Some doctors refuse services for religious reasons

"Doctors are becoming more assertive in refusing to treat patients for religious reasons, expanding the list of services they won't provide beyond abortion to include artificial insemination, use of fetal tissues and even prescribing Viagra.

[...]

Number of states that allow health care professionals to refuse to provide these services:
• 46 -- abortions
• 17 -- sterilization
• 13 -- contraceptives"

USA Today, 3. August 2007

Physicians' Beliefs May Influence Their Perception Of The Effects Of Religion, Spirituality On Health

Physicians' observations and interpretations are strongly influenced by their religious beliefs, according to the authors. "Physicians with higher intrinsic religiosity are much more likely to (1) report that their patients bring up religion and spirituality issues, (2) believe that religion and spirituality strongly influences health and (3) interpret the influence of religion and spirituality in positive rather than negative ways."

Medical News Today, 15 Apr 2007

Big surprise!

Conscience, Religion Alter How Doctors Tell Patients About Options

"Many physicians feel no obligation to tell patients about legal but morally controversial medical treatments or to refer patients to doctors who do not object to those treatments, report researchers from the University of Chicago in the New England Journal of Medicine.

[...]

This affects millions of people, the authors note. "If physicians' ideas translate into their practices, then 14% of patients - more than 40 million Americans - may be cared for by physicians who do not believe they are obligated to disclose information about medically available treatments they consider objectionable. In addition, 29% of patients - or nearly 100 million Americans - may be cared for by physicians who do not believe they have an obligation to refer the patient to another provider for such treatments.""

Medicalnewstoday.com 11 Feb 2007

Religious beliefs affect health in other words!