I'm a GN and interviewing for jobs in L&D and postpartum. I was wondering if medical terminations and abortions are handled in L&D or on a different unit. How would I go about asking about the hospitals policies during job interviews without alienating the recruiter? Do all hospitals perform these procedures?
I would have no problem caring for these patients in post partum but would not want to be part of the procedures in any way.
I am about to start clinicals so I am not yet a nurse (so forgive me for asking this question): It was clear that mom would die without the termination, correct?
If so, there was no ethical dilemma. There is common misconception about the Catholic faith here. The life of the baby (or fetus if you prefer) and the life of the mother are EQUAL. One does not trump the other. Therefore, terminating the pregnancy to TRULY save the life of the mother is okay. The fact that the baby was not yet viable just made the decision even easier. Both would have died otherwise.
This is not true. Is it never acceptable in Catholic teaching to end a child's life in favor of the mother. What is acceptable (as I said above) is to remove a diseased organ that is affecting the mother's life even if that unintentionally results in the death of the baby. So a hysterectomy to save a mother's life is acceptable even if she's pregnant. The removal of the fallopian tube before it ruptures to preserve the mother's life is acceptable even if there's a living embryo within it.
Just a thought for those of you who say, "just switch assignments". Just because another RN that you work with is willing to assist with terminations doesn't mean that it is not emotionally draining for her. I work in an ER. I'm staunchly pro-choice. I've also had a rough night after assisting on d&c's, even when the outcome of a less than 20 weeker was already known. I'd hate to be on a unit where I had to do more of those procedures than my fair share to accomodate someones religious beliefs. I agree with the earlier posters, work in a Catholic hospital, or pick a different specialty.
This is not true. Is it never acceptable in Catholic teaching to end a child's life in favor of the mother. What is acceptable (as I said above) is to remove a diseased organ that is affecting the mother's life even if that unintentionally results in the death of the baby. So a hysterectomy to save a mother's life is acceptable even if she's pregnant. The removal of the fallopian tube before it ruptures to preserve the mother's life is acceptable even if there's a living embryo within it.
Yes, I think I worded things badly. Your explanation is better. If treating the mother results in the baby being dying (premature ejection of the fetus), it is morally acceptable to treat the mother and save her life. The baby should still be treated if at all possible. However, before 22 weeks (that's pushing it of course although there is a local hospital that appears to have saved a 22 weeker), there is no point in trying anything other than allowing the baby to die as peacefully as possible. I think I was just trying to say that this is not an issue of fetal rights over maternal rights. Both lives have equal value. You don't have to withhold treatment from a mother because she is pregnant and the baby could be harmed. I think people sometimes have the idea that the Catholic Church teaches that the lives of unborn babies must be protected at all costs (even at the expense of the mother's life or health) and that is certainly not the truth. We must protect mothers as well and make every attempt to save both lives.
my understaning of the right to lie was say the mother needed chemo or other therapy to preserve her fataly at risk life but these are incompatable wth an onoing pregancy. There us no sin invloved if treatment to save the mothers life is chosen.
kinda like the law of double effect, aborton is not the desired outcome but it may occur in preserving the mother.
in my hopital elective ealry surgical and medical abortions occur as day sugery and on the gyn ward. not sure about late abortions tough
Just a thought for those of you who say, "just switch assignments". Just because another RN that you work with is willing to assist with terminations doesn't mean that it is not emotionally draining for her. I'd hate to be on a unit where I had to do more of those procedures than my fair share to accomodate someones religious beliefs. I agree with the earlier posters, work in a Catholic hospital, or pick a different specialty.
Probably sounds harsh, but to be honest, I feel the same way. And it tends to happen this way, too, doesn't it (ours really tend to come in the proverbial 3's so we'll have several days in a row or a week with several of these cases)? On a unit with just a few nurses, you could end up having all of them in a row.
We have to help all kinds of patients who do all kinds of things that we don't agree with, and I don't think it's fair for one person to have to shoulder all of it. Just one demise / termination (we only do them for not-compatible with life, etc.) is very difficult for everyone involved.
Just a thought for those of you who say, "just switch assignments". Just because another RN that you work with is willing to assist with terminations doesn't mean that it is not emotionally draining for her. I'd hate to be on a unit where I had to do more of those procedures than my fair share to accomodate someones religious beliefs. I agree with the earlier posters, work in a Catholic hospital, or pick a different specialty.
Probably sounds harsh, but to be honest, I feel the same way. And it tends to happen this way, too, doesn't it (ours really tend to come in the proverbial 3's so we'll have several days in a row or a week with several of these cases)? One a unit with just a few nurses, you could end up having all of them in a row.
We have to help all kinds of patients who do all kinds of things that we don't agree with, and I don't think it's fair for one person to have to shoulder all of it. Just one demise / termination (we only do them for not-compatible with life, etc.) is very difficult for everyone involved.
I'm not Catholic. I am pro-life, and I wouldn't help with an elective abortion. If a mother's life was threatened, I would help with that abortion. While I would want to save the baby's life, in an either/or situation, I would side with mother.
Thankfully for me, my facility doesn't do elective abortions, so I won't have to make that choice. It's not a Catholic hospital, but none of our doctors want to do them. (We have 4 OB docs, 3 midwives total) I'm not sure if they don't because they are pro-life or they just want to avoid controversy in this conservative community.
Congress and President Obama are working on FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) that would require all hospitals and medical personnel to help with elective abortions. If that passes, it could be scary - what if all the Catholic hospitals close rather than do abortions? What if all pro-life OB doc and nurses switched specialties? There would be a huge hole.
What is "medical termination?" To me, that means there is a physical medical reason for the termination, not an elective termination. In people's posts, the term has been used both ways.
Congress and President Obama are working on FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) that would require all hospitals and medical personnel to help with elective abortions. If that passes, it could be scary - what if all the Catholic hospitals close rather than do abortions? What if all pro-life OB doc and nurses switched specialties? There would be a huge hole.
I don't know where you heard this, but it is not true -- it's anti-choice fearmongering.
Congress and President Obama are working on FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) that would require all hospitals and medical personnel to help with elective abortions. If that passes, it could be scary - what if all the Catholic hospitals close rather than do abortions? What if all pro-life OB doc and nurses switched specialties?
Oooooh! This is SO not the case!
Please go do some research on this. Or even just a Google search.
Hospitals with religious affiliations (and their staff) would not be affected at all.
HappyMommy4
4 Posts
This is not true. Is it never acceptable in Catholic teaching to end a child's life in favor of the mother. What is acceptable (as I said above) is to remove a diseased organ that is affecting the mother's life even if that unintentionally results in the death of the baby. So a hysterectomy to save a mother's life is acceptable even if she's pregnant. The removal of the fallopian tube before it ruptures to preserve the mother's life is acceptable even if there's a living embryo within it.