Saturday, October 29, 2011

Politics Religion and Patient's Safety

Politics Religion and Patient's Safety

You may not think that religion or politics would play a role in safe, quality healthcare, but it does every day. We just don’t always see it.

You may remember I wrote about the woman who couldn’t work for PULSE because we are a friend of the transgender community and do advocacy work helping to make sure their needs are met and they are treated safely and respectful (like anyone else). When I shared the experience with a local physician and asked about medical professionals not wanting to help patients who go against their religious beliefs, he explained that this is a common problem with abortion too.

Medical professionals who don’t want to help women who have an abortion must safely remove themselves from the situation.

Now I read about doctors in Kansas who are fighting the system that would keep women safe following an abortion.


Politics and religion have no place in healthcare. The law, is the law and needs to be followed. Talking openly about abortion and why women choose that road, or learning about people who are transgender and openly speaking about our differences will help people understand their similarities. It also will help to get laws past protecting the rights of people to not feel ashamed of who they are which will openly start a conversation and sensitivity training. If we aren’t addressing these areas, we will be allowing people with power to show their prejudice at the most inopportune times.

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