Would you assist in abortions?

Energizer Bunny · Mar 22, 2004

I believe that abortions are okay in certain circumstances, and I am pretty sure most of you know what I mean. I am also a Christian but I don't follow all the "rules". I have my own belief system and won't go by what others tell me to believe. I also, try very hard not to judge others by their decisions, though this is a real tough one on any issue!

RN~in~CT · Mar 22, 2004

I am just curious. Would you ever work in an abortion clinic? Would you give pills that would cause an abortion? Thanks

No. Boy, that was short and to the point! :)

Stephanie D · Mar 22, 2004

No, I would never assist in an abortion.

mamabear · Mar 22, 2004

:crying2:

Yes I would. I don't, because I work NICU and not OR, but I would be proud to stand up against extremism to help safeguard a woman's right to be more than an incubator. Abortion rights are being eroded day by day and I think that's wrong. I do donate to a pro-choice group. I can't see myself becoming pregnant unexpectedly, but if I did I would like to have every choice available to me.
Plus, I think the babies that will be mad at me in heaven will be the 23 weekers we torture for months on end in the hope that they will live a life full of suffering. Pro-life can be good or bad depending on the circumstances.

Nope, not on a regular basis. Since I work at a Catholic hospital, the point is moot. Besides, I work psych. On occasion, we've had female patients who have had abortions for a variety of reasons. To a woman, they're all torn up emotionally.

To those of you dreading encounters with aborted babies in heaven, how can you guarantee you'll be there? :confused: :chair: (Just thought I'd throw that out for thought)

VaKidPN · Mar 22, 2004

Yes I would. I believe in a womans right to choose. Since I believe in it I would participate in it to support the choice being made by women. Im not saying its the answer for everyone, but like someone else stated earlier, The choice needs to remain an option for women and therefore I will support it.

fergus51 · Mar 22, 2004

Don't want to participate in this but would participate in KILLING babies who are viable ????? Because of the WOMAN's right to CHOOSE???
Sorry the choice should come before killing a viable baby or a baby who feels pain. You can't tell me that these babies don't feel pain as they are murdered!!

Peg, I think you and I have been through this. To me, there is a really big difference between a living baby and an 8 week old embryo, so my beliefs on how a baby should be treated are different than how an embryo should be treated. I don't consider an embryo a baby or alive since it isn't at viability, so I don't consider it killing. I don't believe in abortion after viability and most states have laws to prevent this except in cases where the health of the fetus or the mother are at stake.

And, there is a really big difference between choosing to give birth and choosing to perform a cosmetic procedure on an infant. To me, a circumcision is very frivolous. Having a foreskin does not have the same impact as carrying and giving birth to a baby. I don't judge those who choose circumcision, it just doesn't fit with my beliefs. I don't feel the need to justify this to you or anyone else, any more than you should have to justify your pro-life beliefs. If you want to circumcize your kids, there will be plenty of nurses to help, just not me. I wouldn't expect you to compromise your beliefs by participating in an abortion, so I appreciate it if you would accept how I feel about circumcision. I understand that you feel differently, and would simply ask that you understand that I don't share your beliefs.

Does that clear up my beliefs for you? If not, you can feel free to pm me, but I don't want to highjack this thread. I just used circumcision as an example for the poster who asked if nurses were allowed to not participate in procedures they felt were immoral, not because I think abortions and circumcisions are the same.

elkpark · Mar 22, 2004

On occasion, we've had female patients who have had abortions for a variety of reasons. To a woman, they're all torn up emotionally.

Since you work on a psych unit, obviously you are seeing a skewed population of only the women who are seriously distressed, not the majority of women who don't have emotional sequelae after an abortion ... I get v. tired of the pro-life movement trying to convince women that they will be emotionally devastated for the rest of their lives if they terminate a pregnancy. And I'm not even going to touch your other comment ... :rolleyes:

TopCat1234 · Mar 22, 2004

:stone

but find it interesting this question came up as we just addressed it in my social ethics (philosophy) class.

topcat

mamabear · Mar 22, 2004

Since you work on a psych unit, obviously you are seeing a skewed population of only the women who are seriously distressed, not the majority of women who don't have emotional sequelae after an abortion ... I get v. tired of the pro-life movement trying to convince women that they will be emotionally devastated for the rest of their lives if they terminate a pregnancy. And I'm not even going to touch your other comment ...

I'm not pro-life or pro-choice or pro-any other label. I'm exercising my First Amendment right to voice my opinion in a manner I feel is appropriate. As far as a "skewed population" having "emotional sequelae after an abortion" :rolleyes: , the majority are not "emotionally devastated for the rest of their lives". They merely need a break from judgemental types trying to make them feel guilty for their decision.

ejm99 · Mar 22, 2004

I'm in agreement w/ elkpark.

but playing devil's advocate....it's not a well known fact but Roe from Roe v. Wade, the PIVOTAL case that made history and abortion legal for women has crossed sides and is now very much PRO LIFE and is trying to help get it overturned.

How's that for an about face??

I can't understand why...except I imagine that the media and her public fight put her in the limelight and I would think every radical (not that ALL pro lifers ARE mind you..but some are) pro lifer was seeking her out to "convert" her.

I'm going on a limb here...a big one.

I would assist....and I have had an abortion.

I don't feel that I was emotionally scarred by my choice or my experience.

I now have 3 great kids...who I love very much.

and had my tubes tied right after my 3rd son because 3 all we can handle.

I personally feel life is most definitely precious...no doubt but that my definition of LIFE and when it begins is different than those that believe it's at the moment of conception.

My dentist...a active pro lifer and I had a discussion awhile back and I commented on how a particular birth control pill didn't PREVENT conception...but only IMPLANTATION and he was MORTIFIED. Apparently his wife was on bc pills and his biggest concern was if those were the ones....

it made him think a bit more about how this issue isn't black and white..there are many gray areas.

I don't believe in late term abortions or 'partial' abortions whatever you want to call them...

Nor do I believe that it's OKAY for pro lifers to have billboards depicting partial birth abortions and very graphic images on signs, in literature that is THRUST in your car windows when you make the mistake of driving down a street that has a clinic that performs abortions.... try explaining THAT to your kid!

So I'm all for being non judgemental.

I'm also for EDUCATION for those that think abortions are birth control....they aren't!

mamabear · Mar 22, 2004

I'm in agreement w/ elkpark.
but playing devil's advocate....it's not a well known fact but Roe from Roe v. Wade, the PIVOTAL case that made history and abortion legal for women has crossed sides and is now very much PRO LIFE and is trying to help get it overturned.
How's that for an about face??
I can't understand why...except I imagine that the media and her public fight put her in the limelight and I would think every radical (not that ALL pro lifers ARE mind you..but some are) pro lifer was seeking her out to "convert" her.
I'm going on a limb here...a big one.
I would assist....and I have had an abortion.
I don't feel that I was emotionally scarred by my choice or my experience.
I now have 3 great kids...who I love very much.
and had my tubes tied right after my 3rd son because 3 all we can handle.
I personally feel life is most definitely precious...no doubt but that my definition of LIFE and when it begins is different than those that believe it's at the moment of conception.
My dentist...a active pro lifer and I had a discussion awhile back and I commented on how a particular birth control pill didn't PREVENT conception...but only IMPLANTATION and he was MORTIFIED. Apparently his wife was on bc pills and his biggest concern was if those were the ones....
it made him think a bit more about how this issue isn't black and white..there are many gray areas.
I don't believe in late term abortions or 'partial' abortions whatever you want to call them...
Nor do I believe that it's OKAY for pro lifers to have billboards depicting partial birth abortions and very graphic images on signs, in literature that is THRUST in your car windows when you make the mistake of driving down a street that has a clinic that performs abortions.... try explaining THAT to your kid!
So I'm all for being non judgemental.
I'm also for EDUCATION for those that think abortions are birth control....they aren't!

I would not assist in an abortion, nor have I ever needed one. However, I am very grateful that the option for safe, legal abortion is available. I have 3 daughters, all of childbearing age (23-35) and all capable of making their own informed decisions.

I, too, don't believe in late-term or "partial birth" (what idiot came up with that expression, anyway?) abortions. I, too, am appalled by graphic, in-your-face pictures of aborted fetuses, and find abortion as contraception deplorable.

Loribabble · Mar 22, 2004

No - I would not assist