Would you assist in abortions?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 19, 2004

To those who would not, what would you actually do if you worked somewhere where they asked you to assist on a procedure? Would you just say "I won't do that"?

I have refused jobs that would require work with something that I find morally reprehensible.

As a onco nurse, I have declined positions in onco gyn that did terminations, related to treatment issues. I do not work ICU because I have moral objections to some current uses of ventilator technology that goes on there, and where I would be put in a position of acting on those issues. It is being a responsible person of conscience.

On an OB/gyn rotation, a patient was having a termination due to severe fetal birth defects/and maternal hypertension. The mother held out against abortion, until her life was seriously endangered by the pregnancy (5 month mark). The MD actually came around asking us if we would insert the laminaria/give the meds...no staff nurse would do so...and of course I refused. I did assist with the care of the patient...comfort measures, vital signs, etc. What I think angered us, is that the MD could have done all of those (the meds/laminaria) himself...it was his patient and he was the one that brought the patient to this hospital and got special permit to do this procedure...but wanted to just write orders and have the nursing staff do the "'dirty work". I felt that was arrogant and presumptious. We made him carry out his orders but he griped and whined the entire time.

edib1 · May 20, 2004

PEOPLE ARE GONNA DO WHAT THEY WANT, WE CAN BI#TCH ALL WE WANT NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE AND WE WILL BE FIGHTING ABOUT THIS FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. IF YOU ARE A NURSE ITS YOUR JOB TO HELP PEOPLE, YOU ALSO HAVE A CHOICE IN WHAT FIELD YOU CHOOSE TO WORK. IF YOU DONT BELIEVE IN ABORTIONS THEN DONT WORK WHERE THERE IS THE POTIENTAL TO ASSIST IN THAT TYPE OF PROCEDURE. I AM SURE THAT ALOT OF YOU BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE PROACTIVE AND HAVE RIGHTS TO DO ALOT OF THINGS. TOO BAD YOU WANT TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT A WOMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ONE THING DO YOU ALL THINK THAT IT IS OKAY TO STAND OUTSIDE OF AN ABORTION CLINIC AND MAKE WOMEN FEEL EVEN WORSE FOR WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO DO. OF COURSE YOU DO BECAUSE IN YOUR MIND THEY ARE TRASH. :angryfire I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT A PROLIFE WOMAN WOULD DO IF SHE WERE RAPED, OR MOLESTED BY A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD SHE HAVE THE BABY AND GIVE IT UP AND THEN LET THAT CHILD FIND OUT THAT THEY ARE A PRODUCT OF SOMETHING HORRIBLE THAT HAPPENED? I AM SURE THEY WOULD BECAUSE GOD FORBID THAT THEY THINK OF ANYONE ELSE BUT THEMSELVES.

Dixiedi · May 20, 2004

I can not believe that you would allow that mother to die just to maintain your pitiful excuse for religion. How arrogant of you!

As you mature in life you will realize that there are trade offs. Often these trade offs are not fair and do not follow your own personal beliefs, but trade offs they are.

That baby would not have had a productive life, proven. We have no idea if he/she would have even survived birth.

God provides us with spontanious abortion to prevent the birth of severly defective children and to protect the mother from the hazards sometimes involved. In this way God chooses who lives or dies. However, prenatal care has improved to the opint that Gods' method is delayed or prevented. You are the good person with morals and all the other happy horse crap you are preaching here. What about the role of medicine today in altering God's methods?

If you are going to argue religious or moral reasons for not participating in an abortion, I suggest you prepare an argument for the rest of the story.

Medicine took this pregnancy to the point where both mother and child would die. Where's the sense in that?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 20, 2004

We merely guided the MD to do his job...which is appropriate.

It is not our job to work as an MD. It most certainly is not a student nurse's job to do an MD's job. It is not in a student's scope to insert laminaria. It is inappropriate that the MD will take on such cases and then try to put the actions of them of on others that may have understandable objections and then whine when we force him to do his job.

It also has little to do with religion, as my religion permits abortion in some circumstances.

The point is one can refuse to do what one finds morally unacceptable.

There are plenty of nurses that are Jehovah's Witnesses and some of whom refuse to transfuse blood....in that case, another nurse/MD/PA/NP does the transfusion...what do you say to them?

And medicine did not take the patient to her situation, her health did.

nekhismom · May 20, 2004

This thread has turned ugly. Therefore, it is being closed to allow cooling off time. It will still be available to view.

Nekhismom, Ob-gyn and nursing midwifery forum moderator