To expect a midwife to carry out termination duties?

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To think a midwife has to carry out these duties and not claim religious discrimination because she's catholic?

bbc link

I understand that you can opt out of being present at a termination but not from any other aspect of the patient's care.

Badday - I think any employer would show that flexibility, and perhaps it was as much in the patient's interests as yours. Like a friend who did not nurse on the cancer ward for a few weeks after losing her mother to lung cancer.

There are lots of places you can nurse that doesn't require involvement in terminations.

Why is it 'twaddle' Norman? Why do you do that silly striking out of the words you actually want to use? Perhaps I should have said 'disposing of the product of an unwanted conception'?
Believe it or not I am 100% pro choice but I do respect people not wishing to be involved in choices which they believe to be wrong.
To put it simply-choice applies to more than one aspect of this very sad situation.

"I was once asked to care for a woman undergoing a late termination when I was the same amount of weeks pregnant myself at the time. I declined on that occasion. Should I leave my job now?"

Even if you were 100% sympathetic and professional I think it would be a bit of a kick in the teeth for the woman who has had a late termination to be looked after by an obviously pregnant woman. It might make the birth/ hospital experience more traumatic than necessary.

Women don't choose a late termination for trival reasons. I know a lady who has had terrible depression because of a late termination. Her baby had anclepsy and labour was induced at 28 weeks. She grieves for her little girl who died 10 minutes after being born. She would be deeply hurt by anyone who described her little girl as a foetus.

There's some anti-Catholic sentiment on this thread.
If you don't have the intelligence to discuss the issues at hand without making sweeping generalisations about an entire religion then perhaps stay out of it.

About Catholics ignoring their moral conscience

I work in an operating department and sometimes assist in surgical terminations. For a long time I was in a terrible quandary about how I felt being part of the procedure. I have always thought myself very pro choice, but especially after having my son I found it sometimes difficult to be part of the team and my feelings were conflicted. However, regardless of my thoughts, i am not there to make judgements on the procedure or on the people having it done and so I provide the same level of care regardless of what surgery a person is undergoing. I don't judge my collegues who refuse to participate on moral grounds though.

Zzzzz no I dont think it is morally destitute to live in a country that doesnt support your beliefs, after all everybody has to live somewhere. But that doesnt apply to your place of work, which is much more under your control. Midwife on the NHS is the wrong job for someone who cant handle the concept of termination.

No I'm not just anti catholics taking their prejudices to work, I apply it to all religions.

"She would be deeply hurt by anyone who described her little girl as a foetus."

Is 'foetus' a particularly nasty term to say? I sympathise with the ordeal your friend had to endure but calling it a foetus doesn't make an iota of difference I shouldn't think.

I see no one's answered my question about the termination of a disabled two year old.

rational Id go the whole hog and apply it to all people....the religious dont have the market cornered on bizarre prejudices....

I doubt anyone wants to have a termination.
But if they do they should expect respect and a good level of care.

I wonder if the midwives in question refuse to deliver babies of unmarried mothers and/or advise on contraception?

Their first duty is to their patients not their beliefs in my opinion. Isn't that the Christian thing to do?

My earlier question came about as a result of posters saying baby instead of foetus, including mention of killing babies. One or two of these same people then sympathised that people they knew had 'had' to terminate 'babies' that were diagnosed with a congenital defect. Now as far as I'm concerned that is saying that it's ok to 'kill' 'babies' as long as they have a defect. I went on to ask if they would carry on that logic to include two year olds with birth defects.

"killing an unborn baby" is that an appropriate choice of words? Considering many on this thread have had a termination and do not consider themselves baby killers?

I don't understand how you can talk about killing babies in one sentence and then advocate that Catholic midwives organise care for pt before and after thus enabling the baby killing.

""killing an unborn baby" is that an appropriate choice of words?"

No, that was my point, jeez, this is hard work sometimes!

I don't know why there is an opt-out for this specific issue.

Should we go back to the days of doctors only agreeing to prescribe contraception to married women, if they objected to sex outside marriage?

Should doctors/nurses be able to refuse to treat gay people if they believe it's a sin?

What about medical staff who are strongly anti-smoking or teetotal - should they be able to refuse to treat smokers or alcohol-related problems?

Should Jehovas Witness nurses be able to refuse to work with anyone who has had a blood transfusion?

The list of opt-outs on the basis of individual beliefs could be endless. There is no reason to allow this particular opt-out when we wouldn't allow others.

I understand what rational meant by what she wrote.

It's not hard work rational, it's easy if you read what's written.

And I agree with what you are saying.

I was talking to Pranma

"I was talking to Pranma"

Lol, I'm so used to being misunderstood round here

Personally I don't think you should be allowed to opt out of parts of your job because of conscience. Many people do a job and find aspects of it mean it's hard to sleep at night ( I was a journalist!) So they change jobs.