Transforming the Culture of Medicine through Authentic Marriages

We have inspiring articles in this edition of our newsletter, reflecting on the beauty, challenges and blessings of marriage. I hope you will be moved as you read through them, whether it be to strengthen your own marriage, or perhaps to provide much needed encouragement to couples who may be struggling to live an authentic marriage in today’s culture. For, as Deacon Turrentine stated so beautifully, “marriage has within it immense power for the transformation of culture and for the evangelization of those who have lost their way.”

I pondered the need for such transformation in our culture this week, as I conversed with several physicians in training, about the education they receive on family planning in medical school. It is with sadness that I see the profession I was so drawn to precisely because of the opportunity to heal, protect and promote life, in such urgent need of transformation to align itself with the basic tenet of the Hippocratic oath to Do No Harm.

My son John, in his second year of medical school, related to me how biased his recent family planning lectures were, based more on politics than medicine, and dismissing NFP with laughter—literally. Physicians in training are taught that NFP is one of the least effective methods, but they fail to explain why the CDC statistics quote such low effectiveness.

Surprisingly, there are still many couples using the old fashioned calendar or rhythm method, or even just guessing what phase of the cycle they are in. The CDC statistics reflecting the effectiveness of NFP, group these couples together with couples using the scientifically advanced methods of NFP available today. Five couples out of a thousand use the old fashioned rhythm method which we all know is ineffective, compared to one couple out of a thousand who have actually been instructed in, and chart their cycles using, the much more effective modern methods of NFP. So, of course the effectiveness of natural methods is significantly underestimated when calculated in this way. The CDC has just recently decided to start listing these two groups separately, but it will take time, and perhaps a transformation in the culture, for those statistics to trickle down to medical school lectures. Meanwhile, we have our work cut out for us, educating on the importance of being properly instructed in modern methods of NFP, and how they differ from the outdated natural methods of our grandmother’s era.

My son reported that the lecturer did identify the significant side effects of contraceptive methods, but then would immediately dismiss them with the assurance “But that never happens,” when in actuality more and more articles are being published exposing the very real harms.

My son also noted how bizarre it was to observe them go to such lengths to show how great oral contraceptives are, when they did not do this for any other medication. Sadly, he also reported that those medical students politically aligned with the contraceptive agenda eagerly, and unquestioningly, embraced the lecture as presented. They do not understand…

So, what can married couples do to help change the culture in medicine? Husbands, love your wives – and when offered oral contraceptives, tell the doctor you want something safer, something better for the woman you love.