Anyone asked about Abortion in Interviews?

[KatieJune]

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Has anyone been asked how they feel about abortion and if they'd perform them? As a physician I wouldn't be comfortable performing abortions, but I'm not sure how to answer that since I don't necessarily think abortion should be illegal...anyone had experiences with this?

 

[aparecida]

As a physician I wouldn't be comfortable performing abortions, but I'm not sure how to answer that since I don't necessarily think abortion should be illegal.

I think what you've just said here would be fine. I doubt interviewers would bring it up though as it's so controversial. With that said, I will now duck out of this thread before it degenerates into an abortion debate....

 

[MeowMix]

I was asked in one interview what I thought about abortion in general.

 

[constructor]

when asked what i thought about abortion, i told my interviewer that anyone who comes to me asking for one should be incarcerated and he simply smiled and agreed and we moved on.

 

[Mistress S]

No offense to constructor, but I wouldn't recommend his tactic (even if you agree with his views). A few adcoms may smile and agree, but many who would ask you about this are probably looking for an answer that shows a deeper comprehension of the issue and a respect for your patients and their medical needs, regardless of your personal views. At the least, you should be able to articulate a clear position that demonstrates some understanding of both sides of the debate. Stating that a patient should be incarcerated for inquiring about abortion won't exactly impress most adcoms with your compassion, open-mindedness, or keen intellect. 🙄

 

[brynn7]

No offense to constructor, but I wouldn't recommend his tactic (even if you agree with his views). A few adcoms may smile and agree, but many who would ask you about this are probably looking for an answer that shows a deeper comprehension of the issue and a respect for your patients and their medical needs, regardless of your personal views. At the least, you should be able to articulate a clear position that demonstrates some understanding of both sides of the debate. Stating that a patient should be incarcerated for inquiring about abortion won't exactly impress most adcoms with your compassion, open-mindedness, or keen intellect. 🙄

I love your quote about being liberal!!!! Anyways...I am really hoping that constructor is being facetious here. If not then I definitely don't want to go to that school. 😱

 

[roja]

Be honest. If you dont' feel confident about it, you can say that you don't really know what specialty you want to go into and thus aren't really sure how you would feel about it.

 

[TheDudeabides]

Has anyone been asked how they feel about abortion and if they'd perform them? As a physician I wouldn't be comfortable performing abortions, but I'm not sure how to answer that since I don't necessarily think abortion should be illegal...anyone had experiences with this?

Agree about just be honest. I am an MS4 on the adcom this year and I know that our dean likes to ask ethical q's, one of which happens to be being in a rural area and pt needs a medically necesary abortion and there is no where else to go for 50 miles or so. What to do? Obviously save the mothers life by performing the abortion, losing 1 life is greater than 2. If you say your morals are too strong and you would let her die you are way too extreme and should go into another profession.
But anyway, In general the best way to answer these types of ethical Q's is to show a thought process for your answer, never place judgement on the patient, and ALWAYS RESPECT PATIENT AUTONOMY

 

[maygirl]

Agree about just be honest. I am an MS4 on the adcom this year and I know that our dean likes to ask ethical q's, one of which happens to be being in a rural area and pt needs a medically necesary abortion and there is no where else to go for 50 miles or so. What to do? Obviously save the mothers life by performing the abortion, losing 1 life is greater than 2. If you say your morals are too strong and you would let her die you are way too extreme and should go into another profession.
But anyway, In general the best way to answer these types of ethical Q's is to show a thought process for your answer, never place judgement on the patient, and ALWAYS RESPECT PATIENT AUTONOMY

I'm pro-choice politically, but I respect people's decisions about this issue. If someone really is against abortion and doesn't want to perform one, they shouldn't go into medicine? Please. I'm sorry, but there's quite a number of doctors who are really uncomfortable doing this, even if a human being is at risk. If you're pro-life, a good answer would be to find a doctor who would perform this outside the 50 miles radius and arrange transportation for them to see this doctor and have the procedure done. This way, you're respecting your own values while still respecting the patients' autonomy.

EDIT: Btw, while I am pro-choice, this would be my response. I would just be too uncomfortable. And NO ONE is telling me that this should stop me from going into medicine.

 

[TheDudeabides]

I'm pro-choice politically, but I respect people's decisions about this issue. If someone really is against abortion and doesn't want to perform one, they shouldn't go into medicine? Please. I'm sorry, but there's quite a number of doctors who are really uncomfortable doing this, even if a human being is at risk. If you're pro-life, a good answer would be to find a doctor who would perform this outside the 50 miles radius and arrange transportation for them to see this doctor and have the procedure done. This way, you're respecting your own values while still respecting the patients' autonomy.

EDIT: Btw, while I am pro-choice, this would be my response. I would just be too uncomfortable. And NO ONE is telling me that this should stop me from going into medicine.

that is a very approproate answer and i am not saying that pro-lifers should not go into medivcine, but maybe I should explain the situation more...after you give that answer she(the dean) says there is no way for transportation due to time constraints no other docs in the area etc etc, leading to an emergent decision with no other options but yourself. So you must decide perform it or the mother and child die. She puts you in the situation to she what you would do. Granted, she and i both repect your decision if you still dont want to do it, we just feel that that is a little extreme and saving the mothers life should outweigh any objections to doing so. Obviously this situation will never probably come up and it is completely hypotheicial, and I am just telling you how it is and how I have seen this issue come up,. Do whatever you wish with the info i am just trying to help out the OP and do not care to get into any political arguments 😴

 

[Attentive]

I was asked an abortion question in an interview.

I think the main point of such a question would be the notion that you are a patient's doctor, not the patient's social worker, parent, or judge.

I'd agree with the prior comment about patient autonomy. As a physician, your main priority is your patient's health. However, although you provide your medical training and opinion on a person's health status, ultimately, it is the patient's choice as to the direction of their care.

I think that as a physician, you are more of an advisor than a director.

 

[constructor]

No offense to constructor, but I wouldn't recommend his tactic (even if you agree with his views). A few adcoms may smile and agree, but many who would ask you about this are probably looking for an answer that shows a deeper comprehension of the issue and a respect for your patients and their medical needs, regardless of your personal views. At the least, you should be able to articulate a clear position that demonstrates some understanding of both sides of the debate. Stating that a patient should be incarcerated for inquiring about abortion won't exactly impress most adcoms with your compassion, open-mindedness, or keen intellect. 🙄

if you ask me, the fact that you took what i said seriously would not impress most adcoms either. i just wanted this thread closed because it's such an unimpressive, mundane topic on which a new thread gets started everyday, and from past experience i have learned that making an outrageous comment, whether you mean it or not, can get the thread shut down. what do you say, evodevo? 😉

 

[DrThom]

I was asked "What wouldn't you be able to do as a physician"

I said I wouldn't be able to willingly take a life (ie abortion/physician-assisted suidice/etc.) We talked about that for awhile.

So it was my fault we ended up on the topic.

 

[lorelei]

I was asked what I would do if a young woman came to me asking for an abortion.

My response was that I'm not entirely sure where I stand on the issue, and that my opinion might change as I learn more during medical school, but as of today I wouldn't feel comfortable performing an abortion. Instead, I would sit down withh her, make sure she understood all of her options, and leave the decision up to her. If she chose abortion, I'd refer her to another physician to have it done.

 

[maygirl]

I was asked what I would do if a young woman came to me asking for an abortion.

My response was that I'm not entirely sure where I stand on the issue, and that my opinion might change as I learn more during medical school, but as of today I wouldn't feel comfortable performing an abortion. Instead, I would sit down withh her, make sure she understood all of her options, and leave the decision up to her. If she chose abortion, I'd refer her to another physician to have it done.

I think that's a wonderful answer! 🙂

 

[Ypo.]

Yup-I was asked "a 14 year old girl wants an abortion-what would you do?"

I answered I would follow the law of that state. 🙄

 

[Mistress S]

if you ask me, the fact that you took what i said seriously would not impress most adcoms either. i just wanted this thread closed because it's such an unimpressive, mundane topic on which a new thread gets started everyday, and from past experience i have learned that making an outrageous comment, whether you mean it or not, can get the thread shut down. what do you say, evodevo? 😉

Well, it's not like people haven't espoused similar views to what you expressed on these forums before, believe it or not. I have actually met people in my life who would agree with jailing both doctors who perform abortions and the women who have them 100%, and I don't know you so I'm sorry for taking your comments at face value. I'm all for closing this thread before it turns into a stupid debate on abortion, this same question has been asked on these forums before at least a dozen times.