Would you assist in abortions?

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Mar 23, 2004

Original question: NO. It goes against my personal moral and religious beliefs. I wouldn't speak against that patient, but I would not participate.

Secondary question (circs): I don't think so. My son was circ'ed, but they told dumb me that it didn't hurt. I heard that child in the nursery screaming and crying, and they brought him to nurse, I KNEW he felt pain, bless his little heart. I was glad I didn't have another boy later on because I don't think I could have it had it done to another one.

Energizer Bunny · Mar 23, 2004

All this talk and last night I had a dream that I had a botched abortion. I think I need to quit reading this thread!

Noney · Mar 23, 2004

No.

I could probaly give the morning after pill. And I agree every case is different.

Noney

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2004

I would never work in one

against my beliefs

ejm99 · Mar 23, 2004

I just saw on the news about 3-4 days ago that there is talk about making the "morning after pill" available OTC!

I'm not so sure that's a good thing to do.....

I as I said am pro choice and have had an abortion. I'm not ashamed of the fact more regretful that I got pregnant to begin with...and know that the availability of the morning after pill ...or lack of availibilty at the time wouldn't have made a difference since in my particular case I was on birth control pills....

so I had no reason to believe I WOULD get preg. to begin w/ no less find out in time to take that as an alternative.

but quite honestly how can those who morally believe abortion is wrong think the morning after pill is right? I guess it depends on how and when they feel "life" begins?

am I missing something?

fergus51 · Mar 23, 2004

Off topic, I know but....
"Traditional" Jews do not have circs done in the hospital...at all. They are done by a trained and religious moyel, on the eighth day after birth (how many babies stay in hospital 8 days?) in a religious ceremony. Frequently, it is done at the parent's home. The baby is NOT! strapped down or left naked and cold and crying, as in a hospital. The baby is held by parents or friends of parents, he is kept warm and wrapped (except for the "essential part"), he is cuddled and comforted during the rite. He also receives some kosher wine on his tongue. It is done with sterile technique (moyels have to attend long classes and be certified) and I have never known there to be complications. And as the procedure is done as part of religious rite and outside the hospital, no nurses would be assisting unless they were part of the family and involved in the rite.
Some Jews actually do not have "complete" circumcision where the entire foreskin is removed. They have a kind of small cut or a pinprick as a symbolic gesture of the rite. This is also ocasionally done with preemies or those babies that might have health impairments that might make the full procedure pose some danger to the baby. It is also done ocasionally with adult converts.
A circ as typically done in the hospital would be considered barbaric to many Jews and also not fulfill religious law. The sacred rite and religious aspect must be part of the Bris(circ) or the physical procedure is useless.
It is the religious aspect that is important...the actual procedure is not as important. (Some Jews might disagree.....but this is my understanding)

In my unit, most of the babies are here more than 8 days that's why I brought it up. Many of our Jewish families ask about it and we always have to tell them they have to wait till they go home. They used to perform the whole ceremony in the hospital (we had moyels in house, along with our Rabbis), but no longer do. Many of the Jewish families requesting circs are not even practising, so they won't be having a Bris anyways, it winds up being done as an outpatient.

And truthfully, it isn't just the pain issue that made me decide not to participate. Whether they are cuddled or not doesn't change things for me.

Stephanie D · Mar 23, 2004

No, I would never assist in an abortion.

GracefulRN · Mar 23, 2004

No.

Most of the arguments for working at an abortion clinic/assisting in an abortion I have read state that it is important to allow a woman the right to choose, but, in my experience, women who get abortions rarely "choose" abortion. They feel that they have no choice, most feel that they cannot support themselves, let alone a baby. It makes me weep. I pray for those women,because the pain that comes with abortion is deep and lasting. There has to be another way. Abortion has become "population control" for the poor sectors of our society and I am vehemently against it.

OK, I'll step off my soapbox, but as smart, compassionate, and resourceful as nurses are it seems like we could do something to help these women. Just my $0.02

fergus51 · Mar 23, 2004

Like what? Just curious, but I don't know how to make childbearing a better choice than abortion for the women who chose abortion.

GracefulRN · Mar 23, 2004

Like what? Just curious, but I don't know how to make childbearing a better choice than abortion for the women who chose abortion.

As a group, I am not sure either what "specifically" nurses could do to make childbearing a more feasible option to those contemplating abortion, but as people who care perhaps we could make these ladies aware of the resources available to them that they might not be aware of, eg parenting courses for the indigent, healthcare for their babies, support groups, financial serices availble to them and so on. Now I know I'm preaching to the choir, but it is my view that nurses as patient advocates are duty bound to educate their patients so that at least they can make an informed decision. I guess I am just angry that ourgovernment instead of investing in programs that could make a difference in the lifes of these young women chooses instead to use abortion as a tool to cull the poor.

nurturing_angel · Mar 24, 2004

I, personally, believe that abortion is wrong and I will not ever, under any circumstances consider working in a atmosphere where abortions are performed. Having said that, abortion is a very personal decision and one that I cannot make for others. I understand that some women could not carry and deliver a baby under certain circumstances, such as rapes, incest, too old or too young, physical disability or mental disability. Who I am to decide to make them face this situation in a way that they are not able too. I have no problems with caring for women who have had abortions and I give them the same loving care that all my new moms recieve.

Abortion is between the woman and the whatever/whoever she worships as her God. I will not judge or condemn but I will not against my principles either.

nekhismom · Mar 24, 2004

I just saw on the news about 3-4 days ago that there is talk about making the "morning after pill" available OTC!
I'm not so sure that's a good thing to do.....
I as I said am pro choice and have had an abortion. I'm not ashamed of the fact more regretful that I got pregnant to begin with...and know that the availability of the morning after pill ...or lack of availibilty at the time wouldn't have made a difference since in my particular case I was on birth control pills....
so I had no reason to believe I WOULD get preg. to begin w/ no less find out in time to take that as an alternative.
but quite honestly how can those who morally believe abortion is wrong think the morning after pill is right? I guess it depends on how and when they feel "life" begins?
am I missing something?

I believe literature I have read about the morning after pill states that it will only prevent conception if it has not already occured. It does not prevent implantation if conception has already occured. It is like many birth control pills in that way. Or at least that is my understanding of it.