If informed, consenting patients could receive the medications they want without gatekeepers, I might be convinced this is a good thing. I certainly don’t think surgeons should be forced to perform acts they feel are immoral.
But, we’ve set up a system of gatekeepers (yes, for safety) and their collective morality should not prevent me from medicating myself. Until we figure out a (public and patient) safety system for medication that doesn’t have gatekeepers AND that system is implemented, doctors should not be able to refuse someone medication without a medical justification.
I also feel that most doctors operate very close to a “public accommodation”, so should be affected by the same non-discrimination laws that affect restaurants (even fancy ones where you have to book months in advance). That might not be every doctor, but it should cover enough. In that case treatments, including surgeries, can be avoided on moral grounds, but not denied based on the patient’s protected class(es).
If informed, consenting patients could receive the medications they want without gatekeepers, I might be convinced this is a good thing. I certainly don’t think surgeons should be forced to perform acts they feel are immoral.
But, we’ve set up a system of gatekeepers (yes, for safety) and their collective morality should not prevent me from medicating myself. Until we figure out a (public and patient) safety system for medication that doesn’t have gatekeepers AND that system is implemented, doctors should not be able to refuse someone medication without a medical justification.
I also feel that most doctors operate very close to a “public accommodation”, so should be affected by the same non-discrimination laws that affect restaurants (even fancy ones where you have to book months in advance). That might not be every doctor, but it should cover enough. In that case treatments, including surgeries, can be avoided on moral grounds, but not denied based on the patient’s protected class(es).