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

kimandthekinks · Nov 17, 2017

You're right. How did I miss that fact. Perhaps she has a broad and false definition of abortion due to her religion.

NICUMurse87, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2017

I've been Catholic for 30 years, 12 years of Catholic school, and have never heard of vaccines being against our religion. The abortion stuff makes sense, but even then, maybe work in an area of nursing where that won't be an issue?

tuzla1225 · Nov 23, 2017

omg what a bunch of baloney :facepalm:

allnurses Guide · Nov 23, 2017

So I read this thread and wondered why I, as a practicing Catholic had never heard about any restriction with regard to vaccines. So I went looking. This is what I found. Apparently there are several vaccines that are cultured in cells of aborted fetal tissue. The question has been debated as to weather Catholics in good faith can receive those vaccines. The vaccines currently cultered and manufactured by the process are:

U.S. approved vaccines from aborted cell line are

Adenovirus by Barr Labs., Inc cel line WI-38

Chickenpox, Varivax by Merck & Co. cel line MRC-5 & WI-38

Diphtheria, Tetorifice, Pertussis, Polio, Pentacel by Sanofi Pasteur cel line MRC-5

Hepatitis A, Havrix by GlaxoSmithKline cel line MRC-5

Hepatitis A Vaqta by Merck & Co. cel line MRC-5

Hepatitis A-B, Twinrix by GlaxoSmithKline cel line MRC-5

Measles, Mumps, Rubella, MMR II by Merck & Co. cel line WI-38

Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chickenpox

Rabies, Imovax by Sanofi Pasteur MRC-5

Shingles, Zostavax by Merck & Co.cel line MRC-5

*U.S. approved alternative vaccines

Diphtheria, Tetorifice & Pertussis, Daptacel/Adacel Sanofi Pasteur

Hepatitis B

ENGERIX-B by GlaxoSmithKline

Hepatitis B, RecombivaxHB by Merck & Co.

Hepatitis B & HIB, COMVAX by Merck & Co.

Polio, IPOL by Sanofi Pasteur

Rabies, RabAvert by Novartis

The Catholic church recommends whenever possible that devout Catholics who wish to practice their faith should avoid vaccines cultured from aborted fetal tissue however they have not forbidden it.

"The church has urged the faithful to push for the development of morally acceptable vaccines, but in the absence of such alternatives, has said Catholics must not reject immunizations and "sacrifice the common good of public health" or their children's well-being."

Catholics urged to remember 'common good' in vaccine debate | National Catholic Reporter

There is also a lengthy Vatican statement on this dilemma which basically says the same thing.

Vatican Statement on Vaccines Derived* From Aborted Human Fetuses

In other words The Church does not forbid persons to receive vaccines made from aborted fetal tissue.

Hppy

allnurses Guide · Nov 23, 2017

NutmeggeRN said:
They are not. Neither is vaccine administration, except maybe a tetorifice booster.

No tetorifice is not on the list of vaccines made from aborted fetal tissue.

Hppy

LovingLife123 · Nov 29, 2017

I'm a practicing Catholic as well and have never heard of the vaccine thing. I also worked for a Catholic hospital my first year and we gave vaccines. I need rubella vaccine after my last child was born 3 years ago. I delivered at another catholic hospital system where it was offered and administered as well.

As far as birth control, abortion, and plan B go, I'm pretty conservative on that. Meaning for myself. I do natural family planning method of birth control. I chart my cycles every month. It's worked for us with three children. Technically, if you are and old school hard core Catholic, you only have sex for procreation. I guess I like sex too much!!!

As far as plan B goes, I would not take it as I believe even if it hasn't implanted, it's still the possibility of a life. But, I would never not administer it to a patient who needs it. I couldn't imagine having just been sexually assaulted, and not being given medication to prevent a pregnancy.

I don't view removing ectopic pregnancies as abortion and would most certainly assist in it. My best friend, who is also a practicing Catholic, her daughter has had 3 in a year. Her life was saved and so were her tubes so she could have children down the road. Not sure where being a Catholic means you refuse reproductive medicine. Anectopic pregnancy is never a viable pregnancy. The mother dying from blood loss serves no point.

I would not participate in an elective abortion. But, I would not apply for a job where that was a possibility. And if I was planning to apply to a non catholic hospital system I would most certainly research the possibility of it occurring. As far as medicine that induces the termination of a pregnancy, it is most often given to terminate non viable pregnancies. Often it's not given in the ER unless emergent. Women are often prescribed it to take at home. They then follow up with their OBs. You are not killing a fetus that's not viable.

This woman set Duke up for a lawsuit. Claiming PTSD is a slap in the face for those that actually have it.

A 32 year Catholic. I also don't believe God magically makes you pass NCLEX!! Haaaa!!! I've been called names on here for saying that one. And while my faith has tested me at times, I believe. And most of the beliefs Catholicism teaches.

heron, ASN, RN · Nov 30, 2017

LovingLife123 said:
I'm a practicing Catholic as well and have never heard of the vaccine thing. I also worked for a Catholic hospital my first year and we gave vaccines. I need rubella vaccine after my last child was born 3 years ago. I delivered at another catholic hospital system where it was offered and administered as well.
As far as birth control, abortion, and plan B go, I'm pretty conservative on that. Meaning for myself. I do natural family planning method of birth control. I chart my cycles every month. It's worked for us with three children. Technically, if you are and old school hard core Catholic, you only have sex for procreation. I guess I like sex too much!
As far as plan B goes, I would not take it as I believe even if it hasn't implanted, it's still the possibility of a life. But, I would never not administer it to a patient who needs it. I couldn't imagine having just been sexually assaulted, and not being given medication to prevent a pregnancy.
I don't view removing ectopic pregnancies as abortion and would most certainly assist in it. My best friend, who is also a practicing Catholic, her daughter has had 3 in a year. Her life was saved and so were her tubes so she could have children down the road. Not sure where being a Catholic means you refuse reproductive medicine. Anectopic pregnancy is never a viable pregnancy. The mother dying from blood loss serves no point.
I would not participate in an elective abortion. But, I would not apply for a job where that was a possibility. And if I was planning to apply to a non catholic hospital system I would most certainly research the possibility of it occurring. As far as medicine that induces the termination of a pregnancy, it is most often given to terminate non viable pregnancies. Often it's not given in the ER unless emergent. Women are often prescribed it to take at home. They then follow up with their OBs. You are not killing a fetus that's not viable.
This woman set Duke up for a lawsuit. Claiming PTSD is a slap in the face for those that actually have it.
A 32 year Catholic. I also don't believe God magically makes you pass NCLEX!! Haaaa! I've been called names on here for saying that one. And while my faith has tested me at times, I believe. And most of the beliefs Catholicism teaches.

The best articulation of "pro-life" (as opposed to forced pregnancy) I've seen yet.

mdcp · Mar 15, 2018

klone said:
Something doesn't add up. EDs don't provide abortions. The most they do is a) give emergency contraception post-rape, and B) give methotrexate to women who have an emergent ectopic pregnancy. As in, a pregnancy that cannot biologically continue ANYWAY, and will KILL the woman if it isn't stopped post-haste.
I dislike this woman even more, knowing that it was the ED she was working in. I hope she's reading this thread.

the lawsuit states:

67. In explaining the aforementioned document to six new

Emergency Department nurses (including Ms. Pedro), Ms. Falise discussed

how Duke University Hospital operates. She stated that Defendant Duke

does not allow employees a religious accommodation with regard to abortion.

When Ms. Falise discussed the section titled, "Patient Care and Staff Beliefs,"

she explained that even if a nurse has a religious objection to abortion, she

must still participate in aborting a baby because Defendant Duke

categorically refuses to grant this religious accommodation.

68. Ms. Falise then further stated that a large number of abortions

are performed in Defendant Duke's Emergency Department.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 15, 2018

mdcp said:
the lawsuit states:
67. In explaining the aforementioned document to six new
Emergency Department nurses (including Ms. Pedro), Ms. Falise discussed
how Duke University Hospital operates. She stated that Defendant Duke
does not allow employees a religious accommodation with regard to abortion.
When Ms. Falise discussed the section titled, "Patient Care and Staff Beliefs,"
she explained that even if a nurse has a religious objection to abortion, she
must still participate in aborting a baby because Defendant Duke
categorically refuses to grant this religious accommodation.
68. Ms. Falise then further stated that a large number of abortions
are performed in Defendant Duke's Emergency Department.

I still don't buy it. Yes, they may administer methotrexate for diagnosed ectopics. Or they may administer emergency contraception. Those are not elective abortions.

Duke University receives CMS reimbursement. The Hyde Amendment prevents them from performing elective abortions unless it's to save the woman's life.

MunoRN, RN · Mar 15, 2018

mdcp said:
the lawsuit states:
67. In explaining the aforementioned document to six new
Emergency Department nurses (including Ms. Pedro), Ms. Falise discussed
how Duke University Hospital operates. She stated that Defendant Duke
does not allow employees a religious accommodation with regard to abortion.
When Ms. Falise discussed the section titled, "Patient Care and Staff Beliefs,"
she explained that even if a nurse has a religious objection to abortion, she
must still participate in aborting a baby because Defendant Duke
categorically refuses to grant this religious accommodation.
68. Ms. Falise then further stated that a large number of abortions
are performed in Defendant Duke's Emergency Department.

Ms Falise has stated that the Duke ER provides emergency contraception and emergent abortions to save the mother's life, which Ms. Pedro's lawyers misleadingly described as just abortions in general. The Duke ER does not perform any elective abortions.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 16, 2018

I had a PCP that went to Catholic Med school. She could prescribe birth control, but was not trained in inserting or removing IUDs.

I work at Duke and they are actually extremely good at making "reasonable" accommodations-for both staff and patients.

I work with 7th Day Adventists and Jehovah's witnesses and really, just about any faith or belief you can think of. It has an extremely diverse staff population: doctors, nurses, transport, phlebo, etc. Duke does many things to work with people's beliefs. It is one of the reasons I am so proud to work there. This makes me angry.

I think this one saw Duke=$$$$$$$$ If your beliefs interfere with your ability to do your job that badly-go to a Catholic hosp.