It has been said by about one-fifth of U. S. doctors practicing in religiously affiliated hospitals that they've had conflicts over hospitals' end-of-life and contraception policies.

Study author Dr. Debra Stulberg of the University of Chicago said in a statement, "Religious hospitals represent nearly 20 percent of our health care system. This study is the first to systematically ask physicians whether religious hospital policies conflict with their judgment. We found that for a significant number of physicians, they do."

Stulberg further said that ninety-six percent of primary care physicians, a representative sample of U. S. family physicians, general internists and general practitioners in 2007, say physicians should adhere to hospital policy.

It was thought by eighty-five percent of physicians thought a doctor facing conflict with religious policies should refer the patient to another hospital, while 10 percent said a doctor should recommend an alternate treatment not prohibited by the religious hospital.

Stulberg also said, "Primary care physicians routinely see patients facing reproductive health or end-of-life decisions that may be restricted in religious healthcare institutions, so we were not surprised to learn that nearly one in five have worked in a religious setting had a conflict with their hospital."

He further added, "We found that the physicians who work in religious hospitals and practices are a diverse group, from a wide range of religious and personal backgrounds, so hospitals sponsored by a specific religious denomination have providers who may not share their beliefs." (With Inputs from Agencies)