Sunday, October 25 @ 12:00 PM
Thursday, October 29 @ 7:30 PM
Patient Rights vs. Provider Conscience
Healthcare has been the hot-button issue for the country this summer. As the healthcare debate rages on, so has the argument to include moral provisions for healthcare providers. Should these healthcare professionals reserve the right to deny medical care based on their religious beliefs?
Guests:
Bruce Berkowitz, M.D.., Orthopedic Center of South Florida
Paul Copan, Ph.D., Palm Beach Atlantic University
Mary Lou Pfeiffer, L.L.M.., Florida International University
Robert Schwartz, M.D., University of Miami
1) Women can choose abortion but men can't choose to abort their financial responsibility. Therefore, men do have a moral stake and thus able to comment on abortion; contrary to Ms. Pfeiffer oft repeated point of view.
2) Conscience is paramount. If someone came to you as a patient and you determined that their fetus had a club foot is an abortion an option that must be mentioned? Of course not. That would be an option to be conceived of by the patient.
3) Beginning and end life are the moral pivot points under review here. A pharmacist should be able to exercise his moral values in this. Pharmacies need simply be labeled with signage as "full service" or "family orientated" to avoid consternation.
Posted by: fred | October 31, 2009 at 05:42 AM