1. Religious bias colors doctors' views: survey

Comment #31052 by libby02 on April 10, 2007 at 7:51 pm

I am a doctor and was an evolutionary biologist prior to entering medical school at quite a late age. I am sure my religious patients would also think that my comments about 'nature', rather than the typical 'it's in god's hands', are equally biased by my strong atheist beliefs. I obviously never flaunt my beliefs one way or another but nor would I lie if asked directly. I was asked recently by a devout Muslim if I believed in god and when I said no, she said nothing but left my practice because of this 'greatest sin'. I think as doctors we are all influenced by our beliefs, whether we are atheist or theist, the trick is not letting that influence our patient management. This is something that the theist is notoriously poor at in my opinion.