§ 39. Mr. Thurtleasked the Minister of Health under what Regulations under the National Health Service doctors in the service are precluded from giving to patients who apply for it information and advice about methods of contraception.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Aneurin Bevan)There is nothing whatever in the Regulations to preclude this. Nor, however, is there any obligation on the doctor to do it unless he considers it necessary for purposes of medical treatment.
§ Mr. ThurtleCan my right hon. Friend say whether a doctor in the National Health Service is justified in refusing to give this information on conscientious grounds?
§ Mr. BevanIt is not my practice to interfere with the advice the doctor considers he should give his patient. I think it would be most unfortunate if we tried to intervene between doctor and patient in matters of this sort.
§ Mr. ThurtleIs my right hon. Friend aware that it is on record that a National Health doctor refused to give this information on conscientious grounds, and then proceeded to offer to treat the patient as a private patient?
§ Mr. BevanIf that were the case, I think it would be very naughty indeed on the part of the doctor as he could not then be refusing on conscientious grounds, but on financial grounds.