This is a question for the labor and Delivery Nurses about circumcision?
I am in nursing school right now, and I hope to one day go into L&D or postpartum. I am extremely against circumcision, and I will refuse to assist. My question is, If I were to go into that field, do I legally have to assist in the circumcision? I know that more doctors are doing it in their offices, but there are still many that do it in the hospital.
Have any of you had a problem legally in this area? What are your suggestions for me in the future?
Again- I am AGAINST routine infant circumcision, you can NOT change my mind on it, so please don't try.
Thanks in advance!
nebit2142008-12-13T01:44:15Z
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I believe you should be exempt. DOC and NOCIRC would have much better information on this. DOC is run by doctors, and NOCIRC by a former nurse. There is also a documentary "The Nurses of Saint Vincents" on youtube about how a group of nurses who refused to assist manged to get circumcision banned at their hospital. I think you are well within your rights to refuse. I'd call up both of those organizations for more info on the topic, they should be very familiar iwth this subject.
To get you started, here is a leaflet on concientious objection from DOC. Its aimed at doctor, but may be relevant to you- http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/pdf/2008-03conscientiousobjectionleaflet.pdf
Legally, I'm sure there is some way you could refuse to do circumcisions if it is against what you believe in. However, your employer may frown upon your decision. Just what your willing do deal with I guess. FYI- at most facilities it is the nursery nurse's job to assist with circs. However, I'm sure you would still be expected to help assist moms on the postpartum ward with their new infants that have been circumcised. Don't see how you could get out of that one since it is for care and safety of the infant. Ask whatever facility you choose to work in about rules specific to the procedure. That's the best way to find out what's expected of you. I think you would be able to get away with this easier in a larger hospital. At my hospital, there is usually only one nursery nurse on duty. I expect there would be angry parents, nurse managers, and pediatricians if they had to wait around for someone else to come and assist with circs. You have to do what feels right to you, though.
No, you do not have to assist in something you are against. You can simply leave. My GP is a circumcision exspert and he is also against it. He also used to be a urologist and then switched to GP. He has had parents ask him to circumcise their children and he has said he would never in a milllion years preform plastic surgery on anyone without their consent. If a doctor can refuse so can a nurse. Just like you could refuse to assist with something that makes you uncofortable or compramises your ability to focus and work. Just tell the doctor this isn't something you believe in and you are against it and that is that. You can't focus when you are uncofortable. It's not a problem
Congratulations we need more ethical nurses like you. One of the biggest reasons circumcisions continue in the US is because the medical professionals don't take the firm ethical stance that they should and that's the only way this abuse will stop.
There are a number of paths you can take, but all will involve speaking with your supervisors. I would contact NOCIRC (www.nocirc.org) and speak to some of their people. I am sure they can give you firm guidance. Hopefully your example will encourage others. :)