Some Things to Check Out

Click here for a yummy recipe for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread.

Click here to read a Great article online from the Los Angeles Times on Midwifery care in America. It sums up the state of birth in the US quite well, highlighting the disparity between the amount of money being spent on obstetrical care in the US and the sad results seen in our rank of 41st among industrialized countries.

Click here to read about President Bush's "Healthcare Conscience Rule." This is a sticky subject. One that I'm not totally set on my stance about. I do think direct care providers like physicians should have the ability to decide for themselves and their practice what services they will perform. However, where do you draw the line? What services and what providers does this cover? Only abortions? Only for religious reasons? The wording of this rule seems to allow for any procedure, any service worker, and because of any "moral" persuasion.

What would the repercussions be if a secretary refused to bill for a patient's IUD placement? What about when the person who cleans instruments refuses to clean circumcision trays and instruments? Do you see how this can snowball into one huge, subjective license to refuse services?

And, if a provider can refuse to perform services, can they also refuse to offer them and refuse to provide full informed consent to their patients... Can they refuse to tell the potential patient all of their choices - whether or not they would personally choose them - Can they refuse to tell them the risks, benefits and alternatives of all possible procedures applicable.

As a healthcare provider, myself, there are certainly parts of my job I would love to refuse to participate in. But, is that my choice? I am employed by the hospital I work at. I agreed to provide the services of a registered nurse on a maternity floor. So, that entails many things I would not personally choose for myself, but that others do choose for themselves (elective cesarean sections to name only one).

I am ok with that as long as there is full informed consent. Who am I to make decisions for others? Who am I to say that I know what is better for them? And who am I to practice selective nursing. If I agree with your choices, I will provide you care? No. That is not what I signed up for. I agreed to help those in need of medical services, no matter why - no matter if their "Good" or "Bad" choices put them in need of this medical care.

There just seems to be a whiff of judgementalism to this "healthcare conscience rule." A wiff that makes my stomach turn. I've lived through my share of legalism and judgementalism... People thinking they had superiority over me and authority to judge me because of what they would label as "wrong" or "bad" choices.

Unless you are walking in someone's shoes, you cannot know all of their reasons for their choices.... There is a lifetime of history behind each person's current situation. You must meet them where they are... accept them as they are... and help them no matter why they need your help.

Rant over. Off my soap box. "I'm just saying (As sis would say)."