Welcome to LCauldwell's Media Weblog.
After much thought, I've decided to name this Media Blog as SpeakOut & Be Counted.
What does this mean?
I INVITE all guests to tell me how they feel about specific events that aren't being adressed by Congress, Senate, Presidential Candidates, or other so-called Authority Figures. There are many areas in our country that face problems that haven't been solved because the powers-to-be refuse to deal with them on any level.
I want this blog to reflect UR opinions, feedback and problems that you feel our legislative branches aren't addressing or in a hurry to address. One of the biggest topics surfacing in today's political arena is does a hospital or a physician have the right to refuse treatment or refuse medication to a patient if they're morally, ethically, or religiously against that type of treatment or medication?
For example, let's take a look at RAPE. When a man or woman is raped, the first step they take is to go to an emergency medical facility and be examined and then treated to prevent veneral diseases and/or pregnancy. However, in today's medical climate, it seems that doctors and hospitals have the right to refuse a patient parts of a RAPE KIT that many cities use after the victimn comes to the hospital for treatment.
In a recent article written by Sabrina Rubin Erdely appearing at MSNbc website, she states that "nearly 1 in 20 women are refused treatment in cases of rape, and the doctors decline to give these women referrals to get the morning after pill or pregnancy shots because it's against their moral, ethical, and religious principles. Ms. Erdely goes on to state that "18 percent of these doctors and hospitals felt no obligation to refer patients elsewhere."
Jamie D. Brooks, a former staff attorney for the Nations Health Law Program says: "It's obscene. Doctors swear an oath to serve their patients. But instead, they are allowing their religious beliefs to compromoise patient care. And too often, the victims of this practice are women."
I ask you in a country that boasts the most superior and obtainable health care in the world, is it right that women suffer because of a doctor's or hospital's prejudice in what they believe is morally right? These doctors and hospitals claim that the Constitution of the United States gives them the right to refuse treatment to these victimns. They add, too, that part of their oath is to "keep a patient from harm" and therefore they refuse to abort the fetus.
Would these same doctors and hospitals hold that same view if their wives, daughters, nieces, or themselves were raped? Or would they hold firm and bear a "raped victimn's baby regardless of the result of such a forced union.
I wonder, and I suspect that many of you wonder, too. Sometimes, I suspect that these same doctors and/or hospitals wouldn't hold too tightly to what they believe - unless it happens to them, their relatives or immediate families.
I know how it feels to be raped. I was raped fifteen years ago. Yet, I can still relate in great detail what the assailant did to me and how I felt during and after the rape.
The police treat you like a whore as if you invited that rapist into your home or gave them permission to rape you. You're taken down to the police station in whatever state the rapist found you. That means if you're sleeping, you go down in your nightie. If you're wearing sweats, at least you're decently dressed.
Tip: Don't wash yourself in your private area or take a shower or bath. Why? Because for evidence, you'll need to comb your pubic hair and give it to the police who place it in a plastic bag. If you're rapped while you sleep, your bedsheets go along with you. Semen evidence. The police will ask you for a description. Never mind that out of the five other women who were raped, you were the only one who wasn't killed. The police, doctors, and/or the hospital don't care. They only care about one thing: their perspective of what happened whether or not it coincides with your version or not.
Once down at the police station, you're treated as if you're the criminal. You'd let yourself be raped. Shame on you! You will spend hours looking at mug shots. If you live in an apartment complex, don't expect any sympathy. They won't believe you're an innocent victimn.
By the time a woman is finished with her physical examination, given the shots in either side of her hips, help the police identify the culprit, the woman isn't in any mood for a doctor/hospital to refuse her requests.
I've been taught that United States of America has separation from Church and State. Yet, it doesn't seem to have gotten down to the medical profession. If the doctor and/or hospital can't treat the whole patient, why bother being in or be a medical practioner.
Are we going backwards in our society? Are we looking at back alley abortionists? Do we need permission from the Church to protect ourselves?
It seems that way.
What about you? Were you ever a victimn of rape? How did you feel? How would you feel if a doctor/hospital refused you medical treatment and/or a perscription to abort a fetus. Would your religious principles stop you from taking care of yourself?
I would like to know because it's too important an idea to die on the floor.
Many people believe if doctors/hospitals refuse treatment on religious principles, where does it stop? Will Republican doctors/hospitals refuse treatment of Democrat patient's, Conservatives or Liberals?
Let me know what you think. I'd appreciate all comments and arguements.
One last thing. Buckle up your seatbelt because it's gonna be a bumpy ride all the way in LCauldwell's blog of SpeakUp & Be Counted!
