Catholic Nurse Sues Duke University Hospital After Refusing to Assist with Abortions

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A Catholic nurse sued Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C., alleging it discriminated against her religious beliefs by failing to accommodate her objections to abortion, birth control and giving vaccinations.

Sara Pedro, a Catholic nurse, moved from New York City in August 2016 to take a job at Duke University Hospital. Soon after she began work at Duke, Sara asked for and got an exemption from receiving hospital required vaccines. She also told hospital administration that she was "unable" to assist with abortions as well as administering contraceptives and "any vaccines" based on rulings by the Catholic Church.

In December 2016, Sara was placed on unpaid leave. She has moved back to New York City and claims she has been unable to return to work as she is suffering from post-traumatic stress.

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The lawsuit contends Duke violated the religious-discrimination section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to give Pedro a "reasonable accommodation" for her beliefs.

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Catholic nurse sues Duke University Hospital after refusing to assist with abortions, contraception

/username said:
Yeah, She's an overly religious, anti-vaxxer .... That's all you need to know.

Well just speak right out. Really hateful, vile reply and assumptions. Not worthy of professionals trying to have a discussion.

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I smell a set up. trying to cost Duke money, and cow them into change. she lied, and should pay the price for that.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Religious Fetishism.

Yep, that about cover this made up bullcaca. She needs to get right with herself. Working at Walmart will help with that.

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thank you Elkpark you answered it.

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Specializes in PICU.

I am Catholic, as in I go to church every Sunday Catholic. This makes me upset. I have never heard of not being able to administer vaccines as against the Catholic faith. I could see as in assisting in the actual abortion procedure would be a no, but providing care post abortion to a woman, absolutely yes, she could care for that woman. I went to a catholic affiliated nursing school and we were taught how to give and administer vaccines, the importance of vaccines. We had clinicals in health clinics were we got to give vaccines. We had a clinical rotation at a religious affiliated hospital (not sure if it was Catholic bu it may have been) and I had even cared for a woman who had an ectopic pregnancy and had to terminate the pregnancy. Again., being catholic did not mean I could not provide care, compassion, or not be able to perform any of my jobs.

Something is not right...

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

If you can't or wont do the duties of the job then do not take that job. Sick of these types expecting these types of accommodations to be made. Either do the job you were hired for or go find another job. It really makes me mad that she would claim PTSD. That disrespects all the people that legitimately suffer from it.

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Specializes in Neuro/NSGY, critical care, med/stroke/tele.
klone said:

Just read the whole thing -- couldn't look away o.O yikes.

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So here is the vaccine thing in a nutshell. The original rubella vaccine was derived from an aborted fetus in the 1960's whose mother had rubella. The mother was allowed to abort even during that time because the risk of deformities associated with rubella was horrendous. That being said, many Catholic theologians feel that even though (in their opinion) the vaccine may have had "evil" beginnings, the greater good in preventing rubella outweighs this. How the heck do I know? I went to a Catholic University and did a paper and presentation to a childbirth educator meeting at a Catholic Hospital. I am Catholic and never heard of this before my class. I have worked in Catholic hospitals and we have the rubella vaccine frequently. We also told them no pregnancy for 3 months as it is a live attenuated virus... so use birth control! Some people are really religious and would not get this vaccine. I think they are nuts but I am not Uber Catholic.

I suspect maybe they gave methotrexate in the ED for ectopic pregnancy. It does destroy the growing non viable fetus whose existence threatens mom's life. I have no problem with this. However, my ethics professor advocated for removal of the tube so as to not directly kill the fetus. I have worked at 2 Catholic facilities wher mtx was given. At one, we had a religious dr who gave methotrexate to preserve the tube and fertility BUT two others in the same practice would not!

I don't agree with this nurses' beliefs, but this crazy interpretation of the Church is out there. Please don't kid yourself that it is only crazy Catholics. I have Islamic patients refuse C sections that were clearly indicated and Orthodox Jews who required "heroic" furniture rearrangement because the husband must not be too near the wife with lochia or even sit where she has sat prior!

Many anti vaxers follow the prophet Jenny McCarthy. It is horrible that her son is autistic BUT she has no authority or evidence re. Vaccines. I will take my advice from Paul Offut from CHOP, but there are a lot of anti vaxers who are non religious nuts! Don't get me started on the anti RhoGam nuts!

This nurse seems over the top, but she does have some rights related to religion even if it all seems silly. The real story may be a sham, but maybe not. Religion thrives on those who blindly and rigidly follow.

Here is a link re the Church and vaccination.Catholics urged to remember 'common good' in vaccine debate | National Catholic Reporter

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I am Catholic, Catholic church has never said anything against vaccinations,

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Knotanoonurse said:
I don't agree with this nurses' beliefs, but this crazy interpretation of the Church is out there. Please don't kid yourself that it is only crazy Catholics. I have Islamic patients refuse C sections that were clearly indicated and Orthodox Jews who required "heroic" furniture rearrangement because the husband must not be too near the wife with lochia or even sit where she has sat prior!

The difference is these people are making choices for THEMSELVES based on their religious beliefs. They are not pushing their religious beliefs on PATIENTS.

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Agatha12 said:
I am Catholic, Catholic church has never said anything against vaccinations,

The "official" position of the Church is pro vaccine because it benefits the greater good. There are radical Catholics out there who believe that because of the source of the rubella vaccine, that it is unacceptable. One of the CBE instructors I encountered in my project was such a person.This woman who was at Duke may fall into the radical category as the organisation she now works for has Michelle (from Hell) Bachmann who is a total looney. It is important to know that there are these people out there.

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klone said:
The difference is these people are making choices for THEMSELVES based on their religious beliefs. They are not pushing their religious beliefs on PATIENTS.

I don't agree with her! There are crazy pts and caregivers out there. In the case of the person refusing a C Section, we must go with her wishes because it is her body BUT it also can lead to a neonatal patient who is severely compromised! Religion causes a lot of problems. I do think the nurse in the Duke case is crazy, but she is not alone!

How about a Jehovah's Witness who won't give blood to a patient? I worked with one almost 30 years ago on a tele floor.

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