[2535] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: according to a poll heard on CNN tonight...
ckclark@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (ckclark@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Wed Nov 27 02:26:20 1991
>50% of doctors nationwide would rather not treat patients with AIDS if
>they had a choice. This isn't too surprising on the surface; but the
>depressing parts are the reasons they wouldn't, in order of frequency:
>1) homophobia;
>2) not wanting to work with IV drug users;
>3) fear of getting infected.
>sigh... we've still got a long way to go.
I am skeptical about the interpretations of the result of this "poll"
because of the way the conclusions are presented. In particular, I'd
like to know what the actual question was that lead to the conclusion
that some fraction of the doctors are "homophobic." I doubt it was
something like:
1. I'd be reluctant to take on an AIDS patient because:
[Check all that apply.]
a. I'm afraid of homosexuals.
...
-Calvin
