Links Medical Practice in Mottingham, south London, includes some physicians unwilling to prescribe the morning-after pill for reasons of conscience, and has posted a notice so that customers can seek the drug elsewhere. An anonymous patient reported the practice to the media because she was “outraged” at the ‘religious influence’ on medical practice, and plans to find another physician. The Family Planning Association has encouraged other women to leave the practice. [The Independent]
All medical practice is influenced by ethical or moral beliefs, which may or may not have a religious basis. The advice to patients who do not wish to be treated by religiously motivated physicians to go elsewhere would seem to be a simple way of resolving and preventing conflicts.