Docs refusing to perform paps on unmarried women
Better women get cancer than doctors be forced to provide health care to sinners. At least, that's the sentiment of some Canadian doctors.
RH Reality Check reports that in Canada, some doctors are refusing to give unmarried women pap smears, citing religious objections. (You know, because we shouldn't be having sex to begin with.)
To look for answers, I turned to Patricia LaRue, Executive Director at Canadians for Choice, to see what she could tell me if doctors have the right to refuse ANY procedure that they see as going against their religion. She reminded me that doctors have a "conscience clause," allowing them to refuse prescriptions for birth control, abortion, and now pap smears. The conscious clause is put in place by the Canadian Medical Association so that physicians are not forced to act in any way that goes against their personal beliefs.
Even if that means risking women's health. Charming.
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Do women in Canada have to bring their marriage certificate in order to get a pap smear? It is wrong to ask in the first place. It is an unreasonable excuse as cancer is a serious matter and if found early, can be contained and even stop the further spread with treatment. It is the easiest cancer to cure if in the early stages. If considering costs to the government, it would cost more if the disease progresses and more drastic measures must be taken, with a probabity rate of survival even less. The only thing I would say to the doctor, yes I'm married, and lie if it takes that to get the exam. It is really discrimination because they wouldn't think to ask men that question!
Don't think this BS will be limited to Canada, PA is among the states considering not only letting Health Care Providers refuse treatment to anyone on "religious grounds", they're considering letting them do so without impunity