Should medical students be allowed to opt out of "abortion training"?

[Shodan]

On returning to this thread, I find that I should have been more clear.

I see nothing objectionable in requiring a doctor to learn to perform a D&C. I find a lot wrong with the idea of requiring a doctor to perform abortions, even though a D&C and an abortion are essentially the same operation.

Same with a med tech and execution. Same skills,different application.

And at least in the hospital system for which I used to work, doctors could perform procedures outside the specialities for which they were board-certified or board-eligible. There was nothing preventing a GP from delivering a baby, even if he/she was not board certified as an OB. The hospital granted the privilege to perform certain procedures, not the state licensing board.

Regards,
Shodan

[j666]

*Originally posted by JThunder *
**

Only in the first trimester? Where in the world did you get that idea?

FTR, “natural” abortions usually aren’t referred to by that term. **

I thought that after the first trimester, or, to use another possibly antiquated term, quickening, a spontaneous termination of a pregnancy was called a miscarriage.

Um, what does the quote around ‘natural’ mean? I’m losing you here.

[QueenAl]

j66

I thought that after the first trimester, or, to use another possibly antiquated term, quickening, a spontaneous termination of a pregnancy was called a miscarriage.

Anytime a pregnancy ends with the foetus dying in the womb is termed an abortion. Miscarriage is synonymous with ‘spontaneous abortion’, regardless of gestation. ‘Quickening’ is when you first start to feel the movements of the child, at about 16-20 weeks (the first trimester ends at 12 weeks).

[WV_Woman]

I’m not so sure about that, Queen.

Your typical OB, when taking a history, is going to ask you if you’ve had any abortions. Then they’ll ask if you’ve had any miscarriages.

Apparently they are considered 2 different things for medical purposes.

[Guinastasia]

sigh

WV, that is because the average layman does not know that an abortion means the fetus dying in the womb, at least technically.

:smack:

[drachillix]

Originally posted by edwino *
** We still (in general) value the mother’s life over the fetus.*

Out in the emergency world I was taught:

Treat mom, without mom, you have no baby. If mom can be treated without hurting baby, great. If mom needs a procedure, drug, etc to save her life but may kill baby, save mom, she can most likely have another baby. If mom dies, unless she is like 30+weeks baby is probably, going to die too.

Not always the nice way but the realistic way.

[drachillix]

*Originally posted by Halo13 *
Surely a Dotors licence should reflect the procedures they have and have not been trained to perform. If a doctor is not trained to perform a termination then it is unethical and should be illegal for them to do so.

Next time I go to the doctor I’m gonna ask to see his list of “certified procedures” :rolleyes:

Like oh the rest of the world, doctors are taught to make judgements and use tools. With a combination of sound judgement, proper training, and the proper tools, they fix the problem. IIRC a doctor dosen’t have to be “certified” for much of anything beond being an MD.

They can seek out additional certifications and you are probably better off in the hands of someone with extra training in a specialty, but they are not required.