Can your GP refuse you a certain treatment because they don't believe in it ?

suki1964

Horace wrote: »

I once saw a GP in my old practice who refused to prescribe the contraceptive pill - I booked an appointment with him to get a repeat prescription (I hadnt seen the tiny note on the door telling me that he didnt prescribe nor did the receptionists say anything). The stupid man refused point blank saying that it was against his religion because he was catholic. Then I got the you are sinning against God speach.

Needless to say I not only wrote to the General Medical Council to complain about his behaviour and then I changed GPs altogether.

And because a man is a practicing catholic hes stupid?

Savvy_Sue

Horace wrote: »

(I hadnt seen the tiny note on the door telling me that he didnt prescribe nor did the receptionists say anything).

I don't think you can blame the receptionists. I've had too many receptionists ask me WHY I want to see the GP. Sorry, but I'm not about to discuss my medical history or needs in front of a waiting room full of patients!

mr_rush

The practise nurse told her to argue with the Gp cos she knows that if threatened, the Gp will back down and listen!

Or it could lead to an increasingly acrimonious relationship resulting in changing doctors or practices.

TomsMom

jeannieblue wrote: »

That makes me so mad - my sister is battling to get treatment for thyroid. Doc is sticking by the 'test results' and won't budge, even tho she knows that she needs higher dose.

Jeannieblue, have you seen this thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=683809&page=9
post #161 on page 9 may help your sister.

suki1964

Magpye wrote: »

I don't personally understand why any doctor would refuse to prescribe emergency contraception, as it is not an abortative medicine. Could the same doctor refuse to give a person the pill or give free condoms, based on their religious beliefs?

There are those who believe that stopping a fertilised egg from implanting itself to the womb is in effect abortion.

And yes doctors are well within their rights to refuse to prescribe the pill and condoms. but they cant stop you from being seen by another GP who is happy to prescribe.

melancholly

suki1964 wrote: »

And because a man is a practicing catholic hes stupid?

i think if the GP had just refused to prescribe it, then fine. however, giving a lecture on the fact that a patient is sinning against god is entirely uncalled for, unprofessional and, argueably, stupid! they are his views, he is entitled to have them and can refuse to give treatments all he wants - trying to shove his views down someone else's throat strikes me as completely inappropriate.

i was put on the pill to help my skin as a teenager - i wonder if that would count as a sin with some very strict catholics too?!

Katykat

I've tried hard to stay out of this, but its got the better of me. First Poppyscorner,a tip for when you qualify- Dr's ( and nurses) hate enyone walking in with a ream of papers that they've printed from the internet and demanding a certain treatment for something that they have obviously diagnosed themselves. A Dr collegue of mine pushed a prescription pad in front of a man who demanded antibiotics for his "chest infection". He told him as he had diagnosed it himself, he should treat it himself. Patients putting these demands on Drs have resulted in hospitals full of MRSA, & 2.5 million people on incapacity benefit when possibly half of those are not incapable. Some Drs find it easier to give in to these demands.
Another no go area is patients who walk in with a list of ailments they've written down in case they forget to mention it. IF YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN TO REMEMBER IT, ITS OBVIOUSLY NOT IMPORTANT.
You should ask your dr why he doessn;t believe in the treatment. Open a dialogue, it may be all it needs.

Savvy_Sue

Katykat wrote: »

Another no go area is patients who walk in with a list of ailments they've written down in case they forget to mention it. IF YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN TO REMEMBER IT, ITS OBVIOUSLY NOT IMPORTANT.

Not necessarily. I do tend to 'save up' my minor ailments, but if I haven't written things down I do tend to come out and kick myself for forgetting something. And it may just be something which gives a clue to the other things, no? No GP has ever made me feel bad for doing this.

Likewise with DH: he's seeing both an endocrinologist and a dermatologist. Endo has wondered about prescribing gel but thinks the skin is too bad to do so, we meant to ask derm what he thought in principle of the idea - and forgot! Managed to remember at the next appointment, but if he'd only write down what I want to know, life would be much simpler ... He regularly forgets to ask the GP things, too. We're not all blessed with perfect memory! And sometimes being ill makes it even more difficult!

ms_london

Katykat wrote: »

Dr's ( and nurses) hate enyone walking in with a ream of papers that they've printed from the internet and demanding a certain treatment for something that they have obviously diagnosed themselves..

I appreciate what you are saying. I am presuming you are not suffering from something, knowing there is an alternative treatment out there and knowing the doctor wont prescribe for you because this drug is different to the one they have been prescribing for the last million years?

I havent diagnosed myself, I know exactly what I have, but I am aware that there are different treatments I could be given that the doctors dont care about. Most of them know very little about thyroid conditions so for them to sit there and pretend they know everything about it really irritates me. It's my health we are talking about, not as though I have made up this condition .

Rant over.......