Most Doctors In The U.S.
Are Incredibly Religious
Dmitri Vuconski
From: "Dmitri Vuconski"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: Thursday, June 22, 2000 10:17 AM
Hey,
Your site is very cool. You guys have obviously put a lot of work in to, and maintaining it. Although I've come across a few pages that discuss how religion has and is used to justify and excuse many disturbing behaviours of man, there is one subject that I have not seen mentioned. Most doctors in the U.S. are incredibly religious.
When I first came to this country and started medical school, I thought that it was great to have good moral people making up the back bone of this country's medical community. After a short time though, I realized that for most physicians, religion excuses their neglect of the indigent and uninsured. They probably have no remorse and if they do, they do not show it.
It seems as though these American doctors are in a partnership with god: "I'll treat those patients who can afford my fees, oh lord, and for those who cannot, I leave them in your capable care." And you know such doctors sleep very well at night--nagged by neither guilt, shame nor the duties of upholding the Hippocratic Oath.
Just a few days ago the World Health Organization revealed that although U.S. citizens paid more for healthcare than any other country, its overall ranking was Number 37. The main reason for this poor rating is that these good, religious doctors of the United States care more about their incredible incomes than they do about helping those 40 million Americans who need it the most. When I think of decent religious people, say Mother Theresa, who aid the poor and compared them to the so-called religious people in the rank and file of the American Medical System I feel more than a little disgusted.
Before heading back to Europe, I wanted to draw the analogy comparing the American slave-owner of the 19th Century who profited at the expense of an underclass and shielded and justified his actions using religion--even when all European nations had abolished the slave trade and emancipated their slaves. The American physician today profits by refusing to treat the poor (coincidentally, having a 75% chance of having a shade of skin a bit darker than white) and shield himself using religion: "Through my hands...God acts." Again, the European nations and most of the civilized world recognize that health care is a right, not a privilege.
After rummaging through your site, I realized that not all Americans are puritanically-thinking twits. Why don't more Americans like those who enjoy your site do something about the large problems in this country. You have the option of voting whom-so-ever you want to be president, congressman etc...,a luxury that many people do not possess.
Thank you for your hip website (feel free to edit this letter as you wish),
D. Vuconski
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