Assisting in abortions

Nurses General Nursing

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I was watching an old episode of ER and it got me thinking (dangerous, I know). In the episode, an abortion clinic was bombed and the ER was receiving the casualties. One patient was in the middle of an abortion when the bomb went off and the abortion was not completed. When this was found out, the doctor's had to complete the abortion because she was bleeding out and crashing. An intern refused to participate even though without completing the abortion the patient would most likely die.

My question is, legally do nurses have to participate in a case like this? I've thought over the possible answers and can't decide.

Please, please do not turn this into a debate over whether or not abortion should be legal or not. I'm not looking into personal views, but the legalities of not participating.

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I thought it was a law that the ER could not turn away patients, hence the patient with no insurance or money getting in for a hang nail etc.(I know there are some situations like those that involve psychiatric situations, but the problem is taken care of even if it means calling the proper people)

The nurse that was against abortion would not be assisting with an abortion but helping with an emergency. If a nurse is against abortion because it is murder, wouldn't it be murder to refuse to help a dying patient even if it was via having an abortion? I wound never work in an abortion clinic and would prefer not to assist with one in any way other than a referral, but I would help in this situation; all beliefs aside.

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I'm just curious as to why you would think right away she wanted Plan B? Do you live in an area which has few pharmacies? I'd think that in any town that one could find a pharmacy/pharmacist who is willing to dispense Plan B. I'm thinking that someone would be extremely desperate to obtain Plan B to go to such outrageous measures.

IIRC, it was Daytona Beach which is not in my region.

There exists a huge black market for Plan B, as there is for Viagra et. al. and yes, pharmacies have been robbed for Viagra. :eek: In most European countries, RU-486 is not dispensed out of pharmacies but must be taken at the clinic, and the patient's mouth inspected before she leaves, for this very reason.

I would have PM'd you, as this is a bit off topic, but couldn't locate that function.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
If the nurse feels morally offended by taking part in a procedure than she owes it to herself to stand by her convictions. Her self-respect should lead her to make her own decisions in life. Yes, she may lose her job, and have to suffer nagging guilt, but she can be comforted by remaining true to herself.

I would have no problem assisting in this situation. I would also have no problem standing in for a nurse who was morally offended by it. I respect people with strong convictions.

Your words are moving and almost make me change what I have said, but what about situations in small rual hospitals were there is no one else to take your place if you do not want to do it and the patient WILL die if you do not help?

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If the scenario was the same as on ER I would assist to help save this womans life. Although I do not personally support abortion except in very extreme circumstances we dont know what this womans back ground was. Possibly the pregnancy came from a rape of incest or something else illegal like that and not helping this patient would make them a victim twice.

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It's interesting reading these posts. I am a high-risk L+D RN and we perform late-term inductions (with the fetus having been terminated prior to the induction) and terminations in special cases. All of these types of cases are for either fetal anomalies (some lethal, some not) or for the life of the mother. None of the nurses like these cases, its like drawing straws when we're taking assignments. When I was hired, my Nurse Manager was very up front about this aspect of the job and that it was a job requirement. So, nobody refuses these cases although I know that it against some of the RN's religious/moral beliefs. The general 'nursing' consensus on the unit is that it would be terrible to be in the patient's position and that we can't judge these women and their families for making very difficult decisions that none of us would ever want to make.

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Specializes in LDRP.

I am moving to work in an OB unit next month,where elective abortions are not done, but abortions are done for fetal anomalies incompatible with life. Was told that everyone signs a paper that states whether or not htey'd be willing to take care of a pt like that and no questions asked, they wont get a pt like that if htey dont want one.

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Specializes in OR.

At my hospital, we do suction D&C's and supposedly they're for missed abortions only. I wouldn't put it past some of the docs to slip in an elective one here and there though. At this point, I don't drive myself nuts wondering if the case is elective or not. The fact remains that this woman is my patient and I went into nursing knowing that the choices my patients make may not always mesh with my own. I figure, it's not a choice I would make for myself(unless I was raped) but as of now, it's a legal procedure and patients have the right to decide to have it done. Just my 2 cents....

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If you have a problem with elective abortions, you should not work in OB, period. No pun intended... and I was raised Catholic, for pete's sake.

Not liking the idea is okay, but it is the law of the land, and you are obligated to advocate for the mom, and the fetus, and provide the best patient care that you can, regardless of your beliefs.

If you don't like it, then move to a facility that doesn't provide the service.

Several people already posted that they worked in facilities that did not do abortions, and they were good with that - what's the fuss?

An episode of ER? Give me a break. If you're against elective abortions, go work in a place that doesn't provide them.

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