Religion trumps simple decency in Florida

February 3, 2007

Guest Post by Morbo

Here’s the most horrific story of the week: A woman in Tampa reported to police that she was raped. The police ran a background check on her, discovered two four-year-old outstanding warrants for non-violent felonies, and put her in jail.

Wait, it gets worse: After the rape, the woman had been examined by a nurse at a clinic who gave her two doses of emergency contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. The woman took the first dose, but the second dose had been confiscated upon her arrival at the jail. When the woman asked for it, the nurse at the jail refused to provide it, citing her religious beliefs.

Religious fanatics who back the so-called “right” of medical personnel to refuse to prescribe or provide contraceptives often claim it will be no big deal. Another pharmacist on staff will provide the drug, they say, or the woman in need can simply go elsewhere.

The woman in this case didn’t have that option since she was behind bars. She was traumatized by the rapist, and officials at the police department and the jail only made her plight worse.

It’s bad enough to hear medical personnel at pharmacies and other private institutions making these absurd “I-have-a-religious-freedom-right-not-to-do-my-job” claims. Having them surface in public institutions is infuriating.

Here’s what needs to happen in Tampa: The nurse at the jail should be fired. And the woman who was raped needs to find a good lawyer — one who can sue and win her the big settlement she deserves.

In addition to being fired, any nurse or doctor who behaves like the nurse in the jail did should have their license revoked, and should find a new profession where they are less likely to harm people.

  • I can’t believe this. Or actually I can given everything else that’s been happening lately. Does anyone have any links to follow ups on this story? Is there any outrage in FL at all? Is it getting traction in other parts of the country?

    And finally, we need to get rid of these idiots. It blows my mind that people think they can insert themselves in private medical decisions. This has got to be stopped. I hope someone in the Democratic Party is looking to do something concrete to change this.

  • I wouldn’t doubt that Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib have crept into this nation’s subconscious so that all people who are incarcerated are automatically guilty and deserve whatever punishment gets heeped upon them. Abu Gonzales’ mantra that the only rights one has is whatever rights people in power over you think you should have at the moment is becoming part of the national mindset.

    Fundies believe in a vengeful god and their sermons carry stern warnings about retribution and judgment. Fundies working in government have to be reminded that their personal beliefs do not allow them to exact religious penalties on those under their care.

  • If she gets pregnant and has the baby, the nurse should be required to support it through college.

  • I agree with Ekim, and I also think each and every one of these fundies should be required to sign up at an adoption agency.

  • The morally weak/bullies are often drawn to jobs which allow them to exert power over others. And they’ll always push for more power, until they’re checked.

    We have a prime example at the very top right now but, it’s rife everywhere. It’s especially noticeable in prison circumstances (where the bullies use the excuse of “it’s all scum, anyway; they don’t deserve any better”), but has also been common at security and customs checks for ages (Communist countries were particularly horrible in that respect — it was the only power ordinary individuals had). And unemployment offices? Hah!

  • While Tony Blair is by no means my favorite politician, I respect his stand on many issues. I know this is extraneous to the American situation, but the message is salutary. He said, in relation to a forthcoming law regularizing adoption for gay as well as heterosexual couples:

    “I start from a very firm foundation. There is no place in our society for discrimination.
    “That’s why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple.
    “And that way there can be no exemptions for faith-based adoption agencies offering public-funded services from regulations that prevent discrimination.”

    It makes it simple, fair and clear-cut, doesn’t it?

  • “this is out of hand” — Jeremy @ 2

    Straight and to the point. I don’t see how society can function with these types of independent judgments being imposed on others. I loathe the idea of yet more laws, but when one interferes in the delivery of legal and properly prescribed medical treatment, that interference ought to be illegal.

  • Whaaa ?

    I also think each and every one of these fundies should be required to sign up at an adoption agency.

    Kanopsis, are you crazy ? Ekim has a very good idea but yours just creeps me out. I certainly don’t want to give the fundies more opportunities to brainwash young kids…

  • Tokyo ex-pat,

    It’s not a matter of legislating common sense. Here, it’s much simpler.

    The law should simply require that medical practitioners must make their decisions regarding patients in need of care solely in the interest of the patient and solely based on professional judgment as strictly supported by the know state of the art and well established science and alone to the exclusion of any other consideration, be it personal opinions, profit motives, religious beliefs, etc.

    End of the story. You don’t need 20 volumes of laws and regulations.

    This is so basic it’s unbelievable we have to debate that.

  • So, if the she ultimately gets an abortion because of the guards religious views, do you think that will change any minds about the morning after pill.

    Is it better to kill a zygote to a fetus in the mind of a religious nut ?? I know, they think it’s better to have to live the rest of your life with offspring of a rapist.

    This could end up being a landmark case. Suing for the pain and anguish of having an abortion. I bet there are lawyers 5 wide and a100 deep waiting to get in on some of the action.

    From what I understand, the victim’s mother went to the press and public was so outraged the nurse was forced to deliver the medication a day later.

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