Swallow Your Words
Posted: Monday, February 02, 2009
by Sara O'Rourke
Words are a powerful thing.
The news this morning informed me that a nurse, qualified
'We are always keen to be respectful of our patients' views and sensitivity as well as those of our staff' said NSP Care Trust. A bold lie. This is exemplary of the classic 'when the government favours the criminal rather than the victim' case. Too careful not to risk complaints, or, forgive me saying, legal action, it is evident that thehealth system is turning its back on its loyal staff so as to protect themselves as an institution.
Of course, when this happens, a recognised degree of freedom emerges, which future clients will seek to exploit comfortably and confidently. Once you know your rival's weak spot, where else are you going to aim? It shouldn't be the case at all. The health care system should support its staff, demonstrating their administrative strength and united front to the public. They need to see that there is such a thing as a system which is both kind and firm.
It makes you wonder, when members of society become the targets of the press for expressing their concern and attempting to carry out an act of kindness for another person, whether anything we say is really safe. The more you analyse the situation, the more you start to see the restrictions and regulations underlying every single topic. Most obviously, perhaps, is the fact that we cannot distinguish between people by the colour of their skin without catching a few eyefuls or gasps and whispers, at the very least. If I recall accurately, there was even a spread on the news about the elderly complaining that the yellow painted 'aged' people on their parking spaces, painted hunched with a walking stick, were offensive and had to be removed. It makes me think, for goodness' sake, why does everyone assume everything has to be done with the view to cause someone harm or offense? We are not all perverse and things need to be seen without their negative connotations.
At the end of it all, the more we are told we cannot, and must not, under any circumstances, do something, it's put on a platter and suddenly carries so much more significance. And with significance come dire consequences.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Hi Sara, what a shame this had to happen. Offering prayer is a kind gesture that most people would gladly receive. Forcing and preaching as you say is another story. And you nailed it, people are so afraid of being sued, that there is no longer any freedom to be a good samaritan. I wonder when it will be offensive to say "get well soon", I mean, what if the person didn't want to get well and just wanted to die. It all gets so ridiculous its sad.Thanks for a thought provoking piece. Blessings to you! Teresa
The Ugandan midwife delivering my baby spoke of God and how she always says a prayer when she is delivering a baby. Meanwhile the student British nurse told me my baby had an 'old soul'. This may have all sounded very odd to someone with no spiritual and religious understanding but either way the comments were meant good naturedly and NOT in anyway shape or form a subject for offence.This suspension is yet another example of Britain gone mad!As a nation we need to report all these acts of stupidity and react accordingly (as have you here) so that the message gets through that we won't tolerate this nonsense nanny state anymore.
If the patient didn't want to accept the offer of prayer, I'm sure the nurse would have backed off and not said one. It was an offer, not a command, and I think most people, whether religious or not, would have accepted this act of kindness with much gratitude.
Sara, a very distinct conformation of the world we live in. We can choose to ignore the reality of it and why but is no less what it speaks to. Now that is for those who are decent, caring, compassionate and yes believers or just plain decent to discern. Good article.
That is truly a bizarre tale, and I think a violation of her legal rights. In my opinion, this nurse should seek legal council for this. They can not legally suspend her for that at all. In legal terminology this is libel or something similar. Her employer has not the right to punish her for this at all and she should sue them.I believe she is seeking legal advice, via the Christian Legal Centre, which aims to protect the religious freedom of people who follow the Christian faith.If there's no more to this story than meets the eye then it does seem quite bizarrely over the top to suspend her for just offering to pray, if she didn't press the issue when the patient said no.Having said that, having a healthcare professional offering to pray for you could be a little worrying I suppose.... it might suggest that they think you're not long for this world!
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