Ahhh why do i always fall into these weird conversations with doctors

[afuna]

So uh I had a checkup earlier today, and the doctor ended by asking what religion I practiced. When I tried to avoid answering she inferred that I was atheist/agnostic and proceeded to give me a 10-minute lecture on the history of religions (and why god is important and why I should choose Christianity/Catholicism over any of the other major world religions)

The worst part is I could only smile and nod because she knows my family :|


I don't know why this happens to me! Though nothing can ever beat the time my then-gynecologist told me I should get the HPV vaccine just in case "though I'm sure you don't need it *giggle* because you're a good catholic girl and you wouldn't let anyone touch your holy of holies *giggle* Like the Virgin Mary *giggle*"

Trauma psychic trauma ;_;

Comments

feed 'em all to the Blargg!

[cheyinka]

Why is it the people who'd be totally fine with that question never get it (or get doctors who make amused faces at religious belief), and the people who'd rather their doctor not discuss religion do (or get doctors who make patronizing assumptions about religous belief)?

I mean honestly I would be delighted to have a ten minute discussion, even a ten minute lecture, about religion - it'd take my mind off being at the doctor, and I love talking about religion. So naturally it will never happen, and I will instead get the doctors who assume that I'm either a statistical fluke for not having five kids already or that I'm lying about not using birth control. :|

[afuna]

Hehehe I do sometimes wish I was part of a more supposedly secular society :) A bit less awkwardness all around if it doesn't matter what I believe (or if it's at least rude for an authority figure to bring it up in an unrelated context)

Re: feed 'em all to the Blargg!

[afuna]

That's horrible! I'm sorry you have to go through that kind of thing with your doctors!

[pinesandmaples]

Next time I go to the ob-gyn, I'm going to refer to my down-theres as my holy of holies. That is a fabulously inappropriate euphemism.

[afuna]

Hahhaa please do! Spread the love ;)

[willidan]

Huh. My doctor just asks me what books I'm reading. She knows I'm a librarian and that I have a Kindle. Religion has never come up. It'd be a bit disturbing if it did.

[afuna]

Hehehe that sounds fantastic! I'm a bit envious :)

[shinsetsu]

Lol. If your dr were in the US, she'd probably get sued for that. ;)

[majoline]

Wow, that's fabulously inapproriate. *blushes for you*

Now I'm glad that my doctor only really has time for trying to figure out why my results are still bad rather than lecture me about religion.

[azurelunatic]

Auuuuugh. :(

[vass]

Though nothing can ever beat the time my then-gynecologist told me I should get the HPV vaccine just in case "though I'm sure you don't need it *giggle* because you're a good catholic girl and you wouldn't let anyone touch your holy of holies *giggle* Like the Virgin Mary *giggle*"

*horrified laughter* Did she think you were never going to get married?

[afuna]

Maybe! (Oh man that is.. an entirely different can of worms :|)

[starshadow_rivaulx]

@____@

Ok, I am supposed to be as good a Catholic girl as was raised by any momma, BUT! Why on earth any doctor should feel the need to know one's religious leanings is beyond me.

And it's gross when the nosy parker knows your parents. Yuck.

*patpat*

[afuna]

I am really glad that it hasn't happened to everybody you know? It gives me hope, that maybe I'm just finding the wrong doctors ehh :)

[pauamma]

/me makes faces at $giggly_gynecologist.

[afuna]

Thanks XD

[omgaeula]

That's unfortunate. I've never had that happen to me. Although we often asked that question of our patients in med school, because you're supposed to know /everything/ about your patient. And religion can play a role in the treatment plan. Perhaps it is because she knows your family?

[afuna]

Probably! It's.. I can see that it might be useful in some circumstances, but I've never found it anything but distressing to be asked in context of medical treatment /o\ (Parang, if I say the wrong answer and I don't believe in god, will I suddenly not receive medical treatment etc etc etc)

[omgaeula]

I'm sure that's not the case -- but I totally understand why you felt that way. I sense that self-righteous air emanating from some adults of my mother's generation. Sometimes if they even just feel that someone isn't Catholic, or doesn't believe in God, there's a sense of...judgment. I'm thinking your doctor got the feeling you weren't Catholic, or heard concerns about it from your family, and thought/was asked to step in and "help." But that is neither the time nor the place.

[afuna]

Oh yes, fervently agree that it's neither the time or the place. Someone else upthread mentioned that they'd run into the opposite and that also seems pretty bad! Overall, I think I'd be much happier if it just didn't matter (except in the contexts where it actually was very relevant g)

[omgaeula]

Agreed!

[swaldman]

Interesting from a cultural perspective - would be totally inappropriate here.

[afuna]

I think it is not considered normal but is sort of... If I'd said something I'd have been considered more out of line than she was (partly because of the age/authority thing)