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Doctors' political views may affect patient care

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Can doctors leave their political ideology at the door when a new patient gets a checkup? A Yale University survey found when it comes to some hot-button issues, patient care may vary.

Read: Doctors won’t prescribe generics

Researchers asked how doctors with different political affiliations would react to different health scenarios. Political views didn't make a difference in advising about depression or alcohol abuse. But when it came to advice about firearm safety, or reacting to a patient's prior abortions, Monday's survey found differences between Democratic and Republican doctors.

Read: The demon doctors

The researchers say both patients and doctors should be aware of the potential for political views to influence care.

The survey was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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