Why should we make an exception for Muslims?
Dear Dr Charles Tannock,
I always find it heartening to read about a politician who speaks their mind about religious issues, seeing as so many of your colleagues are too afraid to do so. Yet again I find myself reading about Muslims failing to adhere to rules that apply to everyone else – this time in protecting patients from superbugs in hospitals.
My perspective on this is the same as usual – religion has nothing to do with it. If a medical student refuses to adhere to hygiene rules aimed at preventing the spread of diseases that literally kill people, they should be suspended from their course and not allowed to return unless they reverse their decision. The fact that these women are Muslims is irrelevant and should not be a factor in any decision regarding the future career of these individuals. I remember coming across recent stories of Muslims refusing to sell alcohol and cigarettes to customers in shops because it is ‘against their religion’, but again religion is beside the point – if an employee refuses to carry out their job, the employer has every right to sack them.
I sincerely hope that the British Medical Association stands as firm as you did on this issue because to my mind it’s very clear how this should end. NHS safety guidelines are there for everyone to follow – no exceptions, no special treatment.
Yours sincerely,
A.Tory
Witanagemot Blogs
As rare as it is that I find myself agreeing with a Tory, I certainly agree with you on this. In recent years it seems that religion of all kinds has crept its way back into everyone’s day-to-day life, be it international relations or whether or not the former PM was a practicing Catholic during his time in Downing Street.
There are far too many challenges facing us in the 21st Century for any of us to have to negotiate our way around archaic religious rules. You only have to look at the state of the US to see what happens when you pander to religious extremism- to the extent that they’re letting the Fundamentalists run things.
Take recent press reports of religious controversy surrounding abortion. For how long has this been an issue in Britain? Wasn’t this issue dealt with 20-odd years ago?
Ultimately, religion is a personal thing and everyone should (and, I hope, does) have the right to practice theirs as they see fit: right up to the point that it begins to impact on other people.
Like you, I consider myself to be extremely respectful of people’s right to practice their religion in this country.
However, I will not accept the safety and wellbeing of hospital patients (which may include me at some point in future!) being compromised because someone thinks that tough hygiene regulations are beyond them.
I agree that religion is an irrelevance in this matter. The hygiene measures are only effective if everybody adheres to he rules. carelessness regarding hygiene is bad enough in our hospitals but wilful disregarding of procedures put in for the safety of patients (for whatever reason) is simply unacceptable.
If it’s against their religion to carry out the duties of a particular job, why do they want that job? I agree with you 100% on this issue. Either follow the rules, or get a different job. Should I be allowed to work in a porn shop, but refuse to sell pornographic materials because it’s against my religion? They may claim it is apples and oranges, but it really is not. A job duty is a job duty is a job duty.