WOWR: Anonymous Dr.'s response to transvaginal ultrasounds

Re: WOWR: Anonymous Dr.'s response to transvaginal ultrasounds

• newsreader

  March 2012

  It also really does matter whether something is medically necessary or not when assessing the level of coercion. If a doctor performs a procedure because it is medically necessary, that is a whole different ball of wax than if he/she is doing it because some politicians decided to stick their oar in.  

   I'm sort of appalled that some of the same people who are all concerned about the government being up in your business/overreaching/etc. are all of a sudden saying that mandating an invasive procedure, when a doctor does not deem it medically necessary, is no big deal.  

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• Pescalita

  March 2012

  newsreader:

  It also really does matter whether something is medically necessary or not when assessing the level of coercion. If a doctor performs a procedure because it is medically necessary, that is a whole different ball of wax than if he/she is doing it because some politicians decided to stick their oar in.  

   I'm sort of appalled that some of the same people who are all concerned about the government being up in your business/overreaching/etc. are all of a sudden saying that mandating an invasive procedure, when a doctor does not deem it medically necessary, is no big deal.  

  Please point out where someone said it's no big deal. 

  Not rape =/= no big deal. 

   

  

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• MrsAxilla member

  

  March 2012

  This thread is a hot mess. I'm late, but I think a main point has been overlooked. Every medical practice act I've ever read (and I've read lots) state that's it's illegal for anyone but a licensed physician to practice medicine. No one is permitted to substitute his or her judgement for that of a physician. No one is allowed to tell a physician how to practice medicine. That's why insurers have a licensed physician serving as medical director - so that when they deny a claim or require another treatment option, it's the medical opinion of another licensed physician, which is permitted. By requiring a physician to perform certain medical procedures, the legislature is substituting its judgment for the physician's. It is telling the physician how to practice medicine. Whether or not a transvaginal ultrasound is medically indicated is squarely within the sole purview of the physician. Period. The end.
  
  The pap smear/BC issue is a red herring that took y'all way off course. It doesn't matter whether or not there are other BC methods available. A pelvic exam before writing a script is within the standard of care - which is determined by physicians. If the American College of OB Gyns decided that a transvaginal ultrasound before an abortion should be the standard of care, then that would be a different story. But that isn't the case. The state legislature, who are not physicians, is attempting to set a standard of care, and they are not permitted under the law to do so. I like the author's first suggestion: doctors should simply refuse to allow the legislature to substitute its judgment for theirs.

  
  Anything you can achieve through hard work, you could also just buy.

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