Would you assist in abortions?

TinyNurse, RN · Mar 24, 2004

I would do it.

Jrnalist2RNinOR · Mar 24, 2004

Yes, I would.

webbiedebbie · Mar 24, 2004

Ten years ago, I worked at a hospital that did abortions. They were done on the PP unit. At that time, I knew they were being done, and I tried (and succeeded) to get out of them. However, my coworkers judged me and said that even though I had the right to refuse, they didn't appreciate that I was not doing my job! I left a few months later.

Long story short, I worked at that hospital again last year. I have since matured. No, I don't agree with abortion. BUT, I wasn't part of the procedure (they are injected in the physician's office and then sent to the hospital) so now I did take care of them during the expelling of the fetus. What I don't agree with is that the physician is not there during this and we are doing this on a PP floor! I had one incident where the pt delivered at 2300 in the bathroom and blood was everywhere from the bed to the bathroom and had to be mopped up by us, and the placenta stayed in until the MD came in during the morning and I had to take her to a small procedure room where he promptly "dug" the placenta out and he refused to let me medicate her beforehand! PLUS...I had 6 other patients and was working with only one other nurse who had 5 patients, so she was responsible for 10 pt's now. This was at 0600 with medications to give, Foley's to d/c, IV's to d/c, get patients up, etc. Plus, I had to then medicate her, take her back to her room, deliver the placenta to the lab and wash the instruments, chart and finish charting off on my other pt's, and then give report!

When I talked to my manager about it afterward (on overtime!), she said these should be done in the OR but they can't convince the MD to do it there!

What else bothers me is that we nurses help each other on these. Sometimes, the two of us are busy with the pt delivering and cleaning up that our other patients are neglected and I don't think it is fair to the moms with babies to hear someone yelling and screaming while delivering a fetus.

To answer the original question: I would not intentially work in an abortion clinic. I do not believe they are right, but that is my choice. The woman made her choice and that is her right.

tamrnmomof4 · Mar 24, 2004

No I would not. But if I would care for a patient that had had one done, and give her the best care that I could.

Tammy

allnurses Guide · Mar 24, 2004

In my reading, there are at least 4 ways the morning after pill works:

How Does the Morning After Pill Work?

The first two pills must be taken within 72 hours after intercourse, followed by two more pills 12 hours later.

There are four possible mechanisms by which Preven can prevent a pregnancy:

Ovulation may be prevented (in which case the egg will not be released).

The menstrual cycle may be altered, which will delay ovulation.

Alterations may occur to the uterine wall, interfering with the ability of the fertilized egg to implant within the uterus. 5

Sperm penetration or migration may be affected.

4 CARENET "Emergency Contraceptive-Three Methods," 2000

5 http://www.morningafterpill.org/mapinfo1.htm

tamrnmomof4 · Mar 24, 2004

I would love to see birth control be over the counter, and the cost greatly reduced. I think this would help eliminate the need for many abortions.

Tammy

tamrnmomof4 · Mar 24, 2004

I would love to see birth control be over the counter, and the cost greatly reduced. I think this would help eliminate the need for many abortions.
Tammy

BCP ...birth control pills....that is!!

allnurses Guide · Mar 24, 2004

Wow, there is article after article . . . I'll just post one more. The effects of hormones on women seems to be front page news anyway . . . yesterday I read an article in "Self" magazine about the possible links between breast and ovarian cancer in women who have attempted to get pregnant using IVF due to the hormones used. Not to mention the controversy surrounding HRT - what's a woman to do?

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

February 6, 2004

by Carrie Gordon Earll

Is it truly contraception or it is abortion? The debate over "emergency contraception" may hinge on a single definition.

Emergency Contraception" (EC) is a term coined to describe a series of pills given to women within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse with the intent of preventing pregnancy. The pills, also referred to as "morning after pills", contain high concentrations of the hormones found in oral contraceptives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved this off-label use of oral contraceptives in 1997. To date, the FDA has approved two brands under the names of Preven™ and Plan B.™ There is general consensus in the medical community that these pills can operate in a number of ways:

To delay or prevent ovulation (the release of the woman's egg)

To prevent sperm from reaching the egg, preventing fertilization and acting as a contraceptive

To alter the lining of the uterus (endometrium), preventing implantation of an early embryo after fertilization

This last point is one of major debate and one that pivots on the definition of pregnancy. Traditionally, fertilization-the joining of sperm and egg to form a zygote-is recognized as the beginning of pregnancy. Biologically, fertilization marks the creation of a genetically complete human being that only needs time, nourishment, and a place to grow.1 However, groups like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists define pregnancy as "beginning with the successful implantation of a fertilized egg."2

Based on the fertilization definition of pregnancy, "emergency contraception" can cause an early abortion. This is information women have a right to know before taking the pills.

There are several additional concerns surrounding the use of EC:

There is a lack of data regarding possible side effects due to repeated, long-term use of these drugs in high doses. This is of particular concern considering that the long-term use of smaller doses of oral contraceptives is linked to heart attack, stroke, blood clots, breast and cervical cancer.3

The marketing of "emergency contraception" as a means of taking pills to bypass the risk of pregnancy may create a false sense of security and foster promiscuous sexual behavior by encouraging women, particularly teenagers, to be sexually active without considering the consequences, including pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease.

In light of these concerns, consider the following survey of adolescent health professionals, as published in Family Planning Perspectives, January/February 1997:

"One out of five physicians participating in the survey were unsure whether repeated use of emergency contraception would post health risks, while nearly one-third thought repeated use definitely would be risky...One-quarter of the physicians in the sample thought that providing emergency contraception would discourage correct use of other contraceptive methods."4

For more information on the possible abortifacient effect of EC, see: C. Kahlenborn, et al., "Postfertilization Effect of Hormonal Emergency Contraception," The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, March 2002.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Mar 24, 2004

I would love to see birth control be over the counter, and the cost greatly reduced. I think this would help eliminate the need for many abortions.
Tammy

This would likely prevent many women from getting the gyn care they should. The population I work with would never show up for pap smears if they could just buy it OTC. We would miss a lot of dysplasia and STD's.

The cost of pills has increased recently, however, and it would be nice to have the buying power to get pills in sufficient bulk quantities to lower the price to the patient.

allnurses Guide · Mar 24, 2004

Boy is that ever true . . . I know nurses my age who avoid their pap/pelvic appts like the plague.

steph

missmercy · Mar 24, 2004

Aargh!!! and we all know better!!!! It shouldn't take losing someone you love to wake you up! We see the consequences of people avoiding the "discomfort" or "embarassment" that accompanies that sort of exam -- we know what avoidance can cost someone!!! OK Folks -- my soap box: Get those check-ups, those mamograms, the paps etc!!!

nurseygrrl, LPN · Mar 24, 2004

No, I would not assist in abortion as I do not support it. I think birth control starts before you have sex when you use a condom or other method. You should be thinking about whether you want to be pregnant before you decide to have sex and before you decide to not use birth control. I would like to also add that I respect everyone's opinion even if I do not agree with it. Let's keep this discussion civil.