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Originally Posted by wowitsdark  Yeah... but being ready to shoot someone is a pretty critical aspect of being a policeman.
I'd venture to say that there are many MD's who are never, ever confronted with the request to perform an abortion. From ophthalmologists to pediatricians to geriatrics MD's, it's not even an issue. And I think it would be a very sad day if someone who has a heart for women and babies couldn't practice medicine because his conscience would not allow him to perform abortions.
A policeman is in a much different situation because the need to shoot someone is not something you can refer to another officer, kwim? A physician can most certainly tell a patient who requests an abortion that they will need to see another doctor for that service. In fact, doctors frequently send patients on to specialists for procedures they *can't* perform... so I don't see how this is any different. My MD made the choice to stop delivering babies except in the case of emergencies when he's working the ER.
I'd say a pharmacist is likely an employee of a pharmacy and is obligated to dispense medicines carried by his employer, or if there are multiple pharmacists on duty and someone's conscience will not allow him/her to dispense BC, they can simply call on another pharmacist to fill the script.
If a pharmacy is going to require a pharmacist to violate his conscience then I'd say the pharmacist has an obligation *not* to take on employment at that location and needs to open up his/her own shop where he/she can call the shots, or look for an employer whose values are aligned with his/hers.
The ministers I know aren't paid for their ceremony performing duties, but often an honorarium is given to them. Just as in the Catholic church there are reasons the church does not accept some marriages on religious grounds, many other faiths have religious reasons for not joining some couples in marriage. If, for example, two married people have an affair, divorce their original spouses, and then want to be married to one another, I would assume that many ministers would not be able to perform such a ceremony and would refer them to a JOP if they were bent on tying the knot. |
I don't disagree. But, when a person enters medical school they may make the conscience decision to not go into a field that doesn't even enter into the whole quagmire that is abortion (like cardiologist, geriatrics, orthopedics, etc.) to avoid the issue--which is great. and like you said, they can always refer to another MD.
Pharmacists are a little different--there may not be another pharmacist on call to refer to...(small towns sometimes only have the one pharmacy).
But, for example an ER doctor, may be called upon to perform an D&C--and he/she may not be able to pass it on to another MD (again, I come from and live in Rural areas where one doctor may be the ONLY MD). It's not the MDs place to judge the morality, and if they are then perhaps they should reconsider their profession.
What about the MDs who treat those afflicted by STDs? or alcoholism?
I'm sure that there are some things that all Drs. would prefer not to treat--but if they aren't willing to overcome their own feelings, who would treat???