Pam Louwagie
Star Tribune
Published Nov. 5, 2002	ABOR05

 

Medical tech who counseled patient considering abortion alleges religious discrimination

 

 

He had been performing ultrasounds for 15 years, and when medical technician Donald Grant saw on a patient's chart last April that she was considering an abortion, his religious beliefs compelled him to try to talk her out of it, he said in a lawsuit.

He was fired days later and is suing his employer, Fairview Health Services, for religious discrimination.

Grant, of New Richmond, Wis., said in court papers that because information about abortion wasn't typically included on such charts, he performed his duties as an ultrasound technician without trying to dissuade anyone.He has performed ultrasounds for 15 years, and he had worked for Fairview for two years, he said.

He argued in the suit that Fairview could have easily accommodated his religious beliefs by not including information about abortion on forms sent to him or by transferring him to another position that doesn't involve abortion.

Hospital spokesman Ryan Davenport said the hospital had received copies of the suit, which was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, but he couldn't comment on pending litigation.

When Grant learned that the patient was considering abortion, the lawsuit says, he said he asked her if he could pray with her. When she said yes and the two prayed, he encouraged her not to have the abortion. He then asked if he could give her name and number to a pastor. The suit says the patient wasn't offended.

But days later, the suit said, Grant was called into a meeting that included his supervisor and a human resources representative to address the discussion he had had with the patient. Grant said that he explained his beliefs and that the human resources director said she would review the possibility of changing a screening process for ultrasound patients so abortion information would be excluded.

Two hours later, the suit said, he was fired for going "outside the scope of his position."

While ethical dilemmas arise often for some medical workers, there are ways employees are able to work without compromising their beliefs, said Jeffrey Kahn, director of the center for bioethics at the University of Minnesota.

"If they have a moral objection, then they are free to opt out -- sort of a conscience clause," Kahn explained.

 "They're not required to perform what they take to be immoral acts."                                                                                                                 - Covenant News