This story on Alas, a blog reminds me of the ethical problems I have with FAITH-BASED OPINIONS on health care being LEGISLATED.

In fact, I have big problems with any entity telling me how to be a nurse, based upon their religious opinion. Even though I do think religious hospitals have a right not to provide certain medical procedures they object to (in certain, non-emergent circumstances), I don’t think they should withhold information about treatment options from patients. Stick with me on this.

When I went to (a very Catholic) nursing school and went to work in (a very Catholic) hospital, I was still Very Catholic (I have since recovered), and very concerned that I would be asked to assist with an abortion some day, so I purposefully avoided working in a hospital where that would ever be asked of me.

But I would NEVER morally be able to say to a rape victim, a desperate single woman who has no support, or to someone who would die if they remained pregnant, “Sorry, I can’t talk to you about where else to turn for abortion resources and information because it’s against my religion.” (Or my religion at the time, since I haven’t been Catholic since some Colorado priest said I had to vote for Bush or go to hell.)

When I signed up to be an RN, I did so fully knowing that I would have to put my PATIENT’S welfare above my own judgments and opinions.

To me, becoming a medical professional then saying that you won’t give patients certain medical information is the same as joining up for the military, then expecting special treatment because you don’t “believe in” war.

A Jehovah’s Witness friend was an RN with me on the Intensive Care unit, and you didn’t hear her whine and spew about giving blood transfusions. It was against her religion, but it was her JOB and it was what was medically best for the patient so she did it.

If you’re an RN or a doctor who doesn’t believe in elective, non-emergent abortions, then by all means don’t work where you’d have to be a part of giving that procedure.

However, sometimes your patients will need information about where to receive services that you don’t personally find “moral” (such as abortion, birth control, tubal ligation/vasectomies, or emergency contraception), and by God it is your DUTY to tell them that these things are options, and where else to go to get more information. Especially if the information is time-sensitive, like EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION.

When I worked for one of those “ask-a-nurse” lines, we’d get callers asking about emergency contraception all of the time, and I wasn’t allowed to tell them anything because I worked for a faith-based hospital.

As an RN I found this in direct conflict with my duty to provide my patient with information that was the best for them medically.

Although EC is not the magic-fluffy-unicorn-and-rainbow-gumdrop-smiles pill that some people seem to think it is, it’s potential dangers and side effects are certainly less than having an invasive medical procedure like an abortion.

Again, let me make this perfectly clear: Although I think it’s a faith-based hospital’s right to not give treatments that their viewpoint considers murderous, I think it’s irresponsible for them to withhold medical advice about treatment alternatives that are as TIME SENSITIVE as emergency contraception. The delay in seeking EC may cause the patient to eventually need an abortion, which has more medical risks for the patient.

Isn’t the medical profession all about doing what is the best thing for the patient’s health?

Also, even faith-based hospitals receive huge amounts of government money (medicare, medicaid). So I do think they have some responsibility to all patients, not just ones that believe in a particular religion.

So, when callers would call the ask-a nurse line asking about EC, I’d tell them (as required) that the ask-a-nurse line is operated by a faith-based organization and I was not allowed to give any advice about the morning-after pill.

But then I’d add, “You need to call your doctor RIGHT AWAY or go to a non-religious ER right away to receive that information.”

Do you see what I did there?

I could have been fired for saying that (and the religious zealots of the organization called us trying to trap us all of the time, so it was a huge risk for me to say that).

You’d think the caller would get the hint, right?

Here’s an example of a typical conversation (usually it’s the male callers that get all pissed off; the female callers seemed to catch on):

Caller (mad): What do you mean you can’t give me that info? That’s your JOB!

What I wanted to say: Hey asswipe, this call is free and you’re not paying me. Your recent promotion to cashier at the Texaco is not equivalent to bachelors degree in nursing so don’t tell me what my job is. Besides, I just risked my job telling you what to do anyway, even though it’s not my fault that you’re too selfish, stupid, irresponsible, and impulsive to wear a condom!

What I said: OK, let me repeat to you that I’m not allowed to tell you anything, and that I’m not allowed to say that YOUR GIRLFRIEND NEEDS TO BE SEEN IN A NON-RELIGIOUS-BASED ER OR NEEDS TO CALL HER DOCTOR THIS WEEKEND.

Caller (even madder): Why can’t you just fucking answer me and tell me what we need to do!

Me (pissy, and talking slowly like I was talking to the stupidest asswipe on the planet, which I was): Think about what I said for a moment. I said that I’m not allowed to tell you that your girlfriend only has 72 hours from the time you had sex to seek emergency contraception, that you’re running out of time, and that you cannot get this service from any religious hospital. I’m NOT ALLOWED TO TELL YOU what I JUST TOLD YOU.

Rocket scientist: Whatever. Thanks for not helping me, bitch! *hangs up*

Me: Please God, don’t let that stupid fuck breed.

See, even if I thought that emergency contraception was murder (and having been raised Catholic, we were taught to believe that life begins at conception, not implantation, so it would be murder according to my religion), it is still my duty to give the patient time-sensitive medical information that is best for their health.

That’s why I said what I was not allowed to say at the nurse advice line. If they called and they’re 12 weeks pregnant and want an abortion and are having no problems, I would go by the rules and them we were faith-based and they would have to go somewhere else for the information, because it was not a time-sensitive issue and they would have time to wait until Monday to call Planned Parenthood or their doctor. However, with EC, there is often not that much time. I would have rather lost my job than violate my duty to do what was best for the patient medically.

Please tell your friends: EC is not without risks and side effects, so don’t consider it something that you can just casually pick up, like a pack of gum. It’s best to plan ahead and use birth control than think, “Oh well, I’ll get laid tonight and just pop some EC in the morning.” However, EC is much better medically and emotionally than having an abortion later on, so if you ever need it, you must take it within 72 hours of having sex, and you won’t get it at a religious hospital.

PROTIP: If the hospital name has the word “Saint” anywhere in it, you won’t likely be getting EC there, depending on the ER doc, so don’t even try.

Also, Planned Parenthood is your FRIEND.

Know your EC and birth control facts BEFORE you need them, because if the article at Alas, A Blog (and my personal experience) is any indication, you may not be able to GET the information when you DO need it.