I am stupefied why anyone other than myself can decide what treatment or pills I can or cannot take!! While it is true that finding a doctor to prescribe the pill is not difficult, how far do I have to go to get the pill? The pill became available in Canada over 50 years ago and is perfectly legal. Close to half of women in Canada use the pill for birth control or to regulate their menstrual cycle. Condoms and Oral Contraceptives are most common form of contraceptives used in Canada among young women. (66%)
I went to the following Walk-In Medical Clinic in Walmart and the same sign sat on the front desk: The Doctor will not prescribe birth control.
Walk-In Medical Clinic
Walmart Supercentre
Walk-In Medical Clinic
1375 Baseline Rd
Ottawa, ON
K2C 0A8
613-224-2664
613-627-3901
Jack Nathan Health is committed to improving access to public health for Canadians by locating state-of-the-art medical clinics within Walmart stores across Canada.
Medical Doctors are ready to serve you. No appointments required with low wait times. Take advantage of our Paddle Pager service and turn any wait-time into up-time by shopping while you wait. We will page you when it's your turn.
For more information please visit us at www.jacknathanhealth.com or email us at info@jacknathanhealth.com and we would be pleased to help!
Gwen Bradshaw - 10 years ago
Why do Doctors religions only impact women's rights and women's reproductive health? Religion is made up bullshit. Every single one. All the harm it's caused and here we are trying to justify fantasies taking away women's rights. No one tries to keep men from vasectomies or viagra. What a bunch of idiots. It's 2014. There's no excuse.
David Kahn - 10 years ago
There is a growing body of thought that sees hormonal contraception as fundamentally unhealthy, especially since the World Health Organization labelled the pill as a class 1 carcinogen. If this doctor's personal beliefs include keeping her patients healthy, she is likely on very solid ground in refusing to prescribe the pill. .
Sarah - 10 years ago
This is wrong. She is basically pushing her beliefs on other people. What if she doesn't agree with homosexuality? Will she refuse care to someone who is gay? If she doesn't believe in interracial marriage, will she refuse to help an interracial child?
She chose to enter a profession that is supposed to help people, all people. And here she is picking and choosing who to help. It seems very irresponsible and near prejudicial.......
Tamera - 10 years ago
I agree with the doctor on this one, just doctors can refuse to do abortions for the same reason. YOU can not control how they feel about THEIR personal beliefs, saying they should "Leave them at home" is like saying "Oh you can have religious beliefs but you can't practice them in public." Forgive me for growing up in a society that teaches us to stand up for our beliefs and not let others tell us what we have to do. Patients don't have to go to that clinic if they don't like it, and the clinic provides a list of other places they can go, so suck it up that you have to make another stop, or heck call in beforehand and ask who's on to save yourself the trouble. We live in a country that believes everyone has a right to their beliefs. So why deny the doctor the right to practice her religion alongside her medicine?
Christina - 10 years ago
If a patient wanted antibiotics for a viral illness, should the doctor prescribe them? What about a hypochondriac convinced he has cancer and wants chemo - despite no evidence? What if a patient came in wanting to have a healthy limb amputated - should the doctor be forced to perform the surgery despite her better judgement? Why then is the "amputation" of fertility seen as legit? Is giving a patient a pill that will BREAK the way her body naturally works medicine?
Birth control is a class-1 carcinogen and has been linked to breast cancer in several studies. It may reduce your risk for two cancers you are very unlikely to get...but then increase your risk for a cancer that you are already far MORE likely to get. Even from a medical standpoint - it's not healthy for HEALTHY women to pump their bodies full of synthetic, carcinogenic hormones just so they can have sex without ONE of the consequences.
Yes, I say a doctor should be able to use her better judgement in treating patients and not simply give them whatever they want. MOST women get birth control for superficial reasons (sex without babies, acne, mild cramping that can be handled with pain killers). The ones who have sever issues are given the pill as a one-size fits all solution - and the issue is never resolved, just masked by the synthetic hormones.
Doctors who do object to the pill understand when it can be useful, and are finding ways of treating women who THINK they need it for other medical issues. Treating women with bio-identical hormones that don't destroy her fertility. Finding new and better surgeries to treat endometriosis so it doesn't come back, working with nutritionists and dietitians. These doctors are trying to HEAL these women - and as a woman who has benefited from this, I'm very grateful.
Thank you for all the doctors who put a priority on true women's health and ignore the political correct nonsense of "women's health" which is one of the LEAST healthy things that has ever been done to women.
Concerned - 10 years ago
This is very wrong! The doctor took the oath to be a doctor and must follow all practices out lined! This concerns me, what other medicines will not be prescribed ! Birth control has a wide range of uses! This is not the doctors call, the patient should not have to go to another doctor just because she does not want to prescribe it! She took an oath.
Shanna - 10 years ago
I forgot to add for those who do not know Birth control pills are also used for other conditions one example is Endometriosis which can actually lead to infertility (AND IS EXTREMELY PAINFUL) so by refusing to prescribe actually is refusing to treat this and many more conditions.
Shanna - 10 years ago
Oh its just birth control..actually this is a bigger issue. If one Dr can refuse birth control due to beliefs what if the next Dr believes that no intervention should be given for people with a history of obesity or other condition. The doctor in question does not have to give birth control there was a n easy way to avoid it she could have specialized in any number of field (not too many plastic surgeons asked for Birth control). This Dr decided to be a gp so she should have to complete that to the best of her ability. Does her refusal of Birth control pills extend to all aspect of birth control or just the pill? Unfortunately there is a shortage of doctors and some people have to rely on walk in clinics. I would hate to see emergency units filled with patients looking for the pill as walk in refused them.
undecaf - 10 years ago
Come on give the doctor a break. She's not a hypocrite. It's not like the patient doesn't have other options available. If you don't know birth control methods by now you shouldn't be allowed to reproduce.
It's not like she can't get birth controls. it's this 'in your face thing'. Like I have to change my moral standards to suit yours?
One get's sick of that concept. Get a life. Get a pill somewhere else. Buy some condoms. Take a break from sex. Whatever it takes.
Wee Alecky - 10 years ago
Here we are once again. The politically correct telling us all what to think, how to behave, and whether we are allowed to have moral or even religious convictions. Even more, if you are a Christian, the PC's want you to keep your mouth shut - period! Lucky me, I'm not a Christian BUT unlucky me, I want to have an opinion of my own. And, I believe we should ALL have a right to free speech - not just the PC and their yappy special interest projects.
I fully support the doctor's right to govern herself in accordance with her religious convictions. As far as I know she isn't doing anything illegal.
Evelyn - 10 years ago
When did we become so socialistic that we dictate the exact formula every individual Canadian must follow in whatever profession they choose. Thankfully, we still allow people to choose their own professions. The doctor is not public property, she is a private person who paid for her own education and has chosen healthcare as her profession; she has provided contact information for doctors who will prescribe birth control; she is not denying care in a life or death situation.
Dan - 10 years ago
It's not like anyone is forcing the doctor to take the pill themselves here. But they are providing a service to the public, and don't have any right to force their religious beliefs down to their patients.
Why stop with the doctor then who is just part of the delivery pipeline... package delivery guy can refuse to deliver packages with birth control pills or condoms, gas station owner refusing fuel service to the truck carrying the pills, etc...
tonycgy - 10 years ago
How is this different than the Taliban forcing beliefs on their subject? Today, it's a doctor refusing to provide a public service. Tomorrow, it'll be our elected leaders. A person providing vital or non-vital public service should not allow their personal belief, opinion, or for that matter any prejudice to dictate their ability or will servicing the general public.
hannah_p - 10 years ago
The fact that someone can "just go find another doctor" is pretty ludicrous. Have you tried sitting around in a waiting room lately? It can be up to 4-5 HOURS. Not to mention the fact the patient will now have to drive around looking for another doc, and then wind up at the bottom of THAT list. I think a lot of people would give up. Some might even say, "heck, what's the chance of getting pregnant this month anyway..." So if her moral high ground results in more unplanned pregnancies (and likely, abortions), then HOW IS THAT WORKING ANYWAY?!
Dave - 10 years ago
Anngry. the same oath says do no harm. Birth control halts the healthy operation of the reproductive system. Sounds like harm to me. Let people follow their own consciences. Though this doctor won't prescribe birth control, most will.
Anngy - 10 years ago
BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity . . .
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
I will respect the secrets that are confided in me . . .
I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat . . . .
Obviously the health of the patient does not come first for this Dr. Just because of their belief system. Does not mean they get to push it onto their patients. I guess a Jehovah witness should not become a Dr. Because they don't believe in blood transfusions.
Jan Naude - 10 years ago
Since when do we in canada live in a police state where you have no freedom to object to something that is against your religion?
Martha - 10 years ago
It's really not that big of a deal - it's not like people can't get birth control from anywhere else, and she's not the only doctor to work there. No one is actually denied care. They're maybe inconvenienced, but that's it.
The fact that there are people who would value convenience over respecting someone's conscience is terrifying.
Jyllean Norlander - 10 years ago
The doctor should be fired for discrimination! Is it better to irresponsibly get pregnant then neglect an innocent child that you never wanted to have in the first place? How can this be allowed? Our tax dollars pay her salary, leave your morals at home or go work for the catholic church!
Claire - 10 years ago
Your personal opinions have nothing to do with assisting me in maintaining my own health and well being. As a patient, I expect to have my needs/questions met and answered in a professional and non-opinion dictated manner.
if she does not approve of birth control, then she can make the decision to not take it. She has no right to refuse providing the pill to any other women just because she "doesn't like it". Her personal opinions do not get to dictate the sexual health of any women around her in a professional setting.
Shame on her.
Cloe - 10 years ago
When health care is publicly funded I have a problem with her refusal to provide it based on personal beliefs. This is tax payer funded. If she was private provider she can do as she pleases but to refuse such a common prescription as a publicly funded doctor; just plain wrong!
Harriet Huestis - 10 years ago
Most objections to sexual health are religious objections or informed by religion and it shouldn't be assumed that these are in truth moral as a long history of other moral matters has shown they are not moral at all. We respect human rights now. If the doctor has "moral" objections to birth control then she shouldn't use it herself. She has superior moral and ethical obligations to provide sexual and reproductive health care to her patients. Sexual and reproductive health should not be singled out for privileged intolerance. Would we allow a doctor to opt out of prescribing blood pressure medication for "moral" objections?
Peter - 10 years ago
I thought there was a freedom of choice in Canada. The patient can choose to go another doctor and that settles the problem. Why is she forced to other people's values? Where is the tolerance culture of Canada? Or are we discriminating in our tolerance? These questions should be thought before judgment is given.
I am stupefied why anyone other than myself can decide what treatment or pills I can or cannot take!! While it is true that finding a doctor to prescribe the pill is not difficult, how far do I have to go to get the pill? The pill became available in Canada over 50 years ago and is perfectly legal. Close to half of women in Canada use the pill for birth control or to regulate their menstrual cycle. Condoms and Oral Contraceptives are most common form of contraceptives used in Canada among young women. (66%)
http://sexualityandu.ca/uploads/files/CTR_ContraceptionAmongYoungWomen.pdf
I went to the following Walk-In Medical Clinic in Walmart and the same sign sat on the front desk: The Doctor will not prescribe birth control.
Walk-In Medical Clinic
Walmart Supercentre
Walk-In Medical Clinic
1375 Baseline Rd
Ottawa, ON
K2C 0A8
613-224-2664
613-627-3901
Jack Nathan Health is committed to improving access to public health for Canadians by locating state-of-the-art medical clinics within Walmart stores across Canada.
Medical Doctors are ready to serve you. No appointments required with low wait times. Take advantage of our Paddle Pager service and turn any wait-time into up-time by shopping while you wait. We will page you when it's your turn.
For more information please visit us at www.jacknathanhealth.com or email us at info@jacknathanhealth.com and we would be pleased to help!
Why do Doctors religions only impact women's rights and women's reproductive health? Religion is made up bullshit. Every single one. All the harm it's caused and here we are trying to justify fantasies taking away women's rights. No one tries to keep men from vasectomies or viagra. What a bunch of idiots. It's 2014. There's no excuse.
There is a growing body of thought that sees hormonal contraception as fundamentally unhealthy, especially since the World Health Organization labelled the pill as a class 1 carcinogen. If this doctor's personal beliefs include keeping her patients healthy, she is likely on very solid ground in refusing to prescribe the pill. .
This is wrong. She is basically pushing her beliefs on other people. What if she doesn't agree with homosexuality? Will she refuse care to someone who is gay? If she doesn't believe in interracial marriage, will she refuse to help an interracial child?
She chose to enter a profession that is supposed to help people, all people. And here she is picking and choosing who to help. It seems very irresponsible and near prejudicial.......
I agree with the doctor on this one, just doctors can refuse to do abortions for the same reason. YOU can not control how they feel about THEIR personal beliefs, saying they should "Leave them at home" is like saying "Oh you can have religious beliefs but you can't practice them in public." Forgive me for growing up in a society that teaches us to stand up for our beliefs and not let others tell us what we have to do. Patients don't have to go to that clinic if they don't like it, and the clinic provides a list of other places they can go, so suck it up that you have to make another stop, or heck call in beforehand and ask who's on to save yourself the trouble. We live in a country that believes everyone has a right to their beliefs. So why deny the doctor the right to practice her religion alongside her medicine?
If a patient wanted antibiotics for a viral illness, should the doctor prescribe them? What about a hypochondriac convinced he has cancer and wants chemo - despite no evidence? What if a patient came in wanting to have a healthy limb amputated - should the doctor be forced to perform the surgery despite her better judgement? Why then is the "amputation" of fertility seen as legit? Is giving a patient a pill that will BREAK the way her body naturally works medicine?
Birth control is a class-1 carcinogen and has been linked to breast cancer in several studies. It may reduce your risk for two cancers you are very unlikely to get...but then increase your risk for a cancer that you are already far MORE likely to get. Even from a medical standpoint - it's not healthy for HEALTHY women to pump their bodies full of synthetic, carcinogenic hormones just so they can have sex without ONE of the consequences.
Yes, I say a doctor should be able to use her better judgement in treating patients and not simply give them whatever they want. MOST women get birth control for superficial reasons (sex without babies, acne, mild cramping that can be handled with pain killers). The ones who have sever issues are given the pill as a one-size fits all solution - and the issue is never resolved, just masked by the synthetic hormones.
Doctors who do object to the pill understand when it can be useful, and are finding ways of treating women who THINK they need it for other medical issues. Treating women with bio-identical hormones that don't destroy her fertility. Finding new and better surgeries to treat endometriosis so it doesn't come back, working with nutritionists and dietitians. These doctors are trying to HEAL these women - and as a woman who has benefited from this, I'm very grateful.
Thank you for all the doctors who put a priority on true women's health and ignore the political correct nonsense of "women's health" which is one of the LEAST healthy things that has ever been done to women.
This is very wrong! The doctor took the oath to be a doctor and must follow all practices out lined! This concerns me, what other medicines will not be prescribed ! Birth control has a wide range of uses! This is not the doctors call, the patient should not have to go to another doctor just because she does not want to prescribe it! She took an oath.
I forgot to add for those who do not know Birth control pills are also used for other conditions one example is Endometriosis which can actually lead to infertility (AND IS EXTREMELY PAINFUL) so by refusing to prescribe actually is refusing to treat this and many more conditions.
Oh its just birth control..actually this is a bigger issue. If one Dr can refuse birth control due to beliefs what if the next Dr believes that no intervention should be given for people with a history of obesity or other condition. The doctor in question does not have to give birth control there was a n easy way to avoid it she could have specialized in any number of field (not too many plastic surgeons asked for Birth control). This Dr decided to be a gp so she should have to complete that to the best of her ability. Does her refusal of Birth control pills extend to all aspect of birth control or just the pill? Unfortunately there is a shortage of doctors and some people have to rely on walk in clinics. I would hate to see emergency units filled with patients looking for the pill as walk in refused them.
Come on give the doctor a break. She's not a hypocrite. It's not like the patient doesn't have other options available. If you don't know birth control methods by now you shouldn't be allowed to reproduce.
It's not like she can't get birth controls. it's this 'in your face thing'. Like I have to change my moral standards to suit yours?
One get's sick of that concept. Get a life. Get a pill somewhere else. Buy some condoms. Take a break from sex. Whatever it takes.
Here we are once again. The politically correct telling us all what to think, how to behave, and whether we are allowed to have moral or even religious convictions. Even more, if you are a Christian, the PC's want you to keep your mouth shut - period! Lucky me, I'm not a Christian BUT unlucky me, I want to have an opinion of my own. And, I believe we should ALL have a right to free speech - not just the PC and their yappy special interest projects.
I fully support the doctor's right to govern herself in accordance with her religious convictions. As far as I know she isn't doing anything illegal.
When did we become so socialistic that we dictate the exact formula every individual Canadian must follow in whatever profession they choose. Thankfully, we still allow people to choose their own professions. The doctor is not public property, she is a private person who paid for her own education and has chosen healthcare as her profession; she has provided contact information for doctors who will prescribe birth control; she is not denying care in a life or death situation.
It's not like anyone is forcing the doctor to take the pill themselves here. But they are providing a service to the public, and don't have any right to force their religious beliefs down to their patients.
Why stop with the doctor then who is just part of the delivery pipeline... package delivery guy can refuse to deliver packages with birth control pills or condoms, gas station owner refusing fuel service to the truck carrying the pills, etc...
How is this different than the Taliban forcing beliefs on their subject? Today, it's a doctor refusing to provide a public service. Tomorrow, it'll be our elected leaders. A person providing vital or non-vital public service should not allow their personal belief, opinion, or for that matter any prejudice to dictate their ability or will servicing the general public.
The fact that someone can "just go find another doctor" is pretty ludicrous. Have you tried sitting around in a waiting room lately? It can be up to 4-5 HOURS. Not to mention the fact the patient will now have to drive around looking for another doc, and then wind up at the bottom of THAT list. I think a lot of people would give up. Some might even say, "heck, what's the chance of getting pregnant this month anyway..." So if her moral high ground results in more unplanned pregnancies (and likely, abortions), then HOW IS THAT WORKING ANYWAY?!
Anngry. the same oath says do no harm. Birth control halts the healthy operation of the reproductive system. Sounds like harm to me. Let people follow their own consciences. Though this doctor won't prescribe birth control, most will.
BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity . . .
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
I will respect the secrets that are confided in me . . .
I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat . . . .
Obviously the health of the patient does not come first for this Dr. Just because of their belief system. Does not mean they get to push it onto their patients. I guess a Jehovah witness should not become a Dr. Because they don't believe in blood transfusions.
Since when do we in canada live in a police state where you have no freedom to object to something that is against your religion?
It's really not that big of a deal - it's not like people can't get birth control from anywhere else, and she's not the only doctor to work there. No one is actually denied care. They're maybe inconvenienced, but that's it.
The fact that there are people who would value convenience over respecting someone's conscience is terrifying.
The doctor should be fired for discrimination! Is it better to irresponsibly get pregnant then neglect an innocent child that you never wanted to have in the first place? How can this be allowed? Our tax dollars pay her salary, leave your morals at home or go work for the catholic church!
Your personal opinions have nothing to do with assisting me in maintaining my own health and well being. As a patient, I expect to have my needs/questions met and answered in a professional and non-opinion dictated manner.
if she does not approve of birth control, then she can make the decision to not take it. She has no right to refuse providing the pill to any other women just because she "doesn't like it". Her personal opinions do not get to dictate the sexual health of any women around her in a professional setting.
Shame on her.
When health care is publicly funded I have a problem with her refusal to provide it based on personal beliefs. This is tax payer funded. If she was private provider she can do as she pleases but to refuse such a common prescription as a publicly funded doctor; just plain wrong!
Most objections to sexual health are religious objections or informed by religion and it shouldn't be assumed that these are in truth moral as a long history of other moral matters has shown they are not moral at all. We respect human rights now. If the doctor has "moral" objections to birth control then she shouldn't use it herself. She has superior moral and ethical obligations to provide sexual and reproductive health care to her patients. Sexual and reproductive health should not be singled out for privileged intolerance. Would we allow a doctor to opt out of prescribing blood pressure medication for "moral" objections?
I thought there was a freedom of choice in Canada. The patient can choose to go another doctor and that settles the problem. Why is she forced to other people's values? Where is the tolerance culture of Canada? Or are we discriminating in our tolerance? These questions should be thought before judgment is given.