The Hippocratic Oath: Is a prior abortion an acceptable reason to turn away a patient?

[uncommon]

>snip from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

Modern Version

A widely used modern version of the traditional oath was penned in 1964 by Dr. Louis Lasagna, former Principal of the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University:

“I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given to me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.”


This is the modern version of the oath taken by physicians in this country.

So, I ask you DU - is it acceptable for a physician to turn away a female patient on the sole basis of her prior abortion?

[DURHAM D]

1. Of course. She has a pre-existing condition known as "female". nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. don't feed the trolls.

[uncommon]

4. It's not just that though - this is actually happening.

[leftofcool]

3. No it most certainly NOT a good reason.

[Pathwalker]

5. Not just no, but HELL NO! n/t

[Richard D]

6. The only acceptable reason to turn a patient away . . .

. . . is if the doctor thinks a different doctor would be better able to help the patient based on his or her skill set and experience. That isn't really turning them away but simply referring them to someone possibly more competent.

[ceile]

7. Absolutely not. n/t

[Winterblues]

8. How about if the person can't pay?

If being a doctor is a business as some have indicated then it should stand to reason , no pay no service..If you can turn someone away for not having any money then you can turn someone away for most any "legal" reason.

[Pathwalker]

9. Don't Doctors run practices, not businesses?

They're practicing, not running. Oh, and they bury their mistakes, like my late mother-in-law.

[damntexdem]

12. But these doctors' practices are not making perfect.

;-)

[kestrel91316]

10. No.

[damntexdem]

11. Yeah, but these doctors take the Hypocritic Oath.

And their licenses to practice medicine should be yanked.