“Not even the sun will transgress his orbit but the Erinyes, the ministers of justice, overtake him.”
With purity, holiness and beneficence I will pass my life and practice my art. Except for the prudent correction of an imminent danger, I will neither treat any patient nor carry out any research on any human being without the valid informed consent of the subject or the appropriate legal protector thereof, understanding that research must have as its purpose the furtherance of the health of that individual. Into whatever patient setting I enter, I will go for the benefit of the sick and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief or corruption and further from the seduction of any patient.
—from the modern rendition of the Hippocratic Oath
Doctors or other health care providers could not be disciplined or sued if they refuse to treat gay patients under legislation passed Wednesday by the Michigan House.
The bill allows health care workers to refuse service to anyone on moral, ethical or religious grounds.
The Republican dominated House passed the measure as dozens of Catholics looked on from the gallery. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol.
The bills now go the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans.
The Conscientious Objector Policy Act would allow health care providers to assert their objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice of a patient or procedure with which they don’t agree. However, it would prohibit emergency treatment to be refused.
Three other three bills that could affect LGBT health care were also passed by the House Wednesday which would exempt a health insurer or health facility from providing or covering a health care procedure that violated ethical, moral or religious principles reflected in their bylaws or mission statement. [...]
Paul A. Long, vice president for public policy for the Michigan Catholic Conference, said the bills promote the constitutional right to religious freedom.
“Individual and institutional health care providers can and should maintain their mission and their services without compromising faith-based teaching,” he said in a written statement.
—“Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays,”
365Gay.com staff
What god or power divine hears thee, breaker of oaths and every law of hospitality?
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It took me a while to swallow that this had actually passed part of their legislature. Urk. I think it's coming back up.
Does this mean that liberal doctors can refuse to treat Republicans?
Oh my ghu.
You know that bit from the end of the Simpson's parody of "I'm Just a Bill" where all the crazy laws storm the Capitol building?
I think that was just what we saw.
Nature red in tooth and claw/
Is milktoast compared to human law.
Fuck.
Guess they'll just have to rewrite the ole Hippocratic Oath again, eh?
You know. Kind of like when they took out the part about vowing never to aid in abortion?
::ducking and running, with an exceptionally evil grin on her face::
Actually, Elkins, m'dear, I believe the original refers not to any abortifacient, but specifically to a "destructive pessary," from the Greek pessos, or oval-shaped stone: any medicated plug or suppository intended to treat the vagina or anus. Certainly, pessaries were used as a means of abortion (and contraception), along with all the other classical methods of terminating a pregnancy—but given the specific medical problems inherent to such an invasive technique (toxic shock syndrome, IUDs), one can understand Hippocrates being a little leery of destructive pessaries.
(Thhbbpptptpptt, and hoping no one realizes I'm pulling all this out of Google as I go along.)
—And anyway, those fine, upstanding members of the Michigan Catholic Conference who are not themselves doctors haven't sworn this all-too negotiable oath. No matter. They're still bound by every law of hospitality: doctors, legislators, lobbyists, all. And having so rejected the love and mercy of their own Savior, they've left themselves wide open to the old skool ministrations of the Kindly Ones.
(You take what little comfort you can.)
No matter how much we
are judged by the way
we look or even see
someone we should not
be discriminated for
what we actually are,
so what if we are
all different in our
beliefs of life itself
should we be cast out
of this world.Who ever
stops to think what if
it was your child or
someone you know or even
love is being cast out
because they are gay,
lesbian or even bisexual,
would you turn away from
them or would you help
that person.For anyone
who reads this I just
hope you actually have
a heart and that goes
for all of you hypocrites
as well as those who
are fighting for their
rights.