what are my rights when I feel a procedure is unethical?

U.S.A. Texas

Published

Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi all,

I don't know is something that I would encounter or not as a student during obgyn rotations, but here is my question nonetheless:

Do I have the right as a nursing student to chose/ask to work with a different patient if I am ethically/morally/religiously opposed to the procedure?

Allow me to cut to the chase- will I be in the position where I witness an abortion? If so, am I allowed to speak to my director to find an alternate assignment/ have another nursing student take the patient? Does sitting out "dock my grade?"

Finally, when I am an RN, does anyone know how the situation/ my rights change?

Thanks all-the specific topic is delicate, but the general concern over personally unethical situations is pretty straightforward.

Specializes in Psych.

© Discrimination prohibition (1) No entity which receives a grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee under the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.], the Community Mental Health Centers Act [42 U.S.C. 2689 et seq.], or the Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Act [42 U.S.C. 6000 et seq.] after June 18, 1973, may-- (A) discriminate in the employment, promotion, or termination of employment of any physician or other health care personnel, or

(B) discriminate in the extension of staff or other privileges to any physician or other health care personnel,

because he performed or assisted in the performance of a lawful sterilization procedure or abortion, because he refused to perform or assist in the performance of such a procedure or abortion on the grounds that his performance or assistance in the performance of the procedure or abortion would be contrary to his religious beliefs or moral convictions, or because of his religious beliefs or moral convictions respecting sterilization procedures or abortions.

I am not sure if that would protect you as a student or not - but as a new grad, unless your faculty was a total hag - I can't see anyone forcing you to participate in something that you viewed as murder. I'd ask ahead to make sure though - and if the answer is yes, you would be required to participate - I'd talk to the head of the department ahead of time, and an attorney if need be, to try to arrange suitable accommodations.

I'm pretty sure you are not going to watch an abortion in Ob/gyn rotation in school. When I was in nursing school, my instructor asked us if we wanted to watch circumcision. Most of my classmates said no but I was curious because i've never seen it before so I agreed and it was very painful to watch it being done. So students can let the instructor know if they are uncomfortable with procedure and instructors can decide how to proceed but students really dont have much choice.

Nurses really have to be flexible because they are working with people with variety of backgrounds. If a nurse is assigned to a rapist and if she is against taking care of them can she refuse to take care of this patient? Also if a nurse is against one religious practice, can she refuse to take care of this patient? I think nurses have to be open minded and as long as their work is in their job description when they accepted the position, they have to do the job as long as it is within their scope of practice. If its not within their scope of practice, like nurses have to give a large dose of medicine or nurses have to insert chest tube they definitely have a right to refuse to do it.

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