Ethical question?

[joe m m]

Hi. I am not sure if someone has said something to the sort, if they did and I signed on today I am really not going to know:

Has anybody every been asked to assist in an abortion? What did you do, here is the more important question, if you're someone that is not hip to this procedure did you refuse. I know being in colorado if a person refuses colorado has this consience law that nothing bad the state can control will not happen to you. I am sure the follow workers might not think highly of you.

[medi]

Just out of curiosity what is your practice setting? I'm not aware that hospitals offer abortions usually... so that seems strange if you're a L&D nurse. I've run across the need for emergency D&C's that resulted in AB in the ER, and D&C with curretage following an incomplete AB, but routine AB in the hospital setting?

We all know that once you accept patient assignments you have a legal as well as ethical duty to care for your patient throughout the course of your shift and failure to do that is patient abandonment. That being said however if something comes up that you are being asked to do that you believe to be against your religion or principles you could bring it to the attention of your charge nurse, department head, or shift supervisor and ask to be relieved and reassigned.... but you can't simply refuse to provide care.

If abortion is a practice that may come up now & then whereever it is you're working and you cannot in good conscience participate in patient care under those circumstances then you need to remove yourself from the possibility by finding a different position elsewhere.

Won't you tell us about the situation in some more depth please?