LOL@GUARDIAN. That’s the first thing that pops into my mind when I read The Guardian’s recent article entitled Atheist doctors ‘more likely to hasten death’. That’s a rather misleading title for the article to say the least. I haven’t read the data on which it was gleaned, so please don’t assume that I understand the actual data and am commenting on that. There are plenty of responses out there on an internet tube near you that will go into detail on the data itself. But that’s not what I want to talk about.
The two closing paragraphs in the piece definitely raised my Big Ugly Eyebrows:
 

But regardless of their speciality, doctors who described themselves as “extremely” or “very non-religious” were almost twice as likely to report having taken these kinds of decisions [ethically controversial decision expected or partly intended to end life] as those with a religious belief.

The most religious doctors were significantly less likely than other doctors to have discussed options at the end of life with their patient.

First off, if I was at the end of my life and was suffering, as is assumed by the article, then I would at least want to have the information about these supposedly ethically controversial decisions. If I have weeks of brutal pain ahead of me with no possibility of fixing the situation, why on earth would I not want to at least know that the option was there to end my pain? Do those two weeks matter to me? I can’t say, honestly. In that position I might cling to every single second of my life, or I might choose to throw it away to end the suffering, but at least I could make an informed decision.

Doctors aren’t supposed to let their beliefs influence their caregiving. Of course they do, but they are required to do their best to avoid this and offer us the best possible range of medical choices. I know, you’re thinking, “They’re doctors, but they’re also people and they have to let their beliefs guide them at least a little bit…” Bullshit. Let’s say that your lovely granny’s doctor is a Scientologist and you found out that his suggestion for a treatment plan was to donate everything to Scientology, cut off all valid medical interventions, and really work on getting the mind clear and the thetans beaten, you’d sue the bastard. And so you should. This is no different, it’s a doctor allowing his personal religious convictions to prevent you from making an informed decision. There may be ethical controversy around end of life care and euthanasia, but controversy doesn’t mean people shouldn’t have the right to know their options.

As the picture for this piece implies, it’s not the job of doctors to blow sunshine up our ass. It’s their job to give us the information so we can provide informed (as much as possible) consent.

Jim