The article, "Playing Politics with the Doctor–Patient Relationship," was published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. It talks about a bill that has recently been passed in Arizona that basically allows doctors to LIE to their patient. This bill gives a doctor the right to withhold information about the health of a fetus. The doctor cannot be sued for malpractice if he or she thinks that revealing these findings might influence a woman to have an abortion. In addition, once the child is born, no lawsuits can be filed regarding the child's disability. Apparently, the medical professionals in Arizona have not come out to protest this bill like they have done in the past with other doctor-patient relationship issues.
I don't understand how this bill got passed, it doesn't seem legal in any sense of the law. This bill violates so many ethical issues when it comes to doctor-patient relationships and the right women have to know what is happening with their body. I feel that this bill will be brought up in front of the Supreme Court eventually and be deemed unconstitutional.
No comments:
Post a Comment