Tag: nurses

Therapeutic homicide in a neonatal unit?

The Mary Dilemma: Case Study on Moral Distress

Sean Murphy* 

The Canadian Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Journal published  an article in late 2013 about the moral distress suffered by a Catholic nurse who witnessed the death of a newborn infant. The baby was allegedly starved to death in a neonatal intensive care unit at a Toronto hospital between 27 October and 22 November, presumably in 2012 or earlier. . .The Journal article does not disclose the names of the hospital or the people involved “for reasons of confidentiality”. . . While the Journal article raises very interesting questions from the perspective of freedom of conscience and religion for health care workers, it is prudent to withhold further comment on the allegations until it is clear what action, if any, will be undertaken by state authorities in the Province of Ontario.
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The Mary dilemma – A case study on moral distress

Newborn infant starved to death in Toronto hospital

One of the nurses who was caring for her today looked at me with tears in her eyes and said “this is not right – if they took  her home and didn’t feed her they would be charged – why is it okay for us to do this?”

Fr. Michael Della Penna, ofm*  and Francisca Burg-Feret*

This paper begins with a case study describing the perspective of a Catholic nurse who experienced moral distress while observing the tragic death of a newborn infant named Baby Mary. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness and educate readers about the concept of  moral distress and promote a greater understanding of the lived experience of Catholic health care providers who undergo this trauma. It also provides an analysis and some recommendations for practice that can help health care professionals make good ethical choices in difficult situations based on their faith.
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Swedish nurse takes a stand on conscience rights

 If soldiers can object to using weapons, why can’t health professionals refuse to assist at abortions?

Mercatornet

Mariola O’Brien

In 2011, the European Council adopted a resolution that protects healthcare workers’ right to freedom of conscience regarding abortion and euthanasia. Sweden has signed this agreement. But reality paints a different picture. Out of the 47 member states in the European Council, Finland and Sweden are the only two which do not uphold freedom of conscience in practice.

Ellinor Grimmark, 37, is the first midwife in Sweden to report a hospital to the Discrimination Ombudsman (DO) concerning abortion. She claims to have been discriminated against on the basis of her religious beliefs and moral convictions. Newly-graduated, she was fired from her position last summer because she refused to assist abortions. Even though there is a shortage of midwives at the moment, and even though she is willing to take on double shifts, she has been denied a job ever since. One employer had first agreed to hire her in spite of the “complication”, but withdrew the offer when her story began to spread in media.
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San Diego health workers assured of conscience rights at White Mass

EWTN News

Anthony DeBellis and Carl Bunderson

At the San Diego diocese’s second annual White Mass, Bishop Cirilo Flores  reminded the health care workers in attendance that their profession is an  expression of their Catholic faith.

“Some of you in the health care profession are facing issues of conscience  rights. You have the right to live your faith,” he preached at the Oct. 12 Mass.  “We must assist the government always, but worshiping God does not just mean at  Mass or other celebrations within the four walls of the church.”

“You live your faith in the world. You have the right and the obligation to  your conscience, which is paramount, and the government should not try to  restrict or force regulations that violate your consciences.”

The Mass was sponsored by both St. Gianna Physicians’ Guild and  Culture of Life Family Services,  and drew Catholics from across the diocese.

The “White Mass” is named for the traditional white coats and uniforms worn  by medical personnel and is a special way to honor health care professionals. In  addition to physicians and nurses, the Mass honors hospital personnel,  pharmacists, mental health specialists, hospice workers, medical students,  pastoral care givers and others. Read more

Hearings on Quebec Bill 52: Quebec Order of Nurses

Lucie Tremblay, Claudia Gallant, Suzanne Durand, Sylvie Truchon

Tuesday, 8 October 2013 – Vol. 43 No. 44

Note: The following translation is the product of a first run through Google Translate.  In most cases it is sufficient to identify statements of interest, but more careful translation is required to properly understand the text.  Translation block numbers (T#) have been assigned by the Project as references to facilitate analysis and discussion.

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(Suspension de la séance à 16 h 3)
Le Président (M. Bergman) : …Alors, Mme Tremblay, la présidente-directrice générale, bienvenue encore. Et, s’il vous plaît, donnez-nous vos noms, vos titres. Et le temps est à vous. 001 The Chairman (Mr. Bergman) … So, Ms. Tremblay, President and CEO, welcome again. And, please, give us your name, your title. And time is yours.
Mme Tremblay (Lucie): Merci beaucoup, M. le Président. Je suis Lucie Tremblay, présidente-directrice générale de l’Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec. Je vous remercie, Mme la ministre, M. Mme les parlementaires. l’Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec vous remercie de lui permettre de présenter ses réflexions sur le projet de loi no. 52, concernant les soins de fin de vie. Ce projet de loi, c’est une étape importante pour assurer des soins de fin de vie appropriés et de qualité à tous les Québécois. 002 Mrs. Smith (Lucie): Thank you, Mr. President. I’m Lucie Tremblay, President and CEO of the College of Nurses of Quebec. Thank you, Madam Minister Ms. parliamentarians. College of Nurses of Quebec thank you for allowing him to present his thoughts on the Bill. 52 on the end-of-life. This bill is an important step to ensure appropriate end-of-life and quality of all Quebecers.
D’ailleurs, nous profitons de cette commission pour souligner la détermination de la ministre, dans ce dossier, qui est très sensible, mais pourtant c’est un dossier qui est essentiel à l’évolution de notre société. Aujourd’hui, je suis accompagnée, à l’extrême droite, de ma collègue Claudia Gallant, qui est vice-présidente du conseil d’administration; juste à ma droite, de Suzanne Durand, directrice du Développement et soutien professionnel, qui a coordonné d’ailleurs les travaux du mémoire; et de Mme Sylvie Truchon, qui est syndique. 003 Moreover, we take this board to emphasize the determination of the Minister, in this case, which is very sensitive, yet it is an issue that is critical to the evolution of our society. Today, I am accompanied, at the far right, my colleague Claudia Gallant, who is vice president of the board, just to my right, Suzanne Durand, director of professional development and support, which coordinated Moreover, the work of memory and Sylvie Truchon, which is unionized.
L’ordre appuie d’emblée le projet de loi no. 52, qui rejoint certaines des propositions que nous avions énoncées, dans notre mémoire présenté à la Commission spéciale sur la question de mourir dans la dignité, en 2010. L’ordre croit qu’au-delà de l’énoncé du projet de loi, il faut vraiment s’assurer d’une mise en oeuvre concrète et intégrée des soins de fin de vie axés sur les besoins des patients et de leur entourage. Nous profitons donc de l’occasion pour formuler des commentaires susceptibles d’améliorer le projet de loi. 004 The order immediately support the Bill. 52, who joined some of the proposals we set out in our submission to the Select Committee on Dying with dignity in 2010. The order believes that beyond the wording of the bill, you really make a practical implementation, integrated end-of-life focused on the needs of patients and their families. We take this opportunity to provide comments to improve the bill.

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