The document, for once for the GMC, seems balanced and reasonable, particularly
in view of the regular calls in the press to "out" and publicly list GPs with a
conscientious and/or religious objection to abortion (I am included in that
number). I do not know which religious group would feel unhappy about signing
cremation certs (there are plenty of Catholic doctors that I have met who seem
to have no problem in signing these), but feel fundamentally uneasy about
forcing someone to do this if it conflicts with their beliefs. Anyone know the
answer as to whom these people are?
Laurie Miles
> -----Original Message-----
> From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary Hawking
> Sent: 19 August 2007 8:36 pm
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [GP-UK] Does any religion object to signing cremation certificates?
> (GMC consultation)
>
> From the GMC consultation on personal beliefs etc.
> http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/news_consultation/personal_beliefs.asp
> "Completion of cremation forms
> 26.
> You should not refuse to sign statutory cremation forms on the basis of
> your own personal or religious objection to cremation. It is not
> appropriate, in this situation, to advise relatives of their right to
> see another doctor5, since there may be no other doctor in a position to
> sign the form6. Refusal to sign the form could necessitate a referral to
> the coroner and a post mortem, causing unnecessary delay and distress to
> the relatives of the deceased patient."
>
> Is there any religion which objects to cremation for non-believers if
> that is the choice of the non-believer's relations? (I am using
> "non-believers" as a term to cover anyone who does not belong to the
> religion which is causing the doctor asked to sign the cremation form to
> have a religious objection: the situation , presumably, would not arise
> where the deceased belonged to the same religious persuasion)
>
> Just curious - and I suspect that GP-UK is likely to include people who
> would know the answer!
>
> MaryH
> --
> Mary Hawking
**********************************************************************
This message may contain confidential and privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies.
Please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail
or take any action in reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly
prohibited and may be unlawful. Please inform us that this message has
gone astray before deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.
NHSmail is used daily by over 100,000 staff in the NHS. Over a million
messages are sent every day by the system. To find out why more and
more NHS personnel are switching to this NHS Connecting for Health
system please visit www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/nhsmail
**********************************************************************
|