Memorandum 10
Submission from Theresa Lynch
Apart from the obvious moral and ethical questions
which inevitably arise in relation to abortion and the most vulnerable
involved, professional issues should nonetheless be considered
in relation to the future role of the nurse.
— The "developed role of the nurse"
appears to have no limit as reflected in this proposal of surgical
abortion.
— Nurses need to maintain and expand
their expressive rather than instrumental skills (particularly
those which appear to be emerging as unpopular with their medical
colleagues).
— The nurse's role should be reflected
in positivity, not by a willingness to promote a negative image
in the proposed undertaking of all aspects of abortion.
— Surgical abortion by nurses is a
dangerous responsibility which nurses can never fulfill as competent
practitioners. They are not surgically-competent to deal with
the inevitable, possible life-threatening complications.
— Nurses who are trained for years
to protect, nurture and maintain life, will inevitably be pyschologically
and emotionally affected by this expectation of them, knowing,
as any educated nurse knows that women who undergo this procedure
are psychologically and even physically burdened for years by
the procedure.
Lastly, I believe such a radical decision required
consultation with more than a few selected RCN members "working
in the field". Views will most probably reflect just that
narrow section of the RCN membership. I believe a wider consultation
is required to enable other nurses to give their view on this
hugely important decision, a massive departure from the historical
role of the nurse—"to do no harm".
I look forward to the outcome with close interest.
August 2007
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