Delicious LiveJournal Links for 6-28-2009

[andrewducker]

• Doctors want right to talk faith
  Ahem. NO!
  (tags: health religion christianity UK)
• What's so good about proportional representation?
  A researcher looks at what it does and doesn't produce, and finds it strangely convincing.
  (tags: elections pr voting statistics)

Comments

[randomchris.livejournal.com]

I think there should be clearer guidelines on the right to talk about faith with patients. At the moment, what we have appears to be basically a section 28 for Christianity; doctors are now so worried that they might be struck off for discussing their faith with a patient - even if the patient brings up the topic - that they're unwilling to do so. Spiritual well-being should be something that a doctor's able to discuss - because it has a massive impact on psychological health - and talking about faith is an important part of that. In order to do that, you've got to be able to mention your own views. Naturally, the doctor's religious tendencies should be much less important than the patient's, but it should be possible to talk about them without fear.

[endless-psych.livejournal.com]

My first referral link. I feel warm and fuzzy inside :D

[stillcarl.livejournal.com]

We've had PR for quite a while (after switching from FPTP), and I'd say it's improved most everything about parliament and government. It can be cruel to third parties though, which results in the careful ones opting to support the ruling party without actually being in government. So there's been no sign of the tail wagging the dog.

I'm unsure how you'd measure whether there's less corruption in government, but it is obvious some vested interests definitely don't like PR, going by editorials and such. We have had a list MP resign recently (after losing the confidence of the PM), which just meant another list member took their place. Under FPTP that would've resulted in a bi-election, and a government may not have been as ready to kick a member out when it would cause a bi-election. So that's one possible way they may be less corrupt, though obviously it doesn't apply to members with seats.

[heyokish.livejournal.com]

Having had more than one occasion in hospital where I have been obnoxiously prayed for and at, and, when objecting, told that there was no point and no hope to my life without Jesus...I'm in an absolute froth about this.

You are already asked about religion when you're in hospital...if you have a particular faith, if you want a chaplain or any other religious type to come and visit you. If you ask, they'll find you someone to do all the spiritual handholding you want. But, it's not the job of medical staff, and it shouldn't be.