Ethics Blog 6

Special Request based on religion, gender, or culture

America prides itself for promoting the individual. As citizens we grow up to recognize and accept that everyone is different, whether it is by religion, race, gender, or culture. Personally, I think it is important for an individual’s special request to be upheld in order for us to honor the patient’s rights as being a unique individual, a part of America’s melting pot. I do not think it is too much for patients to want an African-American male doctor for a black elderly patient. However, I do not think it the responsibility of a Health Organization to be able to accommodate every single adult that makes a special request. First of all, it would be unpractical with doctor shortages, and secondly, it would be almost impossible for providers to bear the cost of staffing a wide-array of doctors. For this reason, I believe it is up the individual to shop around for the doctor they want and fulfills their personal requirements and standards.

In class, we started talking about special requests people can make for cultural or religious reasons, such as female circumcision. In these cases, I think it is important to recognize although not many people in America perform female circumcision, there is nothing wrong with it having the procedure done if the individual wants it. It is important for medical organizations and doctors to realize that cultures are different, and even though Americans do not practice the same rituals as other countries in tattooing, FGM, or body mutation, it needs to be known that these are not meant to be “bad” procedures. An example of this is in the Islamic culture, where women who go through FGM are often seen as more ‘beautiful’ and carry more wife characteristics than those who do not go through the procedure. However by this, I am not saying that all doctors should be forced to learn how to perform such surgeries or procedures that go against their own personal beliefs or standings. I am merely stating that if someone wants to go through such a procedure or have special request, they should have the right to seek a doctor that will honor their request.

However, with such controversial procedures, I think that it is important that children are not involved. A child’s life should never be placed in danger because of a parent’s special request made based upon a religious or cultural view. Another case example was a few years back when a young child was stung by a bee and had a severe allergic reaction. Today, such allergic reactions can be cured with a shot; however, the child’s parents were scientologists and requested to withhold any invasive medical procedures. The child later died from the reaction. In such situations, I would hope that an emergency court session would be ordered to allow the doctors and medical professionals legal access to the patient to prevent an otherwise inescapable death.

Ethically, patients have the choice to decide what they want. However, not all cases are black and white and the question is often where to draw the line between what is acceptable and what is not. Should children be victims of their parents’ beliefs and not be provided care? Also, it is important to remember the ethical roles a doctor must fulfill from signing the Hippocratic Oath, which is to always work in the best interest of the patients and honor their decisions and requests, even if they do not agree. Yet, in situations of emergency or in cases where the patient may not fully understand the consequences of their condition, it is necessary for an ethic court to be ordered. Although I have never been in a situation where a special request has affected my outcome, I recognize the importance this issue has on a healthy doctor-patient relationship.