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Abortion debate stirs at hospital
by Mary Ann Ahern

OAK LAWN: Christ Hospital's use of a controversial, yet legal surgical procedure called a medically indicated pregnancy termination has led to complaints, criticism, and outrage.

Christ Hospital is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, both which support a woman's right to an abortion. No abortions are performed at the hospital for unwanted pregnancies. Rather, abortions are performed only after genetic testing is completed, up to the 24th week of pregnancy. But critics say the hospital should remove the word Christ from its name if it continues to perform abortions.

"It is named Christ Hospital. There is a huge yellow cross on top of the hospital," states Jill Stanek, a labor and delivery nurse at Christ Hospital who opposes abortion. "When I came to work at that hospital, there were certain ethics that I expected from that hospital."

Christ Hospital Chaplain Kristy Moeller offers support to families before and after an abortion, a procedure she said is not something done quickly, without a lot of thought. "Christ in his time was the most passionate minister and servant to the people around him, to many different marginalized folks. He never turned anyone away," said Moeller. "With the needs here, I don't think we can turn anyone away either."

Some ten to twenty abortions area performed at Christ Hospital each year.  According to the hospital, if the fetus shows a breath of life, compassionate care is given. But Stanek said when the fetuses are born alive, the hospital does not give them medical care. She said the hospital only gives the fetuses "comfort care," in which the baby is wrapped in a blanket and offered
to the parents to hold.  She said it is up to the nurse to then hold the baby until the baby dies.

Moeller said when a woman and her family come in for an abortion, they are surrounded by health care professionals who care for them, and the chaplain.  Nurses who do not agree with the procedure do not have to participate.

Stenek said although she had been warned not to speak out on the issue, and may lose her job as a result of doing so, her convictions left her no choice.  The attorney general's office is investigating complaints about the abortion procedure and how compassionate care is given, and has directed the Illinois Department of Public Health to collect data.

On Saturday, a prayer vigil is planned outside the hospital, the third so far this week.

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