What should I do in this situation

[Houro]

I’m studying at the moment and I have to do a placement at the local sexual health clinic. As most people would know, this type of area for health care is full of issues such as homosexual rights, contraception, abortion, encouraging pre-marital sex etc… My question is, should I attend this placement because they offer assistance to people, or should I not attend as a form of ‘protest’ and to show that not everybody in the community is ok with this sort of advice.

I’m not sure what I should do. I almost feel like I’d be supporting their ideals just by being there, even though I know I wouldn’t be.

Anyway advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

This is where I will be working health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sp&did=10078309

 

[Newbie2]

What do you mean by having a “placement”? Internship or something similar? Job?

 

[Jermosh]

It entirely depends on yourself and reasoning. It can be a huge learning experience to get a better understanding of those who need help. Hidden wounds do not heal well or if at all.

But where the issue may arise, I think it would be irresponsible if not sinful to take the position and not follow the procedures they put into place. You cannot take the job of being a butcher and refuse to kill animals so to speak. What I think you should do is contact them, explain your POV and ask that you would not be put into a position that would violate your Moral ABCs, there will be some compromise on both parties needed. You need to follow your conscience though.

I was part of a AIDs activist group in my younger years, while I certainly saw many horrid acts, I also saw people hurting. It changed my POV for every.

 

[Theresa_Duyen]

You’d better find another placement. Or is it impossible?

 

[surritter]

In this age of pandering to everyone’s rights (legitimate or not), they should be bending over backwards to accommodate your well-founded beliefs that many practices conducted by the clinic are immoral.

We have to stand by and watch our culture countenance many disgusting practices in the name of “tolerance,” so see if they can practice what they preach: ask for another placement…

 

[Rence]

I’m studying at the moment and I have to do a placement at the local sexual health clinic. As most people would know, this type of area for health care is full of issues such as homosexual rights, contraception, abortion, encouraging pre-marital sex etc… My question is, should I attend this placement because they offer assistance to people, or should I not attend as a form of ‘protest’ and to show that not everybody in the community is ok with this sort of advice.

I’m not sure what I should do. I almost feel like I’d be supporting their ideals just by being there, even though I know I wouldn’t be.

Anyway advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

This is where I will be working health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sp&did=10078309

If you are not able to carry out the job specifications outlined in the job description then you should not take the job. What is the capacity in which you are being placed? What is expected of you according to the job description? Working in a place that is blatantly engaging in secular practices that are against your faith is just asking for trouble IMOHO. If you are a student nurse following another nurse, it will open your eyes to what is done in those clinics, and you have no moral responsibility for the actions of your preceptor, and your duty will be to observe. If you are a medical student following a doctor, the same applies. But if you are expected to hand a box of contraceptives to a woman, and you have a problem with it, then I would not take that job.

I suggest you ask your placement to be at a Catholic institution depending on what your duties are. There is no sense in taking a job if you cannot perform it. A non-Catholic hospital is another recommendation. But a Catholic working in a health clinic that specifically provides services that are in conflict with the Church is just asking for trouble with a Capital T.

 

[Houro]

Thanks for the replies everybody. To answer Newbie2 I’d be working as a student midwife. Being a nurse and having worked in the public system (currently working in a Catholic hospital) I have had to deal with certain issues but this placement just seems to go against many of my moral’s. I understand that there are people who would attend the clinic that need help in other areas, but it just seems there I’d be dealing a lot with contraception and secular sexual ‘advice’.

I’ll keep praying about it and see how I go. At this point, I think I’ll be telling them that I won’t be attending.

Thanks again everybody…

 

[Rence]

Thanks for the replies everybody. To answer Newbie2 I’d be working as a student midwife. Being a nurse and having worked in the public system (currently working in a Catholic hospital) I have had to deal with certain issues but this placement just seems to go against many of my moral’s. I understand that there are people who would attend the clinic that need help in other areas, but it just seems there I’d be dealing a lot with contraception and secular sexual ‘advice’.

I’ll keep praying about it and see how I go. At this point, I think I’ll be telling them that I won’t be attending.

Thanks again everybody…

If you have the choice not to go there, that would be the best choice for you. When I did a rotation (for a day thankfully) in a local health clinic as a student nurse, I only observed.