Hospital Fires Nurse After She Offers Bible To Cancer Patient and Pressures Him To Sing Prayer

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The subject of religion is very personal and close to the hearts of millions of people of faith all over the world. However, there has been a growing debate over the last few decades concerning the role of religion outside of places of worship. We often hear stories about the “separation of church and state” regarding institutions such as schools, and very rarely about stories involving the workplace. However, a 2016 story about a now-former nurse has sparked a brand new discussion about religious freedom and its limitations. In places such as hospitals, religion can be a potent healing force in patients’ lives, such as cancer.

However, not every patient holds the same beliefs, and not everyone finds comfort from religious acts such as praying. In 2016, a nurse was let go from her position when she tried to share her beliefs with a patient. Sarah Kuteh is a very devout Christian who says she trusts in the power of God. However, according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, she broke a certain code that all nurses had to adhere to while working with patients. Kuteh has a history of talking about her faith with her patients. Still, after the Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, England judged her behavior to be inappropriate, the woman was “sacked.”

Kuteh argues that she had done nothing wrong and took the case to court; however, the judge ruled in the hospital’s favor.

The Daily Mail reports that one cancer patient recalled how Kuteh preached to him that the only way to meet God was through following the teachings of Jesus. His court statement reads:

“(She) told him she would give him her bible if he did not have one; gripped his hand tightly and said a prayer that was very intense and went ‘on and on’; and asked him to sing Psalm 23 [The Lord is My Shepherd] after which he was so astounded that he had sung the first verse with her. He described the encounter as ‘very bizarre’ and ‘like a Monty Python skit.”

Despite the loss of her job, Kuteh still believes that her actions did not violate hospital policy. In fact, she thinks that the hospital violated her rights.

Some have pointed out that patients are in a very vulnerable position and may smile and go along with doctors and nurses who also happen to hold their lives in their hands. Because of this dynamic, discussions about topics such as religion can be very uncomfortable for some.

Do you think Kuteh has a point, or was she forcing her religious beliefs onto others?