A Woman Was Denied Medication for Being of 'Childbearing Age.'

https://jezebel.com/childbearing-age-medication-denied-lawsuit-1850899899

15 7 3 years ago

hirundo• 3 years ago

"Are hospitals going to require someone to share a pregnancy test, proof they’re on birth control, get a hysterectomy, to get life-saving health care?”

This seems to go beyond advocating for the legality of this care and extend to demanding that medical professionals be compelled to provide it.

I don't think a high risk of bith defects should require sterilization before pain treatment, but at some level of risk a tubal ligation could be the right thing to do. And beyond that, what is a doctor's liability if their actions cause a birth defect? Is their decision here partly self defense? Would a truly legally binding release from liability free them to help?

I empathize with this woman's pain and hope she gets treatment quickly. But this is a particularly ethically complex situation with no obvious villains.

black_puppydog• 3 years ago

Disagree. A grown-up wants treatment for a really existing pain, after being fully informed of the potential consequences. Her body, her choice, and maybe (although she stated never wanting children) her responsibility.

gigatexal• 3 years ago

Yeah 100% agree here. We should be allowing women to make their own choices when it comes to their bodies. The complication comes when theirs a child as the father has some claim I think — I’m not a lawyer. But even then I defer to the woman.

But in this case there was no child. She’s an adult woman in pain and her doctor failed in his duty to help mitigate that pain. I wonder if she could sue. But given this 1950s leave-it-to-beaver right wing Supreme Court we have she might not have much recourse. Which is a shame.

glimshe• 3 years ago

Medical liability likely weighed here. If I was the doctor, I would only prescribe this if the patient signed a disclaimer, which I don't believe is an option.

Many people, after all, completely change their mind on having kids later in life.

gcr• 3 years ago

Yes, medical professionals should be compelled to provide care to patients who need it.

If you had to deal with cluster headaches, I can guarantee 100% that you would seek recourse for yourself rather than some hypothetical next-of-kin.

Patient says she won't be having children anyways. Doesn't that completely address your concern for harm?

BrandoElFollito• 3 years ago

Where is the ethical part?

She is an adult, she makes decisions.

I do not see the defensers of ethics being around when someone makes foolish decisions such as smoking, having a child or taking drugs. Suddenly we now have a woman who can think on her own.

Let people do what they want if this does not impact the society.

A Woman Was Denied Medication for Being of 'Childbearing Age.'

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