This is a matter which is more or less central to private healthcare. Similar problems do not occur on such a large scale here in Canada, not only because the population size is smaller, but the healthcare is publicly owned.
Someone mentioned that having doctors administer treatment they may find immoral to be a contradiction and a violation of their constitutional rights, however. What about the constitutional rights of the patient?
It’s easy to say that since we do not believe in a certain principle, we shall never commit to that particular act. Especially when it relates to medicine. However, it is obvious not every single person on this Earth has the same convictions as us. The philosophy that we somehow know better and should therefore instill our sense of morality and justice on the world brought forth the great tragedy of European Imperialism and Colonization, the genocide of cultures and people. The fact that Islamists think and feel the same should perhaps serve as a matter of second thought.
I think the matter is of a slippery slope, but abortion isn’t necessarily exclusive to potential mothers who made a ‘mistake’ and who do not want to bring up said child.
The problem with the issue is that, either you allow abortions or you do not. In countries where abortions have been illegal at one point or another, the rate of abandonment of children is generally higher, not to mention premature deaths of pregnant women who succumbed to because of illegal procedures. In countries such as Romania, a large majority of children grew up on the streets because of the governments decision that Romania must grow and that women should bear as many children as possible. These abandoned children as a result not only grew up without nuclear families, they have often been the victims of violence, sexual abuse, drug abuse and have often resorted to crime themselves. Most are lost causes, not only because both the government and religious institutions generally ignore them, but their lack of education and proper upbringing leaves them to fend for themselves for the rest of their short lives.
Personally, I am against abortion; but like with many other issues which seem to be hot button topics for Catholics and Christians in general. I think balance is necessary, especially since not everyone feels the same and the option should exist so that women do not end up abandoning their children or dying from illegal procedures.
I don’t know about where you work, but if there is a policy that dictates a time limit to starting a doctor’s order, I hope she gets proper disciplinary action for doing what she did. I’d keep my eye on her for your patients’ sake, they will need their advocate some day.
I just have no idea if anything was ever done about it. I don’t work in that unit anymore.
