Ethics support is needed everywhere healthcare is provided; therefore anyone providing healthcare should have round-the-clock access to appropriate sources of ethical advice, says a new report from the
Out-of-hours services by general practicioners have come under strong criticism with doctors claiming that the provision is putting patients lives at risk.Doctors have attacked the service in the past and have said that the system is underfunde
In a quite shocking revelation it has been discovered that as many as 3,800 patients at two hospitals run by Duke University Health System were operated on last year with instruments that were washed in hydraulic fluid instead of detergent.Acco
A British Medical Association chief says that as many as one in 15 British doctors has had a problem with alcohol or drugs. He says the profession is in denial and needs help.Ethics Comm
Even as health care systems across Europe recognise the potential of medical imaging equipment in diagnosing diseases and fuel demand for cost-effective refurbished medical imaging equipment, market participants face several crucial issues. Pri
A survey of Calgary Health Region employees and physicians indicates the Region continues to make progress in improving patient safety, but further action is required to address specific areas of concern such as the reporting of hazards."The Re
Commenting on an editorial in Friday's British Medical Journal warning that shift systems for junior doctors may affect patient safety, Mr Simon Eccles, chairman of the
The European working time directive may put doctors' and patients' lives at risk, warn experts in this week's BMJ.Introduced in August 2004, it aims to reduce working hours in order to improve wor
The G8 nations must address the exodus of healthcare workers from the developing world if they are to tackle global poverty, the British Medical Association and the
As a result of last week's extreme humidity and high temperatures, blood donations fell by 25% leaving the community blood supply at risk and in a critical state far below what is required to adequately serve local patients. Therefore,
Date: Friday, 1-Sep-2006
The Washington Post on Thursday examined "natural family planning" centers, which "tailor" the type of care provided with the religious beliefs of the physicians.At NFP clinics, physicians teach NFP techniques -- including monitoring a woman's temperature and other signals to time intercourse to control pregnancy timing -- while "shunning" birth control, emergency contraception, intrauterine devices, sterilization, in vitro fertilization and abortion, according to the Post.
Some opponents of NFP say that the practice is "segregating medicine along religious lines" and that people using the clinics are not being informed about all the options.
In addition, opponents of NFP are "especially alarmed about the consequences" of NFP centers for people in "poor or rural areas with few alternatives," the Post reports.
Advocates of NFP say that the practice allows physicians to avoid conflict with people who want services with which the practitioner does not agree.
In addition, advocates say that the NFP approach provides an alternative to commonly used medicines and devices that some physicians believe can negatively effect a patient's personal life.
According to the Post, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does not have a formal position on NFP.
"If women know before selecting [NFP centers], then it's quite a legitimate thing to do and might meet the needs of many women and doctors," Anita Nelson of the University of California-Los Angeles and ACOG spokesperson, said, adding, "But if you hang out your shingle that says 'All-purpose ob-gyn' and don't offer certain services, that's false advertising."
Nearly 500 physicians have registered on an Ohio-based Web site to practice NFP.
However the actual number of practices that offer only NFP is unknown, according to the Post (Stein, Washington Post, 8/31).
This article is republished with kind permission from our friends at the The Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery of in-depth coverage of health policy developments, debates and discussions. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for Kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Copyright 2006 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.