Religion

[dewd09]

What do you do when your religious beliefs get in the way of providing care? Do you follow your belief and withhold care, or do you do something that may be seen as a sin or act against a being that you believe in and help the victim?

 

[SurgeWSE]

What do you do when your religious beliefs get in the way of providing care? Do you follow your belief and withhold care, or do you do something that may be seen as a sin or act against a being that you believe in and help the victim?

It's easy for me to say, because I don't have any religious beliefs, but you should ALWAYS act in your patient's best interest. If 911 was called, it's because someone needs some sort of help, not a lecture on the wages of sin. If one's religious dogma interferes with their ability to do this job, its time to find a new job.

The flip side is also interesting. If a patient's religious beliefs would prevent you from performing an intervention, you must respect the patient's request. The principle behind informed consent is that, as a patient, you're allowed to make bad decisions so long as you understand the consequences.

 

[Dominion]

Agreed, if your religious beliefs will interfere with the care of the patient, go to dispatch or leave medicine. YOU are the patient advocate and you cannot properly do that if you are having religious problems with treating your patient.

Not to say you can't have religion but you can't let personal views affect your treatment of the patient.

I don't normally talk about religion, especially on the job but I have no beliefs so I don't have this problem so maybe my views are skewed on this topic.

 

[surname_levi]

while this thread will get heated if anyone tries to start an argument and drift away from the question, i figure i will still answer if you want my opinion.

i am a christian, and i live my life in everything i do for Christ. i do not see how i would glorify Him by not providing proper patient care

 

[dmc2007]

I'm just this side of Agnostic (Jewish), so I basically have no beliefs that would cause me to withhold care. I can't imagine there are any beliefs in any normal religion that would make patient care a bigger sin than letting someone end up in worse condition or die.

Think about if one of your family members went into respiratory arrest. Now, let's say the in charge EMT/P held a belief that once a person's breath stops, that person is dead (I'm pulling that completely out of my posterior end). As a result, your potentially salvageable loved one is now dead. How would you feel?

 

[dewd09]

This is all theoretical of course. A what if.. if you will.

 

[mycrofft]

Pass

.............................

 

[wyoskibum]

In my opinion, you have a standard of care which you must provide. If it conflicts against any personal or religious beliefs, then you have no business being in this business. Go preach instead.

 

[atropine]

we all worship the all mighty dollar in ems, so I don't think that is going to prohibit any medical tx.

 

[DV_EMT]

Catholic.... born and raised

doesnt interefere with my practice cause I just pray for them at the end of they day when I'm not with them... easy way to avoid the religion while practicing!

 

[firecoins]

In what way would your religion interfere with providing emergency care? Are you performing abortions? I don't get it.

 

[bunkie]

It is not your right to judge who gets treated how based on your religion. Your religion is just that, yours. No one elses. It is never your place to impose your beliefs on others.

 

[Smash]

I'm a Satanist, so if I let my beliefs dictate patient care things would get very ugly, very quickly.

 

[medichopeful]

What do you do when your religious beliefs get in the way of providing care? Do you follow your belief and withhold care, or do you do something that may be seen as a sin or act against a being that you believe in and help the victim?

If you could potentially be affected by religion on a call, you need to seriously consider if EMS is a good decision.

By the way, the "you" is a general you, not specifically you dewd09.

 

[medichopeful]

The flip side is also interesting. If a patient's religious beliefs would prevent you from performing an intervention, you must respect the patient's request. The principle behind informed consent is that, as a patient, you're allowed to make bad decisions so long as you understand the consequences.

An EMTs beliefs should NEVER influence the way they treat somebody. EVER.

A patient has the absolute right to deny treatment because of religion, like you said, Surge.

 

[Aerin-Sol]

In what way would your religion interfere with providing emergency care? Are you performing abortions? I don't get it.

Ask Stephanie Adamson. She refused to transport a patient to a hospital for an elective abortion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2006071500790.html


I follow a religion that teaches that cruelty in any form is wrong. All members are vegetarian and many of the more devoted are vegan. Although I would avoid it in my personal life, I'm not going to refuse to administer non-synthetic insulin or gelatinous pills (both of which are manufactured with/out of dead animals) for two reasons: 1) It would have no effect. Denying someone else their current medicine isn't going to change that animals were already killed to make it. 2) It would be needlessly cruel.

 

[ZVNEMT]

Ask Stephanie Adamson. She refused to transport a patient to a hospital for an elective abortion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2006071500790.html

i haven't read the article yet. but my first thought is this: why call an ambulance for an elective abortion? why not a cab.... its much cheaper... unless medicare pays for it... then i guess its free... I suppose i wouldn't refuse to transport her... but my partner would have to hear my thoughts on it afterward....<_<

 

[firetender]

First, I'd really like to know why YOU are asking the question and what religious belief you have that could interfere with providing patient care?

Second, the name of our game is to protect and preserve life, and if there's a chance within our abilities to restore it, then that's what we do. Period. ANYTHING whatsoever, philosophically or spiritually, politically or socially, personally or tribally that interferes with taking action to those ends means "GET OUT!"

(That means saving the lives of killers, rapists, child molesters, and even Osama Bin Laden if that's the call you're sent to.)

...AND, if you're at this long enough you're bound to experience just such conflicts of conscience, most likely from a hot-button you weren't even aware of. If and when, do the work to your best ability, and then AFTER the call take a real good look if that might interfere in the future. If so -- and there's no shame here -- follow your beliefs, but not in the back of an ambulance.

 

[Aerin-Sol]

i haven't read the article yet. but my first thought is this: why call an ambulance for an elective abortion? why not a cab.... its much cheaper... unless medicare pays for it... then i guess its free... I suppose i wouldn't refuse to transport her... but my partner would have to hear my thoughts on it afterward....<_<

Well, there aren't a lot of details in the article, but another one:

"In August of that year, Adamson, 35, responded to a non-emergency call at Mt. Sinai Hospital. There, she was instructed to transport a woman to an abortion center near Cook County Hospital to have an abortion" (http://www.lifenews.com/nat503.html)

indicates why.

 

[medichopeful]

Ask Stephanie Adamson. She refused to transport a patient to a hospital for an elective abortion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2006071500790.html

Okay, I didn't read that whole article, but what I did made me furious.

Why the hell would anybody get into the health care field, and put themselves before the patient? Now, granted, their own safety before the patient's is fine. But putting their religious beliefs before the health of patient? Seriously? There is no excuse for that.

I am 100% in agreement that Mrs. Adamson should have been fired. It is absolutely not okay for a medical provider to withhold treatment or try to change a patient's wishes because of their own beliefs. If the patient asks the health care provider to pray with them, fine. But I can guarantee that the majority of people who come into contact with medical professionals did NOT want religion to get in the way.

A medical professional refusing to treat somebody or changing their treatment because of their religion is about as bad as a police officer not shooting somebody to stop a threat because they have religious or other beliefs that say "thou shall not harm."

/end rant.