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Nurse suspended after offering to pray for patient
Monday, 2 February 2009
A Christian nurse was suspended after offering to pray for the recovery of an elderly patient, it has emerged.
Caroline Petrie (45) was accused of failing to show a commitment to equality and diversity after the incident and is now awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.
The community nurse who carries out home visits in north Somerset, has been suspended by the primary care trust and could lose her job.
The married mother of two argues she did not force her beliefs on anyone but simply asked whether the woman would like a prayer said for her, as she has done with other patients.
Speaking from her home yesterday she said she only wanted to help her patients recover.
She said: “I’m not angry, and I understand if people don’t believe in the way that I do. But I am upset because I enjoy this job and it (prayer) is a valuable part of the care I give.
“I became a Christian 10 years ago after my mother died. My faith got stronger and I realised God was doing amazing things in my life. I saw my patients suffering and as I believe in the power of prayer, I began asking them if they wanted me to pray for them. They are absolutely delighted.”
The incident that led to Mrs Petrie’s suspension occurred when she visited a woman in Winscombe in December. She asked, ‘Would you like me to pray for you?’ The woman, believed to be in her 70s, refused and Mrs Petrie insists she did not press the matter.
The sick woman is believed to have told the trust about the matter.
Mrs Petrie faced the internal disciplinary meeting last Wednesday and expects to learn the outcome in the next few days.
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Comments
38 Comments
This is endemic of the sick and broken society we live in where we have idiots running organisations such as the NHS. While this pathetic country allows drunk drivers to escape punishment, fraudsters, yobs, terrorists and criminals of every kind to get a slap on the wrist, this decent caring woman is being persecuted for being a Christian.
In any decent sane society she would be praised for such actions. What would these morons have done had she been a Muslim,? I will tell you now they would have done nothing for fear of upsetting the Islamic community, but they picked on this poor woman like the bullies they are.
Posted by S McLaughlin | 05.02.09, 00:09 GMT
Mrs Petrie seems to be mentioned in the Bible or in some other anthology of Hebrew folk-tales. I quote:
"And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."
Going around offering to pray for people is making a display of the prayer. If Mrs Petrie wants to pray for people she should follow the advice given above.
Posted by LR | 04.02.09, 15:07 GMT
With respect David, Mrs Petrie did NOT break the rules. She did NOT pray for this woman but asked if she could but DIDN'T when the woman turned her down so she did NOTHING wrong.
Posted by Stuart | 03.02.09, 22:32 GMT
This is not the first time that Mrs Petrie has been told not to proselytise to her patients.
Last time she was handing out prayer cards. She was told not to do so and now she has responded by making verbal appeals instead.
She should be told that proselytising is incompatible with the basic requirement of her job to treat all patients equally, whether they are religious or not.
She should be told to concentrate on her work and that one more offence will cost her her job.
Posted by Belfast Humanist | 03.02.09, 18:11 GMT
Mrs Petrie broke the rules. Had I been the patient I would have complained. Nevertheless a warning is sufficient. With luck she will not do anything so foolish again and the message will go out to others tempted to peddle their religion to the vulnerable.
Posted by David | 03.02.09, 09:54 GMT
She presumably went to college or university to be qualified as a nurse. She did not go to The School of Mumbo Jumbo Nonsense. I appreciate some or indeed most people wouldnt mind her praying for them but crucially a fews things 1) some people would, including myself. I would rather my nursing professional relied on science and medicince and a kind smile- not praying for hope from an imaginary being. The NHS is for all so my views should be included. 2) The NHS, the organisation she signed up for doesnt allow it. Those are the rules. Stick at doing a good job without your own views coming into it. 3) You can pray to the sparkly god of the rainbow for all I care but not in a professional capacity unless you are a priest or vicar.
Why does she not just go and work for a private organisation? Keep the NHS free of all religions.
Posted by David O'Connor | 03.02.09, 08:15 GMT
I am not a Christian, but I do live in the so called "Bible Belt," in a southern state. I go to a gym most days of the week, for swimming, and other exercise. Sometimes I have had bad days, when my chronic pain was evident to others. Other patrons have offered to pray for me, some even stop and do it right there. I always tell them to go right ahead, I need all the help I can get. I have never felt abused nor exploited by well wishes from people who believe differently from me. I believe being asked if I want someone to ask the universe to treat me better is quite different from a Saturday morning knock on the door by a group in suits who want to discuss theology and strange magazine articles. I do not understand why some committee would think such well wishing is discriminatory or a violation of diversity tolerance. Christians are part of the cultural diversity of my world.
Posted by David R McGee | 03.02.09, 05:47 GMT
It doesn't say what faith the woman was, but I can guarantee that IF this had occured in a non Christian country and the non Christian had wanted to pray to their gods for a patient who then refused, the patient would have been the one charged. Definetly PC gone mad. But DON'T WoRRY Mrs Petrie. Our God is much greater than the disiplinary committee
Posted by Stuart | 03.02.09, 01:35 GMT
I think Ed below was drunk when he added his comments-lol. My sympathies go out to this caring nurse.
Posted by canuck | 02.02.09, 22:15 GMT
D Erskine...did you forget to take your tablets? Maybe you should provide a reference to these NHS studies extolling the benefits of prayer and then this poor nurse could say that she was only acting on her employer's fndings! In fact, tell us all where to find this evidence or did you make that one up?
Alan - Where in the article does it mention atheists or that this elderly woman was one? Maybe she was a different religion...you could see how that would offend some people here!
Posted by Holymoley | 02.02.09, 20:53 GMT
Only in Britain!
The champagne left-wing, PC, can't have competition at school secularists have struck again.
The laissez-faire church leaders may respond when they have taken the splinters out of their backsides but I'm not holding my breath.
One word.....joke!
Posted by conor | 02.02.09, 20:06 GMT
Give Caroline THE PRAISE she deserves. Suspend the useless people in charge
Posted by d.gow | 02.02.09, 19:31 GMT
PC gone mad!!
she gave the lady courtesy and respect when she asked the lady would she like her to pray for her.
unbelieveable that the local authority would waste tax payers money in having a disciplinary meeting.
I am a atheist.
Posted by karen | 02.02.09, 19:11 GMT
Barking...truely barking!
Posted by RS | 02.02.09, 18:36 GMT
You might be right 99.99% thinking that God does not exist...After all Who is God? We get offended just because some one offered to pray for the sick because they not only care, they show that bit of love towords us in a world no one cares. We ignore the insult when some one sware at us...Why?? No one bothers no one cares...right? However,You have got nothing to loose if you are 99.99% right, beliving that God does not exist!! Ofcourse my friend if you are right, you need no prayers any way. But what if that .01% you are wrong? Some thing to think about!! You have got too much of faith trying to convince yourself God Is dead!! My Respect!!
Posted by Ed | 02.02.09, 17:10 GMT
I'd like to answer your suggestions, Bob, but I find your scribblings incomprehensible.
Posted by Plum | 02.02.09, 17:05 GMT
Political correctness going buck daft again. Where is the harm in what this nurse has done? If it is as reported and the lady did not want any prayer and no prayer was said - no harm done. Many people who are suffering illness take comfort in the knowledge that someone is praying for them and more importantly, there is evidence that prayer works. NHS studies have been carried out and the evidence was that faith played a role in improving reco very rates.
Posted by D Erskine | 02.02.09, 16:39 GMT
Prayers are known to heal where others have failed.God works
through many people and it is sad to see complaints such as these.
However did the person that was sick recover ? For the sake of the world aand the care giver I do hope so. James
Posted by james canavan | 02.02.09, 15:12 GMT
the whole world needs to get on its knees and pray. this lady was only offering prayers.. how sad and dark has our society become. i would like to think when i am old and if i had a caring nurse coming into me she would offer me prayers and not tr and steal my handbag would she be up for disciplinary hearings then !!!!
Posted by roberta douglas | 02.02.09, 15:05 GMT
There are people who are religious due to parents pushing them from birth down that path and then there are people who turn to god. People dont suddenly turn to god after a lottery win or after the birth of a child. They turn to him after death or during illness or divorce for example. Basically when they are in weakened mental state. People can always prey on people like that either for what they think are good reasons at heart or for more sinister purposes. The NHS is correct to have in place a code of conduct for employees in realtion to dealing with patients. This nurse I am sure is wonderful at her . She knows her employers rules. She has signed up for that.I would suggest a final warning. Employers rules are there for a reason. If I broke mine a couple of times I am sure I would be sacked.
Posted by Laura | 02.02.09, 14:53 GMT
38 Comments