Question About Abortion

suzanne4, RN · Mar 29, 2005

In Michigan, as long as it isn't a Catholic facility, then you will see abortions being done at many hospitals. They can also be done at a clinci, but most of the time, the mother is sent to a hospital because of bleeding, or some other problem. Also depends on where her physican practices.

imenid37 · Mar 29, 2005

I don't work in Michigan, but in PA. I used to work in MD. At the Catholic facilities I worked at we obviously did not do any abortions. I work at a small non-sectarian hospital now in PA and we do not do them except in the case of lethal fetal anomaly. I think if we did, we would have protesters at our entrance. It would not go down well in this community. In Baltimore, I worked at one non-sectarian facility and we did them. I did not participate in the ab's because I am not supportive of elective ab's on demand. (Don't slam me for that one. It's America and that's my personal belief. You are of course entitled to believe differently.) I did take care of women after ab's and I did find it difficult. There were some terminations done for anomalies such as Downs, but most were for birth control. Most of the abortions done were second trimester and it was a long and difficult process. Many of the women were not well-informed or had not assimilated the pre-op info. they were given and express regret about having had the procedure. They were often sufferring physically and emotionally. I felt very sorry for most of them. They were often encouraged to pursue this option by family members or the guy in their life. Some of these ladies had had more than one of these second trimester ab's. There are a lot of things people on both sides of the spectrum who would not want to hear much of what I learned working at this facility. Most of the women who were having ab's were not evil or unfeeling, they were desparate and sad and often sorry about what they did. It was a grueling and difficult procedure for these moms. I t wasn't just a simple procedure. It sometimes took more than 24 hours for this process and often pt. had to go to the OR for a D/E because the placenta wouldn't deliver. As w/ so many things, there is no black and white or bad or good people here. I would never work in a place that did ab's again, but I feel it was good for me to meet women going through this and see them as the people they are. It solidified my anti-abortion position and the notion that abortion, does not really benefit women. Mostly, we did 2nd trimester ab's, not first trimester. I only worked at this place for 6 months. I didn't see any done for mom's health, but I know that did happen on occasion.

Please know that this is my opinion and please respect that. I would not try to slam your opnions or beliefs.

Jolie, BSN · Mar 29, 2005

As imenid stated, second trimester abortions are somewhat common in hospitals, as clinics will typically only perform early term procedures.

I once worked in a big city medical center where elective second trimester abortions were performed. I worked in the NICU, where we received those infants who were born alive, and provided comfort care until they died. It was very draining, but I gave the babies the most compassionate care I could. I rarely had any interaction with the parents, as they usually opted not to see their infants after birth. The L&D nurses at that facility were allowed to "opt" out of caring for patients undergoing elective abortions if their religious beliefs were in conflict. There were enough other nurses who supported abortion rights that staffing wasn't an issue. Once the procedure was completed, staff members were not allowed to "opt" out of after-care. I believe that the facility's policy on caring for elective abortion patients was a reasonable one.

Later in life, I have become pro-life in my beliefs, and will no longer work at a facility that provides elective abortion services.

BeachNurse · Mar 29, 2005

I worked in the NICU, where we received those infants who were born alive, and provided comfort care until they died. It was very draining, but I gave the babies the most compassionate care I could.

:crying2:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2005

. I worked in the NICU, where we received those infants who were born alive, and provided comfort care until they died.

Oh my, I think you enlightened me a bit too much. Amazing how someone can call these infants "disposable products of conception". But my opinion on abortion was my point.

Thanks for the input.

NYERNURSE · Mar 29, 2005

I worked in the NICU, where we received those infants who were born alive, and provided comfort care until they died. It was very draining, but I

Oh my, how sad.

carolinapp · Aug 29, 2010

I am a L&D RN who refused my assignment prior to take it report on an induction of a 19 weeks with twins with a SROM because of my moral and religious belief. However, my charge nurse as well my manager persuade me to take it. I was totally unstable emotionally. Do you think that this was an induced abortion? And my rights, do I have to participate on it? Should I be discriminated by my co-workers bc of my beliefs? Since then, I can't stop to think about this issue and situation.I am also having stomach pains. Should I sue this facility? Also, I have been assigned just for postpartum care since it happened. Can they do that? I can't stand to work on this place anymore being discriminated. It is a terrible feeling. I feel like a fish out of the water.

Fribblet · Aug 30, 2010

I am a L&D RN who refused my assignment prior to take it report on an induction of a 19 weeks with twins with a SROM because of my moral and religious belief. However, my charge nurse as well my manager persuade me to take it. I was totally unstable emotionally. Do you think that this was an induced abortion? And my rights, do I have to participate on it? Should I be discriminated by my co-workers bc of my beliefs? Since then, I can't stop to think about this issue and situation.I am also having stomach pains. Should I sue this facility? Also, I have been assigned just for postpartum care since it happened. Can they do that? I can't stand to work on this place anymore being discriminated. It is a terrible feeling. I feel like a fish out of the water.

If you are unable to care for your patients, you may need to find another specialty.

I take care of people who make moral decisions that I do not agree with. I take of drunk drivers, rapists, murders, *******s, people who think prayer is an appropriate way to treat their easily curable child, etc.

You don't get to choose your patients, but you did agree to take care of those who come your way. I don't reject patients because they are of religions I don't agree with, the color of their skin, their mental issues, the fact that they have HIV/AIDS, the fact that they're in my ER because they were stabbed while they were trying to rape someone, etc.

We shouldn't allow ourselves to discriminate against our patients.

Whether you like it or not, abortion is legal. You have an obligation to care for those assigned to you.

Like it or not (for me) if the family wants their 102 year old mama to be a full code despite the fact that keeping her alive is cruel and I vehemently disagree morally with keeping people alive who should be allowed a dignified, peaceful death, I push the Epi and charge the paddles.

This is just my two cents, but your (or anyone's) belief in a mythological figure is not reason to refuse care to a patient in need. (Y'all can flame me for that if you feel the need to; I'm fire-proof.)

allnurses Guide · Aug 30, 2010

You cannot be forced to participate in an abortion. Here is the law passed in 1974:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/usc_sec_42_00000300---a007-.html

The best way to prevent this is to write a letter stating this.

If the unit has few deliveries it is possible they may not have another competent nurse for the procedure so assigning you to post partum may be acceptable.

I'm not a maternal-child nurse so would not be asked. Perhaps if your management had known your beliefs prior to the induction you wouldn't have been asked.

If I remember correctly there is one exception to your right to refuse and that is in a life or death emergency (for the mother).

Please try not to feel guilty.

I don't know the people at your hospital so cannot help with your decision.

allnurses Guide · Aug 30, 2010

For thr California Code go to - http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

Click Health and Safety Code and type in 123420. Then click

"search".

DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2011

I worked in the UK where there is a conscience clause in place. As a health care professional you can refuse to participate in acts you find unethical. So, Catholics are never forecd to participate in abortion care, Jehovah's Witnesses aren't forced to touch blood transfusions, etc. This can work OK, however it can get complicated when you get people with an axe to grind who deliberatrely go to work in inappropriate areas - you feel they're trying to make a point. In my training hospital I came across both a Catholic nurse who worked in gynae OR, and a Jehovah's Witness pool nurse who frequently worked on the haematology floor - both loved spouting their religion and making a show of their non-participation at every termination or blood transfusion. Both situations were tiresome for the other staff as you can imagine, and it beat me why these nurses didn't just go and get jobs elsewhere. I respect their right to refuse to work in those areas, but please, don't deliberately make it difficult for those who don't share your beliefs, not least the patients. I have on several occasions in my career been shocked at the lack of respect that is sometimes shown towards patients undergoing terminations, and the judgemental attitiudes sometimes expressed by doctors and nurses.

I now work in France where I've never seen this issue arise - poissibly because despite catholic traditions, France is a secular state and a highly secular society. Here such refusal to care would probably be construed as unprofessional, and though I've never seen a concrete example, I believe it probably wouldn't be tolerated to thrust your own values onto patients in this way. This evening my muslim care assistant who never eats pork himself, has happily cut up and fed ham to a patient who can't feed himself. The right attitude in my opinion - you don't let your personal views cloud your patient care. If a practice is legal and the patient is willing, who is the nurse to refuse care?