Rape victim denied emergency contraception based on religious beliefs of the doctor.

I caught the very end of a report on CNN last night about doctors refusing emergency contraception to women who have been raped because the practice does not fit with their religious doctrin. Then I did a little research this morning and found a case not too far from where I live.Speaking Freely: Rape victim denied emergency contraception in ERThis particular doctor was insensitive enough to equate the womans pursute of medical help in this area with buying a pair of jeans. This notion terrifies me as a women who if caught in such a horrible situation, might not be able to find the help I need.
I just wanted to get some opinions on this and the similar subject of certain pharmacies denying customers the right to prescribed contraceptives. Edited by StrawberryPatchBug, : No reason given.

Well in the case of the doctors they are actually obligated to help anyone seeking emergency contraception find another doctor who will offer it. In a lot of cases this isn't happening and even when it does, using this kind of method is very time sensitive and if a woman who has been raped has to wait a few days to find someone else it might just be too late.

I think you make a great point about the woman being victimized a second time by again having no control of her body. Thoughts like this really terrify me because I am a woman and these are issues that I think all women have to think about. What happens if I am caught in such a horrible situation? To think that it would be that much more difficult having to go to a doctor that is judging you instead of offering sympathy and is trying to make life decisions for you based on their beliefs instead of giving you the care you need. A women couldn't help but feel totally without any control which offers nothing but deeper psychological damage. And for any doctor to even imply that a woman should carry the child of the man who raped her goes against the code of "do no harm" to a ridiculous degree.I am personally scared because Pennsylvania seems to be the next in line for legislation in favor of these zealot doctors.

You have a great point here Thor (especially with the Scientologists)
It is starting something that could snowball into something terrible. And as was previously said, the bottom line is to be a doctor you need to have a license that allows you to practice medicine as a public service, failing to do so based on a belief, basically saying "no I don't feel like providing that service" should result in nothing less than having that license revoked.Also another note to the Admins, Hoot has dragged this thread far off topic and has said some very hateful things. Please tell him to stop.