Policies at Religiously Affiliated Hospitals Create Conflicts for Ob-Gyns, Study Finds

May 8, 2012 — Thirty-seven percent of ob-gyns at religiously affiliated hospitals have faced a conflict with their employer about religiously based policies on patient care, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reuters reports. At Catholic hospitals, 52% of ob-gyns have experienced such conflicts, the study found.

Debra Stulberg and colleagues at the University of Chicago surveyed more than 1,100 ob-gyns and found that about 20% of respondents practiced at religiously affiliated hospitals. The study found that few ob-gyns -- at both religious and non-religious hospitals -- felt restricted in their options for treating ectopic pregnancies, which is a matter of debate among Catholic ethicists. Although the study did not examine the nature of the disagreements between ob-gyns and hospitals, Stulberg said conflicts typically arise over sterilization procedures for men, contraceptive use and treatment of miscarriages.

The researchers said the findings show that religious institutions should clarify policies to prevent confusion among physicians about what is permitted and to ensure that patients are aware of how their care might be restricted.

Stulberg said, "Recently the Catholic bishops have been talking about this as if it's a primarily religious freedom issue." She continued, "Sometimes what gets lost is it's also an access-to-care issue for women and also that women have the right to have the care they receive match their own values," adding, "And if they're getting their treatment in a hospital that has strict policies, the hospital's values may trump theirs" (Pittman, Reuters, 5/4).