Can an employer make you set doctors appointments at the beginning or end of your shift?

I think it depends on the state you are in. Different states have different labor laws.

That being said, I think it makes sense for an employer to make employees go to the doctor's at the beginning or the end of their shift.

I can't imagine an employer not accomodating an employee's need on a doctor's appt request unless the doctor's appointments are frequent.

The policy must have been put in place because of employees abusing the policy of time off for doctor's appointments.

Unless you are part of a contracted work group that spells this out in a labor agreement, I am not aware of any (U.S.) law that would prevent an employer from directing employees to make medical appointments at the beginning or end of a shift.

Usually, for non-work related stuff you need to try to miss the least amount of work possible. This is why they want you to set it up at the beggining or end of your scheduled work hours. this way, one of the trips (to the doctor's office or back) is on your own time. If you are suppose to be at work at 9am but instead you schedule your doctor's appt at 9am, you will be taking the trip TO the doctor on your own time and getting to work missing the minimum amount of time possible. As oppose to in the middle of the day, where you will forced to take both the going and coming back time during working hours.

Most employers would like you to do things after you are done with work but of course that does not always work out because of conflict of hours.

They can, but since you have an employer that is obviously making your life difficult...schedule the appointment, don't tell anyone about it, and then just call in sick for the whole day.

It would make sense to try and get appointments at the beginning or end of day. Unless it is really difficult.

Yes. We encourage it where I work as well. Before I joined HR I automatically set my appointments at those times as a curtesy to my employer.

Of course they can. They don't have to let you off period unless it is for an emergency.