Indiana Nurses Fired After Refusing Flu Shots On Religious Grounds 851
Hugh Pickens writes writes "ABC News reports that Indiana University Health Goshen Hospital has fired eight employees after they refused mandatory flu shots, stirring up controversy over which should come first: employee rights or patient safety. The fired nurses include Joyce Gingerich and Sue Schrock who filed appeals on religious grounds. 'I feel like in my personal faith walk, I have felt instructed not to get a flu vaccination, but it's also the whole matter of the right to choose what I put in my body...' adding that she has not had a flu vaccine for 30 years as a result of a choice she made because of her Christian faith. Over the last several years, hospitals have been moving toward mandatory vaccinations because many only have 60 percent vaccination rates says Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Schaffner adds that nurses in particular tend to be the most reluctant to get vaccinated among health care workers, 'There seems to be a persistent myth that you can get flu from a flu vaccine among nurses,' says Schaffner. 'They subject themselves to more influenza by not being immunized, and they certainly do not participate in putting patient safety first.' But Jane M. Orient, M.D., executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, says the scientific case for flu vaccine mandates is very weak and that there is no evidence showing that vaccinated workers are less likely to transmit virus. 'The scientific and religious concerns are in a sense backward,' says Orient. 'Advocates of the mandate are full of evangelical zeal and are quick to portray skeptics as wicked and selfish. It's like a secular religion, based on faith in vaccine efficacy and safety.'"
God will provide (Score:5, Funny)
you with new jobs.
Re:It's employers rights (Score:5, Funny)
Our new company policy says that we have to pee in a cup any time the employer asks.
The unofficial opinion in our department is "I'll pee in the cup any time you want, but you're holding the cup!". It's the front line management that suffers the most I tell you.
Re:Evidence-based best practices limit liability (Score:5, Funny)
You can secretly believe that getting naked, painting yourself with fresh cow's blood while running in circles and barking at the moon will keep you disease-free, that's your right.
It turns out to be pretty hard to keep that secret.
Re:God will provide (Score:5, Funny)
God will provide you with new jobs.
Oh the optimism of Apple fanbois! Face it, Steve has gone.
Orthodox Pastafarianism position? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Doesn't work (Score:5, Funny)
I bet that, once they heard about it, they sent you packing...
Re:Good (Score:5, Funny)
The only reason I can think of (except them being in Christian Science) is that she follow the same line of thought that leads some (and I stress: SOME) protestants to have issues with contraceptions and/or ensurance: By taking such precautions you don't trust God to do what's best for you.
She must have never heard the story iof the drowning man.
There is a flood, the police come by to evacuate and the man says "no, God will save me from this flood." The water rises and he's standing at the window when a rowboat comes by for him. "No," he says, "God will save me." The water rises to the second floor and he's standing at the window when another rowboat comes by for him. "No," he says, "God will save me."
The water rises over the roof and the man drowns. In heaven he wails "God! Why didn't you save me?"
God says "You moron, I sent a cop and two rowboats!"