:: Thursday, July 14, 2005 ::

Question for discussion (if anyone reads this anymore...)

Today I went to the drop in clinic, and waited for half an hour, only to be told that the doctor wouldn't be able to help me because what I wanted was against her religion.

On one hand, I agree. She shouldn't be forced to do things that are against her beliefs, and she shouldn't be unable to be a doctor because of her religion.

On the other hand, because of her religion, I was unable to have my medical needs met. There were no other doctors working at the clinic, and as a result I simply had to leave. I felt very judged.

I'm going to write a letter to the clinic, either way, to tell them to make a sign to put on their desk when this doctor is on-duty, so that other poor suckers don't end up waiting an hour for nothing. But I'm trying to decide if I want to say anything else.

Part of me feels like, if you're unwilling to perform a task so commonly asked of you in a drop-in clinic, should you be able to work in a drop-in clinic? Or should the onus be on you to open your own practice where your patients are aware of your ethics? Or to choose an area of the profession that doesn't encounter the area you have a problem with (heart surgeon, podiatrist...)?

I don't know. I don't want to say that people should be forced to change their religion for a job. But, if their religion makes them unable to do the job...

I can't decide. But I am not okay with what happened.


~song~ Coldplay - Trouble (Big Beat Remix)

:: Katy 1:31 a.m. [+] :: ::