Does anyone know of an atheist doctor out there?

My partner has had two doctors in the last two months prescribe the pill for her. Both doctors were of Indian decent and said they couldnt perform that service for religious reasons.

Sad.

I heard a rumour that Dr McCarthy over at the Salem St. Medical Practice is a secret Christian. Can anyone verify this?

These Christians and their bigotry must be denounced and dealt with!

p1 said :

Mysteryman said :

Yep. So it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the values of an atheist are just as likely (if not more likely) to be arbitrary.

Totally valid. However, having a GP who has developed their own (arbitrary) values might appeal to me more (knowing that a doctor is by profession a educated person of science who wants people to be well) then having a GP who has adopted the arbitrary rules put in place by villiage elders in a desert a couple of thousand years ago, then re interpreted (arbitrarily) to satisfy the rulers of the day ever since.

I don’t normally get involved in discussions about religion (live and let live and all that) but: hahaha!

I agree religion should never get in the way of delivering effective health care – but unfortunately it does. Currently, one of Canberra’s university medical centres prominently displays signs in the waiting room indicating the forms of contraception each doctor provides and highlights that “Dr X chooses to discuss only natural methods of contraception (Rhythm and Billings)”. At least it is stated, but this is really poor, especially given the sexual behaviour of university students and the large body of scientific evidence which indicates the best practice when it comes to sexual health, women’s health and contraception use.

BBerry said :

BBerry said :

WillowJim said :

If it really to youmatters (but why should it?), avoid Majura Medical Centre in Dickson, where they definitely bash the bible. But I’ve been there and have been treated very well, without any sermons.

+1

just to clarify, that is a +1 on their bible bashing.

I, however, have not been treated well at that centre without sermon.

Maybe you should tell them you came to see a doctor of medicine not a doctor of theology. If you wanted a priest (or religious pusher of your choice) you would go to a church. Though they can’t be too fervert in their beliefs, they choose the profession that pays more.

What, so someone who is an atheist or agnostic can’t be tainted by arbitrary values?

While I can appreciate that some doctors are influenced strongly by their religious beliefs, and that this is unprofessional and intrusive, as far as ‘arbitrary values’ are concerned, a non-believer’s values may well be just as arbitrary and unprofessional in other ways. They might believe than meat in the diet will bring you to an early grave, or in random and unproven ‘complementary’ therapies, etc. Apart from avoiding heavy duty God-botherers on fertility matters, surely what most of us are seeking is a high degree of competence and a courteous approach?

I have had 2 GPs in the last 30 years – the first was Jewish and the current one is a low key (perhaps lapsed) Catholic. Both have fulfilled the above criteria and religious issues have never intruded, including in relation to fertility matters or circumcision, to name a couple of possibilities.

I would have thought that finding a good GP is a much broader question than determining whether or what religious beliefs the person may have.

Great news – it sounds like you know who I am referring to. Glad about your baby – and congratulations!!!

Thanks Frots! 🙂

Mysteryman said :

Eppo said :

Mysteryman said :

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

I could. But it would be wasted effort here. I’d rather roll my eyes at the notion that atheist values are any less arbitrary.

…and what are Atheist values?

The only thing Atheists necessarily have in common is the rejection of your sky wizard. Values are going to vary from individual to individual.

Yep. So it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the values of an atheist are just as likely (if not more likely) to be arbitrary.

Maybe you’d care to explain what these universal athiest values are? Meanwhile I’m getting back to my hobby of not collecting stamps.

Jim Jones said :

Oh no. Atheists are all in league with the devil and are absolutely evil. They completely lack any moral compass, don’t you know.

+1

Eby said :

The Frots said :

I know a couple who are religious and who have a sign in the foyer stating they will not perform certain procedures.
.

I may have seen one half of that couple last year when I had a pregnancy test. I generally avoided both of them because of their religious values, but at the time he was the only one available. After the test, he rang me to say I was indeed pregnant, but unless a further test said otherwise, it was likely to be unviable and I would have to wait a couple of weeks until I miscarried. I couldn’t help but wonder… is he giving me all my options? If this is unviable, is my only option really to have to wait until I miscarry? It might well have been, but just knowing that he had certain beliefs did make me doubt his response to me, which is very disappointing in itself.

As an aside, the second test did say otherwise, and I now have a beautiful two month old baby boy (didn’t want to finish the post on a sad note…!).

Great news – it sounds like you know who I am referring to. Glad about your baby – and congratulations!!!

Mysteryman said :

Yep. So it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the values of an atheist are just as likely (if not more likely) to be arbitrary.

Totally valid. However, having a GP who has developed their own (arbitrary) values might appeal to me more (knowing that a doctor is by profession a educated person of science who wants people to be well) then having a GP who has adopted the arbitrary rules put in place by villiage elders in a desert a couple of thousand years ago, then re interpreted (arbitrarily) to satisfy the rulers of the day ever since.

Mysteryman said :

Eppo said :

Mysteryman said :

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

I could. But it would be wasted effort here. I’d rather roll my eyes at the notion that atheist values are any less arbitrary.

…and what are Atheist values?

The only thing Atheists necessarily have in common is the rejection of your sky wizard. Values are going to vary from individual to individual.

Yep. So it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the values of an atheist are just as likely (if not more likely) to be arbitrary.

Oh no. Atheists are all in league with the devil and are absolutely evil. They completely lack any moral compass, don’t you know.

Eppo said :

Mysteryman said :

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

I could. But it would be wasted effort here. I’d rather roll my eyes at the notion that atheist values are any less arbitrary.

…and what are Atheist values?

The only thing Atheists necessarily have in common is the rejection of your sky wizard. Values are going to vary from individual to individual.

Yep. So it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the values of an atheist are just as likely (if not more likely) to be arbitrary.

BBerry said :

WillowJim said :

If it really to youmatters (but why should it?), avoid Majura Medical Centre in Dickson, where they definitely bash the bible. But I’ve been there and have been treated very well, without any sermons.

+1

just to clarify, that is a +1 on their bible bashing.

I, however, have not been treated well at that centre without sermon.

The Frots said :

I know a couple who are religious and who have a sign in the foyer stating they will not perform certain procedures.
.

I may have seen one half of that couple last year when I had a pregnancy test. I generally avoided both of them because of their religious values, but at the time he was the only one available. After the test, he rang me to say I was indeed pregnant, but unless a further test said otherwise, it was likely to be unviable and I would have to wait a couple of weeks until I miscarried. I couldn’t help but wonder… is he giving me all my options? If this is unviable, is my only option really to have to wait until I miscarry? It might well have been, but just knowing that he had certain beliefs did make me doubt his response to me, which is very disappointing in itself.

As an aside, the second test did say otherwise, and I now have a beautiful two month old baby boy (didn’t want to finish the post on a sad note…!).

Mysteryman said :

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

I could. But it would be wasted effort here. I’d rather roll my eyes at the notion that atheist values are any less arbitrary.

…and what are Atheist values?

The only thing Atheists necessarily have in common is the rejection of your sky wizard. Values are going to vary from individual to individual.

Mysteryman said :

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

I could. But it would be wasted effort here. I’d rather roll my eyes at the notion that atheist values are any less arbitrary.

Maybe you could get your omnipotent, omniscient deity to show us all what you mean … if he isn’t too busy, that is.

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

I could. But it would be wasted effort here. I’d rather roll my eyes at the notion that atheist values are any less arbitrary.

WillowJim said :

If it really to youmatters (but why should it?), avoid Majura Medical Centre in Dickson, where they definitely bash the bible. But I’ve been there and have been treated very well, without any sermons.

+1

To actually answer bluestocking ….

Jo Bailey over in the Chifley Family practice is fantastic, down to earth, non-judgemental female doctor. Only problem is you have to live in the area to see her.

Good luck!

This may come as a shock to some RiotACT readers but doctors have been known to refuse service based on their personal religious beliefs.

This happened to me (some time ago now) when I was young (stupid) and high on life after a wild night. I took myself off to a 24 Hour Medical Centre and waited for 1.5 hours. At no time was I informed that there were doctors on staff with religious beliefs that would prevent service or treatment.
When I finally saw the doctor, I was refused service based on his personal religious beliefs and told to get out. I will NEVER go back to this particular facility and I now vet my doctors well before going anywhere near them.

That day was one of the most humiliating, painful experiences I’ve ever had with a doctor. Discussions about possible STD, pap smears and other pysical “examinations” are nothing compared to being treated like a dirty, heathen scum by some nasty biased doctor with a hang up on religion.

With doctors like this (http://the-riotact.com/homophobic-doctor-in-charnie/32267) getting around, I don’t think asking for an atheist doctor is an un-reasonable request.

I’d prefer my GP ‘untainted’ too.

If it really to youmatters (but why should it?), avoid Majura Medical Centre in Dickson, where they definitely bash the bible. But I’ve been there and have been treated very well, without any sermons.

If you have had an experience with a doctor who has used their religious beliefs to provide inappropriate or biased medical advice, I would urge you to make a complaint to the Human Rights Commissioner.

ScienceRules said :

Even when providing contraception advice and family planning they have to stick to the AMA guidelines and give you medical services that are free from opinion.

+1

My (retired) doctor was strongly Christian, however it was never discussed or came into play with any medical advice. I’d never visit again if that was the case.

Is this subtle ‘im looking for a Caucasian doctor’ thread? or have you had a bad experience with a doc?

Just introduce yourself with the fact that you are a married vegan lesbian who got pregnant at a Satan worshipping orgy (the father is a gay priest), and that you need to have an abortion and breast enlargement.

If they object….

A sure give-away that someone has a religious object, my money’s on a statue of Mary, firmly stuck where it shouldn’t be!

If it’s in any way related to female medical issues I can recommend Sexual Health and Family Planning in Civic. But other than that, I wouldn’t know.

I do believe that most doctors out there don’t bring their own religious views into patient treatment. There are exceptions, but they are usually easily spotted by having the name of a saint in their practice (or hospital) name…

Of course you could always ask the doctor if their religious beliefs will have any effect on your treatments… Such doctors will always give an honest (and proud) answer.

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

I suspect the problem was use of the term ‘tainted’.

Mysteryman said :

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Perhaps you could explain how the values of religion aren’t arbitrary?

ScienceRules said :

Surely it would be pretty unusual, and completely unethical, for a GP to bring up religion at all. Even when providing contraception advice and family planning they have to stick to the AMA guidelines and give you medical services that are free from opinion.

Have you had a bad experience in the past? Perhaps getting in touch with the local atheist or humanist groups would see you right.

+1.

“…and is not tainted with the arbitrary values of religion”.

*rollseyes*

Surely it would be pretty unusual, and completely unethical, for a GP to bring up religion at all. Even when providing contraception advice and family planning they have to stick to the AMA guidelines and give you medical services that are free from opinion.

Have you had a bad experience in the past? Perhaps getting in touch with the local atheist or humanist groups would see you right.

I think I understand what your asking………………………..I think.

Anyway, there are doctors who are uninhibited by reglious or personal views who can probably help. Most of the larger medical centres will have them and if you ask, you’ll be directed to one. But you must ask. I know a couple who are religious and who have a sign in the foyer stating they will not perform certain procedures.

Good luck with it………..whatever it may be.

I suggest you call around the various GP practices and say that you’re looking for a non-religious GP. They should be honest.