# Atheist dealing with doc who mentions God's intervention every single GD time I visit

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-dealing-with-doc-who-mentions-gods-intervention-every-single-gd-time-i-visit/732765>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 27, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-dealing-with-doc-who-mentions-gods-intervention-every-single-gd-time-i-visit/732765 "2015-09-27T21:09:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![MmeRose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@MmeRose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MmeRose)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-dealing-with-doc-who-mentions-gods-intervention-every-single-gd-time-i-visit/732765/41 "2015-10-02T12:49:41Z")

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> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#):
>
> Or a real doctor. He’s seeing a chiropractor.

Thank you, Earl, I was about to say that. Chiropractors are NOT doctors, although most of them don’t want to admit that (here comes the wrath of the chiropractors).

It appears that they are not bound by the rules that govern physicians: HIPAA for example. A physician can lose medical license if they mention patients to one another.

I once met a doctor who was fired because he prayed with a patient. That was about 15 years ago an regulations have only increased.

BTW, there is a website called Christian Care, listing medical people (by region) who are supposedly avowed Christians. I looked up my workplace and found mostly observant Jewish, Muslim and Hindu doctors.

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**Author:** ![MmeRose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@MmeRose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MmeRose)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-dealing-with-doc-who-mentions-gods-intervention-every-single-gd-time-i-visit/732765/42 "2015-10-02T12:58:16Z")

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Sorry, missed the posts above about HIPAA. But it seems like “alternative practitioners” are often able to evade regulations.

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**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-dealing-with-doc-who-mentions-gods-intervention-every-single-gd-time-i-visit/732765/43 "2015-10-02T13:50:42Z")

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I would find another doctor. Sharing names of other patients crosses the line.

I’d also report it to the [HIPAA Police](http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/).

Chiropractors are covered under HIPAA. They are paid by insurance and Medicare/Medicaid, so they fall under the guidelines.

> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#):
>
> I’m not understanding how you think Atheist info can get back to coworkers - were the names he dropped those of people you work with? And the people you work with give a shit about your beliefs?

When I lived in the Bible Belt, people very much cared what church you went to. Notice I didn’t say, IF you went to church.

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**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-dealing-with-doc-who-mentions-gods-intervention-every-single-gd-time-i-visit/732765/44 "2015-10-02T14:11:47Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> That God is personally intervening to help with one’s back pain is just as believable as the idea that invisible subluxations cause disease but are readily eliminated by chiro adjustments.
> 
> “But all this God stuff is silly and fake, Doc!”
> 
> (snicker)

Then his back goes out again. Don’t piss God off.

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-dealing-with-doc-who-mentions-gods-intervention-every-single-gd-time-i-visit/732765/45 "2015-10-03T04:49:00Z")

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As far as you know, he may have had their express permission, sort of as an advertising technique.

Dr: “Can I drop your name as an endorsement, since I’ve helped you so much?”  
Patient:“Sure, Doc; you can even have them call me.”  
Also, finding a doc who can give you \*any \*kind of relief isn’t to be dropped so quickly. Look after your back first, then, become the White Knight for atheism.

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