The Secular Medical Forum (SMF)- campaigning to limit the harm caused to patients by the imposition of religious beliefs.
Dear {{{Salutation}}},
As a fellow NSS member, I'm sure you'll agree that patients should be confident that their autonomy to choose the right NHS treatment and care for them will not be subverted by the personal religious views or agenda of others.
Yet the right to autonomy of every one of us is under constant threat from those people who consider their own religious views to be far more important than the views and beliefs held by other people.
The Secular Medical Forum (SMF) exists because people are regularly subjected to certain treatments and denied others based on the religious beliefs of those providing care or due to inherent religious privilege in the decision-making process.
There is evidence that some very religious doctors refuse even to discuss reasonable treatment options that may shorten life.
People consulting for contraceptive and sexual health advice or treatment risk receiving information or treatment coloured by the narrow focus of the healthcare provider's religious agenda. The result may be an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies.
Some doctors consider it their duty to proselytise to vulnerable patients in the consulting room and try to convert them to the doctor's religion.
Religious psychiatrists have offered Sexual Orientation Conversion Efforts (SOCE)- roundly condemned by the BMA as unethical and ineffective- to people they consider to have aberrant sexual orientation.
NHS-funded hospital chaplaincy, touted as a spiritual service for all, is unique in appointing only NHS staff with religious credentials who deliver a spiritual cum religious service paid for out of limited NHS funds.
Medically unjustifiable surgery on children's genitals continues to be performed by some NHS organisations hell-bent on satisfying the 'requirements' of religious adults.
Legislation for assisted dying for those suffering unbearably with no realistic prospect of relief, supported by 80% of the UK population, has been thwarted and contested by the minority view of Anglican bishops privileged with seats in our parliamentary chamber by dint of their chosen religious beliefs.
Changes to the NHS over the coming years will see an increasing number of our services delivered by outside, in many cases religious, groups. We need to be mindful of the increased risk this brings
The SMF is wholly voluntary and run mainly by healthcare professionals who form the core membership. However, every one of us has some insight into the healthcare system and the SMF welcomes non-healthcare professional associate members.
The SMF relies on members taking independent action to challenge some or all of the behaviours described above. Please join our ranks and help us to protect all of us when we are most vulnerable.
For more information and details as to how to join, contact SMF chair Dr Antony Lempert antony@secularmedicalforum.org.uk
If you have any specific skills in IT or administration and would be willing to offer a bit of time to help the SMF continue its work please contact me on the email address above.
You can keep up to date with our work by visiting our website or following us on Twitter @SecularMedForum
Yours sincerely
Dr Antony Lempert
The Secular Medical Forum