Doctor Practices Faith in Her Profession

--LINDA E. WALBURN

Anne Marie Manning's strong faith inspires and mirrors her professional life. As a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology in private practice at the Center for Women's Health &Wellness, an affiliate of Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, being a Catholic physician has presented some ethical challenges for her.

"There are a number of issues in obstetrics and gynecology relating to abortion, birth control, and fetal testing, that we have to take into consideration," Dr. Manning said. "My faith and beliefs influence these issues considerably."

Dr. Manning takes a firm stand on artificial birth control. "Until fairly recently I prescribed contraceptives and did tubal ligations," she explained. "But, as I was challenged in my faith to examine the philosophical and theological teachings of the Church, I came to realize that it was inappropriate for me to be doing these things and I stopped both. If I am going to be true to my Catholic faith I have to take that stand.

"As a physician," she continued, "I am here to provide a service but also to do what's best for my patients which includes their physical as well as their emotional and spiritual well being. I have to consider the whole person.

"The teaching of the Catholic Church is that artificial contraception is wrong. It does, however, teach the concept of responsible parenthood. There are excellent options for family planning using natural methods that carry more advantages," Dr. Manning emphasized.

"What we adhere to is natural family planning using the sympto-thermal method or the ovulation method. The advantages are that these methods are safe. There are no risk factors or complications so everyone can use them and they are reliable. These methods can also be used to achieve pregnancy," she added.

Dr. Manning said she does encounter disagreement among her professional peers.

"There are colleagues that personally disagree with my stand on birth control but they respect my beliefs and my decision. Others feel I am acting inappropriately. I have to act in a way true to my own beliefs."

"A physician is not going to prescribe something to a patient that is harmful and I believe contraception is in some cases physically harmful, and emotionally and spiritually harmful as well," she stated. "Some patients have left the practice for that reason while others have come to me for that exact reason."

"You cannot separate your religious beliefs and your moral self from your professional self," Dr. Manning added. "If I am not true to my religious beliefs and moral convictions throughout my personal as well as my professional life, then I am not a whole person."

"Juggling chaos" is how she refers to the management of her busy career and family life. She credits her family as being very understanding and flexible. "My husband is the primary caregiver and shoulders the bulk of the hard work at home in raising our five children. He home schools the three oldest children. We feel very strongly about having a parent at home, particularly when the children are young. Our arrangement works for us."

Her husband is a convert to Catholicism and they are members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Mechanicsburg.

Dr. Manning was recently honored by the Professional Catholic Women's Forum as an area woman of faith for her emulation of Catholic philosophy in her professional and community life

"I don't know how you can practice medicine and not believe in God," Dr. Manning said. "I pray for my patients and on occasion I have prayed with them."

Bringing life into the world is a terrific experience, according to Dr. Manning. "Dermatology or radiology probably would have been less stressful but there isn't anything better than being present at a delivery. That's why I went into this field and that's why I plan to continue doing this for as long as I possibly can."

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