I was asked for my religion today..

alwaysadub

gurramok wrote: »

Its 8 pages on my screen. Ain't my fault its that long.

You told me to feck off to the Athiest forum and with the subject in hand which you so passionately care about, its obvious the problem you had was with athiests.

We're talking about religion so why did you not say a religious forum instead?

Haha. If anyone who knew me in real life was reading that they'd be rolling on the floor laughing.
I don't passionately care about anything to do with religion or lack of it, not that it's any business of yours.


You're the one who started the thread-why didn't you put it in a religious forum in the 1st place then.

gurramok

alwaysadub wrote: »

You're the one who started the thread-why didn't you put it in a religious forum in the 1st place then.

I don't follow religion. And I ain't a strict Athiest either. I'm just who I am who does not believe in any religion so please respect my wishes

mikemac

19, 20 , 21 , whatever
Wow, I've been shown up as I don't know how many pages are on the thread.

gurramok wrote: »

Only part of it. "What gives them the legal right to ask about religion?"

gurramok wrote: »

Ask me first 'do you have a religion Sir?' and then ask what is my religion if I answer yes.
Instead of asking first 'What religion are you?' which is the case now, that is labelling me as having a religion when I do not have one.

I don't complicate things, see an issue and solve it.

Write your to Minister Harney, the hospital manager and follow up later this week.
Thread is three days old and you've not done this. Procrastination?

Realy, After Hours is the last place in Ireland you'll find a solution.
I think my post is objective and there is nothing here you don't know already.

gurramok

feelingstressed wrote: »

I don't complicate things, see an issue and solve it.

Write your to Minister Harney, the hospital manager and follow up later this week.
Thread is three days old and you've not done this. Procrastination?

Realy, After Hours is the last place in Ireland you'll find a solution.
I think my post is objective and there is nothing here you don't know already.

Do you expect Harney to listen to me when she won't listen to people over the years calling for her resignation due to the state of the health service?:eek:

Your posts had religious connotations like the one where one finds only religion on their deathbed. You only mentioned religion, whats your problem with people moving away from religion?

Mike 1972

Was on holiday in the Netherlands a few years back with a friend and we got chatting to a local guy who asked us where we were from so I said "Northern Ireland" (actually Im originally from the South and my Friends from Poland but didnt want to get bogged down in unnecessary detail)

Anyway next question was "are you Catholic or Protestant ?"

He looked a bit confused when I said "No"

partyatmygaff

gurramok wrote: »

Do you expect Harney to listen to me when she won't listen to people over the years calling for her resignation due to the state of the health service?:eek:

When you the HSE is so busy dealing with its own real issues why then do you find it even necessary to bring up something as trivial as the wording of a questionnaire?

Your posts had religious connotations like the one where one finds only religion on their deathbed. You only mentioned religion, whats your problem with people moving away from religion?

Oh but of course... People discover their love for progressive rock on their deathbeds. Stop being pedantic.

And much more importantly

whats your problem with people moving away from religion?

What's your problem WITH religion? It seems to me that you have such a blinding hate for religion that you cannot even comprehend why a hospital would ask a patient for their religion (Or lack of).

In much less formal questionnaires you may be asked "What's your favourite football team?". Do you go on and on and rant about how they're offending you by suggesting everyone loves football or do you just write down "None" and get on with your life?

Can't believe this thread's still going on in any case.

mikemac

It's not like the HSE have more important things to worry over

gurramok wrote: »

Do you expect Harney to listen to me

Judging by this thread, the reaction you've gotten and the tags I don't expect the posters here to listen to you.
Some posters called you a troll, I never did

gurramok wrote: »

Your posts had religious connotations like the one where one finds only religion on their deathbed. You only mentioned religion, whats your problem with people moving away from religion?

Religious connotations? Look at the thread title

I never ever posted people only find religion on their deathbed. If that were the case we'd have no priests but lots of hospital chaplains.

Some non believers might find God on their deathbed, probably not you though.

The question you were asked was to:

• check if it was relevent to the doctor. Would you rather die then take a blood transfusion?
• Will a chaplain be sent around if neccesary?

And yet you took offense?

Instead of asking first 'What religion are you?' which is the case now, that is labelling me as having a religion when I do not have one.

If you posted this on Page 1, the thread would have finished on Friday night as you already know the solution. But now it's Sunday, you know the solution, haven't done anything about it and posters here can't do anything.

gurramok wrote: »

You only mentioned religion, whats your problem with people moving away from religion?

My last few posts were practical solutions. Who you should call or write a letter to

partyatmygaff

gurramok wrote: »

I don't follow religion. And I ain't a strict Athiest either. I'm just who I am who does not believe in any religion so please respect my wishes

You're not a strict athiest? So you believe in a deity from time or time or what exactly are you talking about? It's not as if lacking a belief can be mild, moderate or severe/strict.

You could definitely call yourself a militant athiest though.

MagicSean

gurramok wrote: »

Only part of it. Since when did a non-intrusive/non-life threatening checkup involve religion? (and the checkup did not need a further clinic visit)

And the following question was never answered..."What gives them the legal right to ask about religion?" All I got was upset religionists over-reacting to that question.:mad:

Why do they need a right to ask the question. There is nothing preventing them from asking it and they have a good reason for doing so. If you don't like it you can always go elsewhere.

EDIT: Are you actually suggesting that you got lesser care because of your religion? Or lack of religion as the case may be.

gurramok

partyatmygaff wrote: »

When you the HSE is so busy dealing with its own real issues why then do you find it even necessary to bring up something as trivial as the wording of a questionnaire?

Oh you again, why ask it in the way described at all?

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Oh but of course... People discover their love for progressive rock on their deathbeds. Stop being pedantic.

And much more importantly

What's your problem WITH religion? It seems to me that you have such a blinding hate for religion that you cannot even comprehend why a hospital would ask a patient for their religion (Or lack of).

In much less formal questionnaires you may be asked "What's your favourite football team?". Do you go on and on and rant about how they're offending you by suggesting everyone loves football or do you just write down "None" and get on with your life?

Can't believe this thread's still going on in any case.

Where did I say I have a hate for religion?

You seem to defend the religious stance so strong, people can find other things to turn to on their deathbed, suppose you missed that!

partyatmygaff wrote: »

You're not a strict athiest? So you believe in a deity from time or time or what exactly are you talking about? It's not as if lacking a belief can be mild, moderate or severe/strict.

You could definitely call yourself a militant athiest though.

I ain't either. What makes you say that? I believe in no superior beings.

gurramok

k_mac wrote: »

Why do they need a right to ask the question. There is nothing preventing them from asking it and they have a good reason for doing so. If you don't like it you can always go elsewhere.

EDIT: Are you actually suggesting that you got lesser care because of your religion? Or lack of religion as the case may be.

Probably be as most hospitals here are religiously run with religious on their boards, yes?

Noreen1

Oh, for goodness sake!
Hospitals ask your religion so they can try to respect your wishes in the event that admission is required.

It's perfectly obvious that reception staff cannot know, in advance, whether an admission will be required, or not. Hence, they ask a standard set of questions that attempt to cover the basic questions so that medical professionals don't have to waste their time asking non-medical questions.

In this way, "religionists" and "atheists" have their wishes respected, without wasting medical professionals valuable time - and without reception staff accessing confidential medical information.
It's as simple as that.

Noreen

whydoibother?

There are other reasons why people can be asked their religion. It's not always some sort of old-fashioned negative thing. In a hospital it's to do with your medical wishes. Employers, professional organizations and educational institutions survey this kind of information to ensure diversity sometimes. I've been asked to complete many surveys with questions on gender, ethnicity, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation etc. They've always been optional.

m@cc@

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Was on holiday in the Netherlands a few years back with a friend and we got chatting to a local guy who asked us where we were from so I said "Northern Ireland" (actually Im originally from the South and my Friends from Poland but didnt want to get bogged down in unnecessary detail)

Anyway next question was "are you Catholic or Protestant ?"

He looked a bit confused when I said "No"

I hope you educated him in why his question was inaccurate rather than being a cnut.

Mike 1972

m@cc@ wrote: »

rather than being a cnut.

It was a simple accurate answer to his (rather intrusive albeit probably unintentionally so) question. Whats so cnutish about that ?

Sofiztikated

muffy wrote: »

in case you die so they know whether to call a priest or a vicar or a rabbi or am imam or scientology type thing I should imagine. I was asked this in the Bons hospital and I said "I think I'm a Catholic LOL?". Wouldn't be offended at the question but would be offended if they used my belief(or rather lack there of) against me at a later date.

You actually said lawl? I'd have you committed, not hospitalised.

partyatmygaff

gurramok wrote: »

Oh you again, why ask it in the way described at all?

Yes me again. They ask it for the reasons outlined about 100 hundred times throughout this thread. I'm not gonna repeat them.

Where did I say I have a hate for religion?

You don't need to explicitly say it. It's pretty obvious through your posts.

You seem to defend the religious stance so strong, people can find other things to turn to on their deathbed, suppose you missed that!

And you seem to have some kind of anti-religious vendetta that's blinding you from seeing why its necessary for a hospital to ask for a person's religious preference.

I ain't either. What makes you say that? I believe in no superior beings.

What? How the hell is that an adequate response to

You're not a strict atheist? So you believe in a deity from time or time or what exactly are you talking about? It's not as if lacking a belief can be mild, moderate or severe/strict.

You could definitely call yourself a militant atheist though.

First of all, tell me whether or not you intermittently believe in a deity. You see calling yourself a mild or moderate atheist (How can you mildly lack a belief in God?) makes no sense.

And as for you not being a militant atheist, I think we'll agree to differ on that.

gurramok wrote: »

Probably be as most hospitals here are religiously run with religious on their boards, yes?

Oh we may have something interesting here. Are you saying that you were discriminated against and given inferior treatment because of your lack of a religion? If you truly did, take it to court. But if you didn't, then please stop talking BS.

gurramok

partyatmygaff wrote: »

You don't need to explicitly say it. It's pretty obvious through your posts.

And you seem to have some kind of anti-religious vendetta that's blinding you from seeing why its necessary for a hospital to ask for a person's religious preference.

How am I hateful towards religion? Point that 'obvious' thing out. All I objected to was the religious nature of been intolerant of others who don't believe in religion.

partyatmygaff wrote: »

What? How the hell is that an adequate response to

First of all, tell me whether or not you intermittently believe in a deity. You see calling yourself a mild or moderate atheist (How can you mildly lack a belief in God?) makes no sense.

And as for you not being a militant atheist, I think we'll agree to differ on that.

No, I meant I do not believe in a superior being. I ain't a strict or fundamentalist atheist in that i'm not trying to convert others to my beliefs. I tolerate people's belief in religion, all I ask is to tolerate my non-belief of a religion.

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Oh we may have something interesting here. Are you saying that you were discriminated against and given inferior treatment because of your lack of a religion? If you truly did, take it to court. But if you didn't, then please stop talking BS.

How is that BS? Why should there be religious lay people on boards of hospitals at all?
Why not have a range of people with beliefs and no beliefs or just leave religion out of hospitals?

partyatmygaff

Another point... In case you were unaware, medical professionals are educated on the religious practices of many world religions. They need to know how to deal with births, illness and death appropriately so as to not distress or offend their patient.

They don't just deal with physical ailments, they need to deal with their patient so as to not distress them emotionally or psychologically.

partyatmygaff

gurramok wrote: »

How am I hateful towards religion? Point that 'obvious' thing out. All I objected to was the religious nature of been intolerant of others who don't believe in religion.

Sorry but I don't think many will agree that being asked a question such as "What religion are you?" as being intolerant. It's like being asked "What car do you drive?", you don't go crying on boards if you don't have a car. You just say quite simply "I don't have a car". Likewise you could also say "I don't have a religion". No one will make a fuss and no one else seems to find any issue with that solution.
Unless you've been discriminated against by answering "No Religion" then you cannot claim intolerance.

No, I meant I do not believe in a superior being. I ain't a strict or fundamentalist atheist in that i'm not trying to convert others to my beliefs. I tolerate people's belief in religion, all I ask is to tolerate my non-belief of a religion.

A fundamentalist or a strict atheist is one that sticks to the fundamentals of atheism and that is simply lacking a belief in god. There is no such thing as a fundamental or strict atheist. You either are one or aren't one.

You do not tolerate other people's beliefs in religion despite what you may think. No one is being intolerant of you either.

How is that BS? Why should there be religious lay people on boards of hospitals at all?
Why not have a range of people with beliefs and no beliefs or just leave religion out of hospitals?

To cater for those of Religious faith. Life and death isn't something to be taken lightly. It may sound harsh but people die in hospitals. Its simply part of hospital life, its often where life begins and ends. Both are two critical points in anyone's life and that is why religious presence in hospitals is necessary. The world doesn't revolve you and your beliefs, oddly enough.

Mike 1972

A few years ago I was in the position of having to get an ex-housemate admitted to hospital and the person on admissions seemed a bit put out when I couldnt answer what religion they were (I genuinely wasnt sure at the time) which did make me wonder how they dealt with semi-unconscious people picked up off the street ?

I can appreciate there are genuine reasons why admissions staff would want this information though so Its one of those (rare) circumstances when I wouldnt be bothered being asked about it. (Census and Job/College applications are a different matter though) Some people here seem to be making too much of an issue of it although perhaps because they see it tied in with the whole issue of religious bodies owning/managing publicly funded hospitals.

Dont think hospitals should use the information to withhold lifesaving treatment from unconscious or particularly underage Jehova Witnesses etc though.

MagicSean

gurramok wrote: »

Probably be as most hospitals here are religiously run with religious on their boards, yes?

Yes you think you get a lower standard of care because you are not religious? That's stupidity of the highest level considering that most staff in hospitals tend to have a variety of religions. If you got a lower level of care at all it's probably because, going by your posts, you seem to be more anoying than Jordan (Katie Price, not the country).

Magenta

Richard wrote: »

Some people, faced with death find God. You may do, you may not. But such a traumatic experience does affect peoples views on religion from time to time.

As the saying goes, there's no such thing as an Atheist in a plane crash!
The tags for this thread are hilarious!

MagicSean

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Dont think hospitals should use the information to withhold lifesaving treatment from unconscious or particularly underage Jehova Witnesses etc though.

This is the choice they make by following the religion. To break it and force treatment would be considered a violation by the person and their family.

partyatmygaff

k_mac wrote: »

Yes you think you get a lower standard of care because you are not religious? That's stupidity of the highest level considering that most staff in hospitals tend to have a variety of religions. If you got a lower level of care at all it's probably because, going by your posts, you seem to be more anoying than Jordan (Katie Price, not the country).

By his logic he must believe that the entire hospital staff are Catholic. Surely they'd discriminate over staff jobs before they'd discriminate over patients.

Mike 1972

k_mac wrote: »

This is the choice they make by following the religion.

Hardly a choice if the person is under 18

Magenta wrote: »

As the saying goes, there's no such thing as an Atheist in a plane crash!

:rolleyes:

partyatmygaff

k_mac wrote: »

This is the choice they make by following the religion. To break it and force treatment would be considered a violation by the person and their family.

Too right you are. Doctors won't do something if it's against their patient's wishes. They can't just act of their own accord on someone else's body. The final decision to do anything lies with the patient and their next of kin and no one else.

If someone (Old enough to make their own decisions) wants to refuse treatment because its against their beliefs then that's their decision. They have every right to.

Mike 1972

If a person is admitted to hospital unconscious (or not apparently of sound mind) or is under 18 they are not in a position to make their wishes known to the doctors.

If an fully conscious adult person of sound mind makes such wishes known to the hospital staff and their condition subsequently deteriorates that would be a different matter.

partyatmygaff

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Hardly a choice if the person is under 18

If the person's under 18 then it does get a bit more difficult. Then again how many times have you heard of (For example) the parents of young Jehovah's witness' refusing to save the life of their child? You only hear it when one refuses or when one sues the hospital for disregarding their beliefs. However if an adult JW refuses treatment, that's solely their decision.

Lux23

Its really weird when they ask, if your getting an x ray on your ankle its likely you will need a blood transfusion or the last rites.

Mike 1972

Lux23 wrote: »

Its really weird when they ask, if your getting an x ray on your ankle its likely you will need a blood transfusion or the last rites.

Perhaps but its not unknown for people to be admitted to hospital for some minor condition/treatment only to deteriorate and anyway it would be too complicated having a list of conditions/treatments where the question is asked/not asked.

In my experience one only gets asked when being admitted as an in patient (e.g. overnight or longer) or when acting on behalf of a person who is unconscious/under the influence/not mentally competent.

PeterIanStaker

Daft in this day and age really. Shows that the country is still firmly in the dark ages.

MagicSean

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Hardly a choice if the person is under 18

:rolleyes:

Then its the parents choice. Or should we take away parental rights when it comes to medicine?

Mike 1972 wrote: »

If a person is admitted to hospital unconscious (or not apparently of sound mind) or is under 18 they are not in a position to make their wishes known to the doctors.

This is the point of asking on every visit. So the hospital has an up to date record on your views. Because the next time you come in you may not be able to talk to them.

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Daft in this day and age really. Shows that the country is still firmly in the dark ages.

How exactly? Because some people still have religious beliefs? That kind of intolerance and attitude is no different from the attitudes that led to the crusades.

gurramok

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Sorry but I don't think many will agree that being asked a question such as "What religion are you?" as being intolerant. It's like being asked "What car do you drive?", you don't go crying on boards if you don't have a car. You just say quite simply "I don't have a car". Likewise you could also say "I don't have a religion". No one will make a fuss and no one else seems to find any issue with that solution.
Unless you've been discriminated against by answering "No Religion" then you cannot claim intolerance.

I answered that already. I should be asked if i have a religion in the first place instead of been asked what my religion is. You seem to disagree and thats intolerance.

Question for you, why are you staunchly defending the religious system as it is?

partyatmygaff wrote: »

A fundamentalist or a strict atheist is one that sticks to the fundamentals of atheism and that is simply lacking a belief in god. There is no such thing as a fundamental or strict atheist. You either are one or aren't one.

You do not tolerate other people's beliefs in religion despite what you may think. No one is being intolerant of you either.

To cater for those of Religious faith. Life and death isn't something to be taken lightly. It may sound harsh but people die in hospitals. Its simply part of hospital life, its often where life begins and ends. Both are two critical points in anyone's life and that is why religious presence in hospitals is necessary. The world doesn't revolve you and your beliefs, oddly enough.

Jumping to conclusions are we? I do tolerate other people's beliefs, all I ask is that other people tolerate mine, how hard is that?

k_mac wrote: »

Yes you think you get a lower standard of care because you are not religious? That's stupidity of the highest level considering that most staff in hospitals tend to have a variety of religions. If you got a lower level of care at all it's probably because, going by your posts, you seem to be more anoying than Jordan (Katie Price, not the country).

Staff have no power. Just like the education system is based on religion where the Catholic Church run 90% of the schools, it ain't fair in the 21st Century.

MagicSean

gurramok wrote: »

Staff have no power.

Are you suggesting there is some kind of religious conspiracy to kill off atheist patients?.

gurramok wrote: »

Just like the education system is based on religion where the Catholic Church run 90% of the schools, it ain't fair in the 21st Century.

The reason the church ran them is because they set them up. Set up your own school if you dislike it so much. Yeah it would be great if we built loads of new non religious schools over night. Who exactly will pay for it? Or maybe we should annex all church property?

Sofiztikated

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Daft in this day and age really. Shows that the country is still firmly in the dark ages.

What? How?

Is it me, or is the pong of outrage getting overpowering in AH? Theres always a outrage over religion in here. Yeah, right, you're athiest/agnostic/catholic/protestant/muslim/jedi. We get it. Give it a ****ing rest. Other people have a different belief to you.

The religion question in hospitals is easily explained. And has been many times on this thread. If thats what gets you riled up, then **** me, you're easily annoyed.

Sofiztikated

Oh, and gurramok, is your outrage over being asked or the way it was asked?

gurramok

k_mac wrote: »

Are you suggesting there is some kind of religious conspiracy to kill off atheist patients?.

No, not kill, don't be silly.

Discrimination possibly. Why is there religious staff on the boards of hospitals anyway?

k_mac wrote: »

The reason the church ran them is because they set them up. Set up your own school if you dislike it so much. Yeah it would be great if we built loads of new non religious schools over night. Who exactly will pay for it? Or maybe we should annex all church property?

You're been silly again. But your last suggestion is quite a good one. Why should my child be forced to go to a Catholic school?:mad:

gurramok

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Oh, and gurramok, is your outrage over being asked or the way it was asked?

Welcome Sofiztikated Its over the way its asked and its legality.

MagicSean

gurramok wrote: »

No, not kill, don't be silly. Discrimination possibly. Why is there religious staff on the boards of hospitals anyway?

I'm being silly? Are you serious? Discriminate in what way? Why shouldn't there be religious staff on the boards? You think they should be discriminated agains because they are religious? Do you know what a hypocrite is? Just because someone has spent time to become a priest it does not mean they are uneducated or don't have a good business mind.

gurramok wrote: »

You're been silly again. But your last suggestion is quite a good one. Why should my child be forced to go to a Catholic school?:mad:

Noone is forcing you to send your child to a Catholic school. It's your choice.

gurramok

k_mac wrote: »

I'm being silly? Are you serious? Discriminate in what way? Why shouldn't there be religious staff on the boards? You think they should be discriminated agains because they are religious? Do you know what a hypocrite is? Just because someone has spent time to become a priest it does not mean they are uneducated or don't have a good business mind.

So you cannot answer why religious staff are on hospitals. Why not answer the question?

k_mac wrote: »

Noone is forcing you to send your child to a Catholic school. It's your choice.

Yeh try and find the <10% who cater for non-Catholic children. I wouldn't have to do that if the religious were removed from running the schools.

drkpower

k_mac wrote: »

Then its the parents choice. Or should we take away parental rights when it comes to medicine?.

No, its not the parent's choice when it comes to life-saving/serious health-preserving issues.

And a declaration of someone's religon is NOT an answer to what medical treatment they wish to receive.

drkpower

gurramok wrote: »

So you cannot answer why religious staff are on hospitals. Why not answer the question?

Generally historical reasons such as them founding the Hospital in the first place. But their influence has waned considerably, thankfully.

Sofiztikated

gurramok wrote: »

Discrimination possibly. Why is there religious staff on the boards of hospitals anyway?

That seems like an odd question. What would you prefer them to be? As long as it doesn't affect any judgements that they make as a board, they can be hippo worshipping tribalists, for what I care.

You're been silly again. But your last suggestion is quite a good one. Why should my child be forced to go to a Catholic school?:mad:

This I do agree with though. I don't see why my children should HAVE to go to a Catholic school. I disagree with the teaching of religion in school. Well, actually, I disagree with the teaching of a single religion in schools. I would prefer all world religions got a fair go, or none at all.

gurramok wrote: »

Welcome Sofiztikated Its over the way its asked and its legality.

Gotcha. Well, honestly, I think you've caught the wrong end of the stick on it. If you felt discriminated against, and felt that you received poor treatment because of your being athiest, then I'd agree with you, and fight your corner. But if not, then I don't see the issue.

She asked your religion, you replied none, she filled in the box on your file, she went on to the next person.

If you wanted it changed to "Do you have a religion?" followed by "And that...?" you're looking at increasing waiting times as well, as that couple of seconds, many times a day, could really add up. (If you want to get pedantic about it)

gurramok

Why haven't they been removed from hospital boards then?

Ireland is a secular country and no need for religion to interfere in medicine or education.

drkpower

gurramok wrote: »

Why haven't they been removed from hospital boards then?

Ireland is a secular country and no need for religion to interfere in medicine or education.

The actual reasons are far too complicated for this thread! But simple answer is politics with a small & a big "p".

And while Ireland should be a secular country, unfortunatley it isnt yet.

Sofiztikated

gurramok wrote: »

Why haven't they been removed from hospital boards then?

Ireland is a secular country and no need for religion to interfere in medicine or education.

While I agree with the education, I don't see what (negative) impact that religion would have on hospitals.

Chinasea

I was asked while being admitted to Holles Street when they were filling in my details what my Christian name was?????

MagicSean

gurramok wrote: »

So you cannot answer why religious staff are on hospitals. Why not answer the question?

Because they founded them.

gurramok wrote: »

Yeh try and find the <10% who cater for non-Catholic children. I wouldn't have to do that if the religious were removed from running the schools.

Thats the unfortunate thing with living in a Catholic country were the hospitals and schools were built by the Catholic church. What percentage of the population is Catholic?

EDIT: How would you identify the religious ones in your world where people can't ask about your religion?

drkpower wrote: »

No, its not the parent's choice when it comes to life-saving/serious health-preserving issues.

And a declaration of someone's religon is NOT an answer to what medical treatment they wish to receive.

Why not? Because doctors are always right? You cannot take away that choice from parents.

philologos

gurramok wrote: »

So you cannot answer why religious staff are on hospitals. Why not answer the question?

To cater for the spiritual needs of patients. I would have thought this obvious. I'd like to know if I was in hospital that I would be able to receive pastoral care should I need it.

gurramok wrote: »

Yeh try and find the <10% who cater for non-Catholic children. I wouldn't have to do that if the religious were removed from running the schools.

Speak for non-believers and that group alone. From my non-Catholic perspective, I think it is perfectly reasonable why this question is asked.

drkpower wrote: »

And a declaration of someone's religion is NOT an answer to what medical treatment they wish to receive.

It is however, an answer to what pastoral care they will require, and an answer if in the unfortunate event of death if it will be required to have the last rites, or other such procedures that come with their belief system.

Just because you do not have such spiritual needs doesn't mean that they shouldn't be provided for in hospitals. As I see it, the OP is getting pent up for having to answer a fairly typical, normal, and reasonable question.