Student with an ethics question

[kimtab]

Let me preface this by saying I am in no way trying to start a debate about the morality of any medical procedure.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, I am a student- who plans to one day become a CNM, so I will want to work in OB Nursing after I graduate. I know that OB nursing means encountering many sensitive issues, but for the purpose of illustration, I have chosen circumcision of male infants because it is considered elective in nearly all cases. If you are opposed in principle to routine infant circumcision, how do you handle the probability that you will in the course of your job be asked to assist in one? Is there a way to refuse on moral grounds while still satisfying your obligation to your employer? What about your obligation to your patient? The interests of the mother and the baby may be different in this case (for the sake of argument I assume the baby prefers not to be circumcised) how can you be an advocate for both patients when their interests are opposed?

I am interested in hearing how nurses handle situations where personal ethics conflict with job requirements. If there is a conflict at all. Am I making an issue out of nothing?

Kim

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

How interesting! Several people have said it's the peds that do the circs. Totally opposite here. NOT ONE ped does their own circ, it's always the OB's. Also, at my facility the CNM's aren't doing their own circ's. They are done by the 24 hour on call doc.

Heather

[BBnurse34]

Even though I chose not to have my son circ'ed I respect the parent's right to make an informed decision. Padding the circ board, using simple syrup on a pacifier, using a heart beat bear and encouraging the ped to use lido make me feel better about assisting.

[clive]

There is no medical reson that a circ has to be done, but as a nurse, I would support the decision that mt patient makes. the key is to educate the patient and then let them make their own decision. In GA the OB's do the circs.