Coconut
Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2005
- Messages
- 4,663
N.B. Hospital removes bibles to stop them from spreading germs.
-- A hospital in Fredericton has removed bedside Bibles out of fears they might be spreading germs.
A spokeswoman for the River Valley Health Authority, Jane Stafford, told the CBC that the decision to remove the Bibles from the Chalmers Hospital was made strictly for health reasons.
She said it was a matter of common sense and infection control.
Some bugs viruses such as C. difficile, can live for months on telephones, toilets, stethoscopes and books, said Stafford.
But some people were suspicious of the hospital's motives.
Rev. Karl Csaszar, a pastor at the Skyline Acres Baptist Church, said it was strange that of all the potential sources of infection, Bibles were singled out.
"If the Bible is a threat in a drawer, where does it stop?" asked Csaszar.
He said the hospital had not offered proof the Bibles were spreading germs among patients.
"So the question is, how do we know if the scriptures in the drawer are really causing an infection or causing a threat to their health?"
Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said he wondered why the hospital would remove the Bibles when other hospitals don't seem to have problems with them.
"I think it's political correctness at its extreme and I'm rather disappointed," said Woodside.
Woodside said a number of people had called him to express concern over the decision.
Stafford said the the decision was not about political correctness.
She said patients who want to read the Bible are more than welcome to bring their own.
Two of New Brunswick's largest hospital corporations don't plan to remove Bibles from patient rooms.
Patricia Crowdis, of the Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, said Saint John Regional Hospital and other facilities under the corporation umbrella would not be following suit.
"We are not following the same procedures as River Valley Health," Crowdis said.
The message was the same from Moncton hospital.
"Our infection control nurse has not advised us to change our practice," said Michelle Bernier of Health Region 1 (Beausejour). "We won't remove Bibles from rooms."
Paul Mercer, executive director of Gideons International in Canada, said the organization has a desire to provide spiritual support for patients as part of a holistic healing process.
"The Bible should be available to all who have a desire to read it," Mercer said Friday.
(Fredericton Gleaner)
In 2003, the Calgary Health Region (CHR) found itself in a firestorm of protest over a reported plan to remove Gideon Bible's from a patients' rooms. While the health provider denied any such plan, the Calgary Herald stood by its initial report and published portions of a CHR draft policy it had obtained:
"The random distribution of religious tracts, pamphlets, objects and books will not be permitted in the health care facilities of the Calgary Health Region. The display of sacred texts, religious tracts, pamphlets and books will not be permitted in the health care facilities of the Calgary Health Region. Sacred texts of one faith to the exclusion of all others will not be provided in patient rooms."
-WorldNetDaily
-- A hospital in Fredericton has removed bedside Bibles out of fears they might be spreading germs.
A spokeswoman for the River Valley Health Authority, Jane Stafford, told the CBC that the decision to remove the Bibles from the Chalmers Hospital was made strictly for health reasons.
She said it was a matter of common sense and infection control.
Some bugs viruses such as C. difficile, can live for months on telephones, toilets, stethoscopes and books, said Stafford.
But some people were suspicious of the hospital's motives.
Rev. Karl Csaszar, a pastor at the Skyline Acres Baptist Church, said it was strange that of all the potential sources of infection, Bibles were singled out.
"If the Bible is a threat in a drawer, where does it stop?" asked Csaszar.
He said the hospital had not offered proof the Bibles were spreading germs among patients.
"So the question is, how do we know if the scriptures in the drawer are really causing an infection or causing a threat to their health?"
Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said he wondered why the hospital would remove the Bibles when other hospitals don't seem to have problems with them.
"I think it's political correctness at its extreme and I'm rather disappointed," said Woodside.
Woodside said a number of people had called him to express concern over the decision.
Stafford said the the decision was not about political correctness.
She said patients who want to read the Bible are more than welcome to bring their own.
Two of New Brunswick's largest hospital corporations don't plan to remove Bibles from patient rooms.
Patricia Crowdis, of the Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, said Saint John Regional Hospital and other facilities under the corporation umbrella would not be following suit.
"We are not following the same procedures as River Valley Health," Crowdis said.
The message was the same from Moncton hospital.
"Our infection control nurse has not advised us to change our practice," said Michelle Bernier of Health Region 1 (Beausejour). "We won't remove Bibles from rooms."
Paul Mercer, executive director of Gideons International in Canada, said the organization has a desire to provide spiritual support for patients as part of a holistic healing process.
"The Bible should be available to all who have a desire to read it," Mercer said Friday.
(Fredericton Gleaner)
In 2003, the Calgary Health Region (CHR) found itself in a firestorm of protest over a reported plan to remove Gideon Bible's from a patients' rooms. While the health provider denied any such plan, the Calgary Herald stood by its initial report and published portions of a CHR draft policy it had obtained:
"The random distribution of religious tracts, pamphlets, objects and books will not be permitted in the health care facilities of the Calgary Health Region. The display of sacred texts, religious tracts, pamphlets and books will not be permitted in the health care facilities of the Calgary Health Region. Sacred texts of one faith to the exclusion of all others will not be provided in patient rooms."
-WorldNetDaily
