Posted by Rick [Rick] on November 12, 1999 at 12:46:11 {CkRQXOxAaI7mY4XD8K2cFMFBt36Xyc}:
Today on a news segment called Copeland's Corner the question of hospital ethics was discussed as to Catholic Church hospitals. Evidently the Catholic Church buys up hospitals around the world, and some of their hospitals are in poor areas (such as certain parts of the midwestern U.S.) serving poor farmers and others. These people cannot afford to drive 100+ miles to the next hospital that is not Catholic.
Some women wanted her tubes tied after her 9th baby, and the Catholic-owned hospital wouldn't allow it. Her only option was to drive 125 miles to the next hospital to get the procedure. Apparently whether or not you are Catholic, you are forced to abide by their medical ethics or go somewhere else.
Mind you, the Catholic Church has deep respect for the conscience of Jehovah's Witnesses as regards blood. They were the only hospital that would allow a brother I know to sign a disclaimer so that they could not give him a blood transfusion. Many JWs even request that those in serious automobile accidents are taken to the nearest Catholic hospital because they will not force the JW to accept treatment that violates his conscience.
The question is, suppose the Watchtower Society started buying hospitals like the Catholic Church does, and insisted that those going to their hospitals abide by their present teachings on blood -- or go to another hospital? Suppose that nearest hospital in a poor community was 125 miles away, and poor people without adequate transportation were forced to accept bloodless surgery? Suppose their attorneys even made them sign a typical hospital disclaimer stating they accept the JW teachings on blood in their treatment, or agree to notify the physician for arrangements for transport to another hospital (which incurs additional costs)?
Is IYHO (in your humble opinions) the Catholic hospital stance (as I presented it; please correct me if I'm wrong), ethical? Should the Watchtower Society take a similar stance should they start buying hospitals, would that be ethical? (Notice that if you say "Yes" to the first, and "No" to the second, you're applying ethical standards differently for the Catholics and JWs.)
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Rick