Health and Religion...?

Question

A statementment by Prof Assiz Sheikh (primary health care) said that muslims had the poorest health profile of any religious/racial group in the UK, mainly with reference to diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
His argument is that the NHS should go further in providing for the particular needs of this group such as providing access to prayer facilities or providing female doctors and anciliary staff for muslim women and that religious circumcision should be available across the NHS.
How far can or should the NHS be prepared to go to meet the needs of particular groups as far as their religious customs and practices go? And should these groups be prepared to 'accomadate' in order that they can more effectively access health care? (ps I would not welcome comments like 'who cares?' or 'serves them right' or other such uninformed abuse!

Answer 1

I think that's got less to do with religion and more to do with the fact that most Muslims in the UK are poor immigrants. Here in the US, Mexican immigrants have the poorest health, and they're predominantly Catholic, but I doubt that Catholicism is making them ill...?

I think that the NHS should focus on helping all lower income groups, regardless of religion. But that's just my opinion. :)

Edit: I'm also not sure how NHS-funded "prayer facilities" will help cure heart disease, which makes me think that the good doctor may be a tad biased here.

Answer 2

As a woman, I prefer a woman doctor for some things, but most I don't worry about at all. I find the comment that Muslim men doctors are preferable to Christian men doctors, as Muslims won't rape, horribly insulting.
Also, I am really concerned about the pressure put on doctors to perform female circumcision - my first thought when I read the article. Female circumcision is something that is so barbaric, it turns the stomach that women can actually submit themselves and their children to such mutiliation. I hope no British government would ever allow it.
The NHS is so strapped for cash, surely no one would take this man seriously. If this kind of thing matters so much one should go and live in a Muslim society.
All our feelings and our dignity, along with our health, should be the top priority regardless of which religion we come from. I deeply resent this theory that Muslims are more sensitive and need different care to ours.

Answer 3

Are these health issues due to their religion or the fact that they do not take good care of themselves?
The fact is they already have access to the health services just like everyone else. Going out of our way to accommodate their faith would encourage segregation. I think for the health service to remain a fair service, everyone has to be treated the same.
and no...circumcision should not be allowed on the NHS. It's a religious requirement, not a medical one. The NHS is an organisation concerned with health...and should remain so...
Religion is a personal choice, it is not on the same level as being disabled, being from a specific minority, being old or young, male or female, gay or straight. I find it offensive that they should be given so much attention that the other groups who really deserve more care and attention don't get it.

Answer 4

You'll note that the prof said that there is a general trend in the Muslim minority not seeking help when they are unwell. He is making suggestions to entice unwell people to seek medical help. I think that is the basis of the story.

Also, it is very important that a patient sees a consultant of the gender that they require as they are then unlikely to accept help if the consultant is of the opposite sex. A Muslim woman (and even many non Muslim women) would feel very uncomfortable being examined by a male doctor.

Finally, this sort of mentality should wear off in a generation when the vast majority of British Muslims are actually British born.

Answer 5

For women's health, it details what is ok. It's PREFERRED that a muslim woman doctor care for a muslim woman's health. It's not obligatory. Second would be a muslim man because he would respect her and not violate her. Third would be a Christian woman and lastly a Christian man. Islam also says to take into account the quality of the care and the woman's health. It's stupid and unislamic to put dress before health. Islam says if it's a must and you can't help it, it's not a sin on you. I am in an area that has no muslim woman doctors or any good female OBGYNS. For the births of both of my children, I had my christian male doctor. He's old, and he has one of the best reputations in my city. He's delivered generations of a families, too, and has been in the paper and given awards for his work. When my step sister, a convert, heard I had a man, she insulted my choice and kept going on about her doctor. I tried her doctor, and couldn't stand her. She wouldn't listen to me, she didn't really care about my feelings at all concerning my own body, it felt like I was being dictated to. Yet she was only reccommended for being a woman. All other muslims, men and women, are not shocked and couldn't care less that my doctor is a man. After the birth of my daughter, my sister in law became pregnant. I reccommended him to her and she went. He is now her regular doctor as well. Many muslim women go to him, actually, because I remember being there for one of my appointments and seeing 5 other pregnant muslim ladies in the waiting room.

Answer 6

Of course it is nice to think that UK welcomes people from all religious backgrounds and makes them feel at home here, but just how far should it go????
I am not British, and when I came to this country I did not expect it to adapt to my needs........I actually knew from day one that it was my choice to come here and I by making that choice I agreed to adapt to the country, not the other way around!!!!
It is impossible to accommodate every single need of every single religious, ethnic, etc. group......of course it does not mean that the government should not try to make their lives easier when it is possible, but, it cannot also be expected to attend to every single issue.
Sometimes, I guess they will just have to realise that it is a foreign country for them, with it's laws and institutions, which might not be ''Muslim-friendly'' all the time........but it obviously offers them better opportunities and lifestyle then their home country, otherwise why would they be here, right?So why not focus on the good aspects of being here?
In terms of health care, though, yes, I think if it can be improved for Muslims, then it should be. As a matter of fact , NHS could use some improvements in general!

Answer 7

I think religion has no place at all in the NHS. I dont care about all the different ethnic groups, the NHS is for health. Religion should be banned from all public domains and kept at home where it belongs, it should keep out of law, government, schools and other public institutions. Therefore I dont believe the NHS should do anything to accommodate a religion. Hospitals have rooms for relatives to pray or to have a moment's peace shared by everyone, that's all we need. The rest is bunkum. I bet it's another liberal leftie loonie idea, be they white or ethnic, but wrong anyway.

Edit: right, just seen it was suggested by a muslim professor, now why am I not surprised.

Answer 8

as someone already answered it has got nothing to do with religion but the poor condition in wich some of these people live.
As the NHS to provide, i'm a muslim and pay my tax and contribute to this country so i expect the same from them. About muslim women seeing female doctors it's not 100%necesary as in the event of the hospital hasn't got one our health come first and the religion say in this case we can see a male doctor.
I think people should stop misunderstanding our religion and read more about it if they willing to criticiase it.

Answer 9

Although the NHS is not perfect, it is free to all, whether one pays taxes or not. We are one of the few countries who offer such a service. Ill health can affect us all whatever our religion. Money invested in the NHS should go to patient care and equipment, nurses etc etc. Large proportions should not be invested in certain religions WHATEVER they are. Of course, women should be able to see female doctors if and when possible whether they are Christian, Muslim or any other religion but is shouldn't be exclusive to any one of these. When you are ill and receiving thousands of pounds of free treatment I think that you should leave demands and religions at the door. It's not what the NHS is about or should be about.

Answer 10

The NHS is stretched enough financially. If people want special treatment on ground of religion or tradition then they should be prepared to pay for it. As for more female doctors, i somewhat agree, but only because there are a general lack and us women more often than not have to see male. I wouldn't be impressed if Muslim patients were given priority to be seen by them though.