As a Catholic nurse, do I have the right to administer birth control
(Depo-Provera) injections?
**
**Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) is a hormonal means of
artificial birth control. It is strongly pushed by the medical
establishment not only on account of its efficacy in preventing
conception, but because it is given as an intramuscular injection once
every three months. It is consequently used as a forced form of
artificial contraception, for those considered too irresponsible to use
other methods. It does, however, have other uses, notably the treatment
of pain due to endometriosis. Its action is by preventing ovulation by
impeding the development of the woman`s eggs, and also by altering the
cervical mucous so that the sperm cannot penetrate into the uterus.
Consequently, it does not produce abortions, but simply prevents
fertilization from taking place.
Clearly a Catholic does not have the right to help out in the administration of any birth control methods at all, such as Depo-Provera injections. Just as it is wrong for a physician to prescribe such “treatments,” when used for birth control, so also is it wrong for a nurse to administer them to patients if she knows that they are being used for birth control purposes. A Catholic health professional is consequently obliged to make an objection in conscience against giving these injections. If the Depo-Provera were to be used for the treatment of endometriosis, and not for birth control, then it would be permissible to give the injection, even though the undesired effect is unavoidable, namely that of temporary sterility. This is the case of the indirect voluntary, which is permitted provided that the bad effect (sterility) is not directly willed, and provided that there is a proportionate reason — serious pain due to endometriosis and no other treatment possible.
If the health professional`s employer accepts that he has the right to refuse to give this injection for reasons of conscience, then the health professional is bound in conscience to request and obtain this permission.
However, it frequently happens that the hospital or employer refuses to grant the refusal of administration of birth control methods for reasons of conscience. If Depo-Provera had an abortifacient effect, as oral contraceptives can have when they do not suppress ovulation, then the administration of this injection would never be permitted for any reason, for even the possibility of an abortion is much too great an evil to allow any material cooperation therein.
However, this is not the case, since the injection prevents ovulation and fertilization of the ovum. Consequently, a purely material cooperation in this evil action could be allowable temporarily, and for urgent reasons, such as keeping one`s job. However, it would have to be clear that the health professional administers the injections under duress, and it would only be permissible if truly there were no other alternative, such as another person to administer it. The reason for this is that purely material cooperation is permissible for a sufficiently grave reason. Material cooperation is to help in another’s action, not inasmuch as it is a sin, but simply as a physical action (the giving of an injection), which is not in itself evil, but good or indifferent. The actual act of giving an injection or a medication is not in itself evil, even though the intentions of the person who accepts this form of birth control and of the physician who prescribes it are both immoral.
However, this could only be permitted temporarily to keep one`s employment, and provided that this employment is truly necessary to provide for oneself and for one`s family, and to help out the sick by the practice of the nursing profession. However, a health professional in this predicament is obliged to try and find another position, in which he would not be asked to act against the moral law.
The great tragedy is that nursing is an eminently Christian profession, one which has grown out of the Catholic Church, and the living of the Faith, and the practice of the corporal works of mercy. Traditional Catholics should do all that they can to stay in this field. [Answered by Fr. Peter R. Scott]
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.