail about what specifically was said, and in fact the study from Britain's Healthcare Commission indicates that several hundred people complained about their doctors' beside manners last year. But really, it does make me wonder about a few things. You see, I've worked in a doctor's office, for many years, in fact. And I know that one of the key aspects of being an empowered patient is to let the doctor know if you have a problem. If you feel a doctor is being condescending or offensive, as the patient, you need to let him or her know. Also, I'm wondering exactly what "oozing Christianity" consists of. Did he simply wear a cross around his neck, or tell the patient to have a "blessed day"? Or was it far more overt, with preaching and attempts at conversion?
Regardless of what this particular situation was, if you feel as though a doctor or other professional is treating you differently because of your beliefs, it's important to be upfront about it. Chances are that they don't realize their behavior is offensive - they may not even be aware of it. It's up to you, as the patient, to say, "You may not even know you're doing this, but I feel as though you're trying to push your beliefs on me, and that makes it hard for us to have a good doctor-patient relationship." If your complaints are not addressed or responded to, then you should really consider finding another physician.
Also, remember that in most places you are not obligated to answer questions about your religious beliefs. When you are checked into a hospital or health care facility, there is often a box you can check for religion, but you are not required to answer it -- it's strictly for demographic purposes and has no bearing on your health care.
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Comments
“If your complaints are not addressed or responded to, then you should really consider finding another physician.”
My wife makes it a litmus test: first visit to a new doc, she wears a prominent Lilith pendant. If the doc says anything negative, that’s the end of that; the woods are full of doctors.
“When you are checked into a hospital or health care facility, there is often a box you can check for religion, but you are not required to answer it — it’s strictly for demographic purposes and has no bearing on your health care.”
It is also there so the pastoral corps knows who needs visiting. I would make damned sure to fill in “Pagan” as one little datum that tells them they need Pagan chaplains. This may vary by location as well.
Yeah,
I, too would have to wonder exactly what “oozing Christianity” is supposed to mean in the first place.
Secondly,
I’d like to know exactly what “condescending” remarks were made.
It is too often that people become overly sensitive nowadays.
Now if, indeed, the doctor was acting in an inappropriate way, well sure he should be made to apologize, and should be repremanded.
Also, if this person feels that this particular doctor is that offensive and is undermining her health(adjusting her medication to unsafe levels), she should consider changing physicians.
I couldnt comment on the above case but a few years ago, I went to the doctors and asked for the morning-after pill only to be told she wouldnt prescibe it because it was against her religion and was the same as having abortion. I was really upset at her attitude and complained to the practice manager who got me in with another doctor who gave me the pill. I was told that the practise was aware of her beliefs and I should have booked with a different doctor. However, as I had booked with the duty doctor I didnt really have any choice.
This is a tough one to call. Of course I feel for anyone who is genuinely insulted about their faith by someone in a position of power, but there are also so many disagreeable, over-sensitive patients who think that suing their doctor and local medical practice is a quick buck. Doctors can and do lose their jobs over this and medical council rulings are *not* fast. A doctor can be prevented from practicing medicine while an investigation is on-going, but investigations can take anywhere from six to twelve months to complete and can debilitate a doctor’s confidence and therefore their ability to do their job. Of course doctors who do wrong should be punished, but they are humans too and all humans have off days sometimes. It is difficult to assess what offended the patient when the details are hidden too.
“I was told that the practise was aware of her beliefs and I should have booked with a different doctor.”
Luna, that’s awful. If you are the one seeking medical treatment, you should be able to go to any medical practitioner in confidence to be treated, not book specifically with a doctor who is accomodating of all faiths. Doctors should be accomodating of all faiths as a matter of course. Your local practice is letting this intolerant doctor get away without serving the needs of their community and that is disgraceful.
I know that many doctors are against the morning after pill, and to be honest, they are allowed to say they won’t prescribe it if it goes against their faith. I wouldn’t want to be forced to do something I didn’t agree with either.
However, when making the appointment, the staff should have asked what the appointment was for, and then booked accordingly.
The doctor has every right to refuse to issue a non-mandatory prescription, and the patient has every right to request it.
I appreciate the fact that doctors, as well as others, have deeply held religious beliefs. However, I feel that their Hippocratic oath should take precedence and that they should treat their patients according to THEIR religious beliefs, often just as deeply held. What kind of outcry would there be if a pagan doctor (they do have those, you know) trampled a christian patient’s desires? Of course, that would probably not happen. (By the way, ironic that the random banner ad that came up on this page for me was an ad for a Mormon video about how Christ changes lives.)
The pediatrician for my baby ‘oozes Christianity’ and conservatism. We stay there because we like the nurse practitioner, they’re all friendly enough, and they’re never crowded.
The doctor includes biblical passages on all of his stationary and sends out a flyer every year with lots of further information. My husband has the words “Freedom From Religion” printed prominently on his forearm and they had a short conversation about it once with no change in care for my son. It was borderline offensive – the dr shared this brilliant insight: ‘but doesn’t that mean you’re just part of an anti-religion religion?’ We laughed about it, though.
The problem I have with his office is his political influence-he puts up tons of flyers with things designed to scare patients with kids. Vote against gay marriage and save our children. Vote against allowing transgendered men/women in the restrooms of their choice or we’ll have stalkers lurking to attack your kids under the doors.
I wouldn’t file a complaint without talking to them about it, first. Plus, I’ve never felt that we were treated any differently as a result any disagreements! I have to admit, I’ve been tempted to wear gay pride shirts on dr day!
What brought the subject of religion up in the first place I wonder. I have no clue what religion my Dr.’s practice.
Hospitals do use the info on Religion. If you die or get very ill then they may use your checked box to call in the right religious official to be with you. A Jewish man wouldn’t want a catholic priest by his side. I know my grandma checked that box and she was devoutly catholic and when she was very sick the catholic priest would come in and give her communion and pray with her. However being a pagan the last person I would want would be a catholic priest.
I completely sympathize with this woman- I had a very similar experience recently. I started going to a new doctor, and things were going well, until he began to preach zealously at me.
I tried to respectfully inform him that my views were different and that I was not interested, but that only made it worse. He turned it into a full-blown attempt at conversion.
He went so far as to tell me that my medical condition would not improve unless I “gave myself totally and completely to Jesus Christ” and that I had “opened the door of evil” because I was not ’saved.’
I chose to leave his practice after that. I felt that I could never form a doctor-patient trust with him with that hanging over my head.
It is up to the patient to inform the doctor that they are uncomfortable with their extroverted views on religion, but doctors should also take the responsibility and respect that everyone has different views and keep religion out of their practice.
I’ve had a similar experience. Back in 2002, I was hospitalized for depression in Texas. When I went to the hospital, they asked me to mark the box of my religion, so I did. And for the month I stayed there, I didn’t like the way they treated me. Every morning and night, you were forced to join hands and say the “Lord’s Prayer”. But what really offended me was that someone (I don’t know if it was a patient or a nurse) tore up a Bible and blamed it on me. I couldn’t sue them at the time, becuase I was unable to due to the fact the had me on 16 different meds during the course of the month. Now I’m back in Florida, free of meds, and happy.
I agree, religion should be kept out of the doctors/practitioners office, unless specifically asked for. Otherwise just give the advice and medication, cause this is what they went to school for not the seminary.
And yes there is a box to check if you don’t want a religious church person visiting you. I know this all to well. But when you arrive at the hospital in an uncounscious state and wake a few days later – then that is when you find out a priest or other has visited you.
Of course when I did come to I asked that they not visit and I had the box checked for ‘pagan’ just so they would know in the future.
Having been a hospital nurse (critical care…ER and ICU) for many years, that box is there for a reason. There are many religions which have very specific dietary requirements, for example, there are many which have articles of clothing which should never be removed, there are many where daily worship of some sort is an integral part, if not mandatory. Some belief systems require the bed to be facing in a certain direction. If you don’t check it, or have someone else do so for you, then they have no way of knowing what, if anything, you believe. Even tattoos aren’t a sure clue…people’s beliefs can change over time,and a tattoo you got when you were twenty may not be ‘true’ for you when you’re sixty. I did an informal study once and asked older people with tattoos if they’d do it again. Every single one said no. The ink runs and the meaning, as I said, can change. Also, if a crucifix on the wall offends you, there’s no way for the (usually overworked) staff to do anything about it without knowing so. Most hospital staff that I’ve ever known work on the general principle that unless they know about someone’s specific faith requirements then they can’t do anything about them. We’re not mind readers, and we’re horrifically busy. In the townin which I currently live, there is a Catholic hospital, a Jewish hospital, a small Seventh-Day-Adventist clinic,and some non-denominational institutions. So there’s always a chance that you’ll end up somewhere that you disagree with.
I too work in a medcial clinic, for the past 4 years. I don’t wear a pentical but I do wear a necklace w/3 charms that represent what I believe in as well as several celtic rings. One girl knew immediatly what they represented and was very cool with it. She is pagen too. My boss has seen my necklace, her boss has seen it, the CEO of the co has seen it, patience have seen it and I have had some comments about what an interesting necklace it is. I wear it and my ring 24/7. It has never offend anyone that asked the reason behind it. Our dr’s have seen it, as well as the techs. So either, they are uninterested or I’ve been very lucky. I would like to think that they are just not interested. We did have a pediatrician that was very, very overtly christain in the office decor, I just ignored it. And the pamplets I left in the exam room. He never said anything to us.
It must have never occured to any of you that maybe this person lived in a place where doctors are scarce and maybe, just maybe she didnt have the option of just going to another physician.
I had a similar experience once. When I was sixteen, I was advised to see a therapist for my depression. Because of financial issues, the only choice for us was the therapist who worked through my family’s physician. During my first session, the topic of religion came up, which made sense to me as one’s spiritual beliefs can affect their view of life. I’m a Pagan Unitarian-Universalist and she is Baptist. Unfortunately, all subsequent visits became religious discussions and my depression–or any other aspect of my life, for that matter–was ignored. Eventually, I just faked happiness to get away from her. The sad thing is the woman didn’t even question my ‘miraculous’ cure.
I have been going to the same doctor for years, so I was surprised last year when during my annual physical he asked if I attended church service. I said, well kind of, and explained I belonged to a pagan group and we had get togethers and circles periodically. He made some comment about how his secretary was going to have a good laugh about that when she typed up my papers. I thought that was a rather offensive remark to make. After all, I didn’t laugh at his attending a “holy roller” church. I simply told him I attend the Ozark Avalon, Church of Nature. What is so weird about that???
I have to say I have been impressed with our local hospital. During a lengthy stay by my beloved, she did check “pagan/wiccan” on the admission form. Several of the chaplains showed up, but not one wanted to convert her or preach at her. Every last one wanted to offer comfort, and (most impressive) talk with her about how to better serve other pagan/wiccan patients, since they had little training or experience. Each and every one of them sat with me during her surgeries, asked if they could pray for her, and asked good, intelligent questions about providing compassion and comfort to pagan patients. More amazing, it’s a Catholic-based hospital. The fact that we were both pagan and lesbian caused no problems at all – they went out of their way to care for her and include me in the process.
If one is forced to apologize, then it doesn’t mean a thing. One should be sorry!