Hospitals consider banning bedside Bibles

[emad]

June 03, 2005

Hospitals consider banning bedside Bibles
By Sam Lister



HOSPITAL chiefs are considering removing bedside Bibles because of concerns about offending non-Christians and spreading the superbug MRSA.

Executives in Leicester are due to meet today to discuss whether the tradition of placing copies of the holy book in people’s bedside lockers should continue at the city’s three main hospitals.

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is worried that the books could offend people from other faith groups who are receiving treatment. The trust also wants to examine whether the publications could increase the risk of spreading MRSA.

Gideons International, which distributes the Bibles widely in hospitals, hotels, cruise liners and prisons, said that their removal would be “outrageous”. Iain Mair, executive director of Gideons International UK headquarters, in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, said: “They are saying there’s a potential MRSA risk, and we say that is nonsense. They also say it’s discriminating against people of other faiths. I could show many letters received in our office expressing an appreciation for the testaments.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1639084,00.html

SPREADING the word of spreading disease????

[Deep13]

1. What's MRSA?

[emad]

3. Flesh-eating super-bug that kills more UK patients than failed

surgery or medical treatment. Acronym for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

[benburch]

7. It is what kill Jeff Matson aka nostamj

Very nasty bad bug.

[wicket]

37. I didn't realize that's what killed him

Terrible :(

[FearofFutility]

66. MRSA is not the flesh eating bacteria

The flesh eating bacteria is a type of streptococcus.

[Lone_Wolf]

73. Yep.. Streptococcus pyogenes

n/t

[FearofFutility]

87. Thanks

I couldn't remember the name.

[Lone_Wolf]

72. MRSA stands for Methicillan Resistant Staphylcoccus aureus

The only antibiotic that can treat it is Vancomycin. This is a good reason why antibiotics should be prescribed a little more judiciously by doctors.

[zanne]

88. My mother had MRSA while in the hospital.

This is a very serious situation. My mother is elderly and was hospitalized for a simple Urinary Tract Infection. After four days in the hospital, she developed MRSA. She wasn't expected to recover, but 11 days later, after being treated with Vancomycin through a drip, we were able to take her home with a very strong antibiotic that she could take orally. After watching doctors and nurses have to "suit up" before entering her room, I became very aware of the overuse of antibiotics. Just as cockroaches become immune to insecticides, germs (even household germs) become immune to antibiotics and antibacterials. This makes them grow even stronger. I don't even use antibacterial soap anymore. It's a good selling point, but antibacterials don't work any better than plain soap and water.

[Chovexani]

2. I like Gideon Bibles

For one reason and one reason only: when I'm at a nerdy convention dressed up with my friends, we have a tradition of taking goofy pictures in our hotel rooms with the Gideon Bibles. :P

But seriously? No reason for them. If a person believes in the Bible and gets sick, etc. chances are they are going to have their own Bible with them. The sole purpose of those Gideon Bibles is proselytizing and I for one am sick of people telling me I need to believe in their religion or I'm going to hell.

[AllegroRondo]

6. I used to collect them

One of my previous jobs involved LOTS of travel. I would take the bible from the hotel room, write the date and location inside the cover, and keep them.

[Chovexani]

10. I collect tracts

But only the really funny and/or ridiculous ones, like Chick tracts.

I tend to attract them like crazy. Must be the goth outfits. :silly:

[damntexdem]

49. When Gideon checked out, he left it no doubt ...

to help with poor Rocky's revival.

[Okiesoldier]

83. I am offended

Because the translation given by the christians has changed from the original meaning of the manuscripts. They have added words, pick what Laws they want to follow. Remember the Romans incorporated some of their pagan ways for truth. Sunday the sabbath, not. Yahshua put away the Laws, not. Taken away the Father's name, Yahweh, calling him pagan terms like lord, god, etc...

[XemaSab]

4. I think this is totally stupid

Call out to people of other faiths/atheists: Would you be "offended" at a Bible next to your bed in the hospital?

[Mizmoon]

5. No, but Muslims and Jews might not like it

I don't want a Koran by my bed ... they don't want a Bible by theirs. I say this party should be BYOHB (bring your own holy book).

[Chopin]

9. I agree.

[forgethell]

12. Why not let

anybody who wants to place free books place them. that's real "freedom of religion". The right to practice it and publicize it. What good is it if you have to keep it to yourself? Oliver Cromwell permitted that much to the Catholics of his time.

[Chopin]

16. That is just idiotic.

[forgethell]

23. Says you!

I always consider the source.

But have you got any thing specific against freedom of religion?

[mondo joe]

53. Because it's a hospital, not a library.

The point of a hospital is not to create a venue for sharing religion. And if it causes offense or discomfort to patients and has no necessary purpose there, ditch them.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

55. Yeah, as long as the hospital doesn't take govt funds.

Not going into whether the contamination risk is there or not -- not enough technical knowledge to judge.

[LiberalFighter]

58. A better solution IMO would be to...

have the visiting ministers/pastors/other have their bible or whatever in the worship storage area.

Either the clergy person, nurse or some other authorized person could retrieve the particular book needed for the patient or even visitors.

I am sure many if not all hospitals have a worship area and have regular clergy persons available on call if needed.

[leesa]

85. As a nurse, I'm not retrieving anyone's books for them.

[PsychoDad]

76. Hey, I agree.

If a group wishes to spend the money and time to place free books in hospital rooms, I say, let them at it.

If someone is offended or simply dosen't wish the books there it would be a simple matter to ask a nurse to remove them.

If I was in a hospital, I wouldn't mind finding a copy each of The Bible, Quran, Baghavad Gita, Moby Dick, Liber Al Vel Legis and the Satanic Bible.

Probably be better than watching the crappy cable....:P


Forgethell, good to see we agree on something :hi:

[zanne]

89. Why not let people have them if they ASK for them?

This has got to be the simplest solution. If a patient asks for a bible, or a Quran, give them one that's brand new and not germ-infested. They can include it in the bill like everything else. The patient can then take it home with them, or the hospital can throw it out. I don't see how this could possibly be considered anti-religion or discriminatory in any way. It's all about being able to believe what you choose, right?

[XemaSab]

27. I'm not muslim or jewish

but I wouldn't be "offended" by a Koran or a Torah. Seems like a lot of people are tired of fundies, but that's different than feeling deep moral offense and outrage at being exposed to a Bible. I'd roll my eyes at a Bible, but I do that every time I'm in a hotel room anyway.

I say this gives Christians ammo to cry that they're being persecuted, and we should save our ammo for bigger battles.

[ConfuZed]

35. If I was ever injured in the middle east personally I wouldnt mind...

if a koran or a torah was next to me because I respect others beliefs I think this world has alot of growing up to do

[Boomer]

11. Leave the Bibles alone

I'm perfectly capable of NOT picking up a book if I don't want to read it. I choose not to the read the Bible (unless I'm really, really bored), but I'm not offended by the notion that someone else might want to read it.

And if there's some organization out there that wants to print copies of the Koran or a collection of Doonesbury cartoons and stuff them in hospital drawers, that's okay, too.

I'm more offended by a LACK of books than I am by the presence of them.

-- Boomer (life-long atheist)

[Zodiak]

39. Dumb idea to get rid of Bibles in hospitals...too intolerant for me.

My sentiments exactly. Separation of church and state is a good thing, but cutting bibles out of places where the government has no influence is a bit too intolerant for me. The hospital should have a copy of ALL religious texts for distribution upon request.

[Horse with no Name]

80. It's not being done for political /religious reasons

It is being done for health reasons.
Our country is so far away from the mentality of the Brits when it comes to the spread of superbugs.
The doctors there have even advocated isolation wings to curb this problem--which is an outstanding idea.
They are removing the Bibles because they serve as a medium for these bugs to be transmitted since they cannot be cleaned between patients.
What happens here is that people with these superbugs are integrated into the general hospital population and that is why they are becoming more prominent out of the hospital.

[RobinA]

41. I Agree

This is the kind of needless churn that just stirs people up. I'm an atheist. Pile a Bible, Koran, and whatever else next to me in a hotel and I could not care less. If people don't like it they can put the damn things in a drawer. Better yet, flush'em. Sheesh, people who get offended by this stuff need to get a life. Why do people see every thing that they don't agree with as an offense? How insecure can you get. This isn't a Constitution issue, it's just dumb. Sometimes I think people just look for reasons to be offended.

[LiberalFighter]

59. If there was anything that would perk me up & help my recovery it would be

reading Doonesbury cartoons!!!!!!!!!

[MindPilot]

13. yes. I've had with Christians thinking their religion is the only one.

OK, it's not so much a matter of "offense" as a matter of equality. What if I want a Koran? Or a Torah? Personally I'd like to see a copy of Age of Reason in my hotel room; I want the Bill of Rights on the classroom wall, not the goddamn 10 commandments.

And if I'm in the hospital, I want a a copy of Hustler, not the freaking holy babble.

[Mairead]

15. Would I be offended? Yes. Definitely. (nt)

[Chovexani]

17. Four or five years ago, most likely not

I mean, it is pretty trivial. Books are books. I've been a Wiccan for quite a few years, and while I don't necessarily wear my beliefs on my sleeves I am open about them. I don't begrudge anyone their religion or skepticism. It takes all kinds, you know?

But now? I'm not so sure. I'm just...fatigued. I'm just *tired* of fundies. My immediate family is full of them and while it's always been a struggle to stay sane with the constant "you need Jesus" drumbeat, with the fundie power grab that's gone on in this country in the last four years even little things like this feel like rubbing salt in a gaping wound. It's one more little reminder that, as a non-Christian, I don't really "belong", that I am less of a human being and I need to conform.

Hope that makes sense.

[MindPilot]

20. Makes perfect sense; I 'm the same way

I'm 50 and been an atheist since my early/mid teens. Grew up in a very religious household, catholic school, etc.

I've been very tolerant, but over the past few years, my tolerance for religiosity and it's resultant stupidity has worn very thin. Anymore I can't turn around without someone forcing their brand of religion--usually Christianity--on me or telling me I'm not patriotic or moral if I don't worship the correct invisible cloud being.

I realize there are Christians out there who are "real" followers of Christ, but the fact is your fundie brethren have ruined it for you.

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. I'm not easily offended by much of anything

except by people who say I "need Jesus".

I've just decided that every time I hear that - which is not infrequently in this place - that I will tell that person that they "need Sagan".

I always ignore the Gideons in hotels, but hospitals are rife with horrible bacteria and there should be NOTHING in a hospital room which is not disposable or, being too big/expensive to be replaced, i.e. bed, chair, TV, sanitized between each patient.

[uppityperson]

28. Exaclty. Things in hospital rooms need to be sterilized or disposable. n/t

[megatherium]

24. I've seen Gideon bibles with introductions with anti-gay messages,

pointing to the relevant bible verses. That's plenty offensive to me; I can see why the hospital would want them removed.

[LiberalFighter]

60. Handwritten by someone else or printed by the publisher?

[megatherium]

68. Printed by the publisher.

Not all Gideon bibles seem to have this, but I've seen these in hotel rooms. The bibles have an introduction to tell the reader where to find the answers to life's questions; one of the questions concerns homosexuality. Actually, to be honest, I'm not certain this was a Gideon bible, but I think it was.

[Behind the Aegis]

26. Not offended on condition

The condition is that it must be put away, or have a place it can be stored. I was offended when my partner was in the hospital and their was a cross nailed to the wall and at 6:30am the had the daily prayer over the loudspeaker thanking "the one true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." THAT offended me.

[XemaSab]

29. THAT sounds pretty bad

I'll agree.

[Chovexani]

33. That's just crazy.

Do their Bibles not have that verse in Matthew that says only hypocrites and Pharisees pray in public?

See, this kind of thing is why I find myself having less and less tolerant for fundies. It's like they almost get off on cramming their religion down everyone's throat.

[Behind the Aegis]

36. Yup..it is crazy.

And, yes, their Bibles do contain those verses, but most have never read the book, they have it read to them. I was very angry when I was awakened at 6:30am (I had just fallen asleep) to hear a prayer broadcast over the loudspeakers!

[LiberalFighter]

61. I bet it was a hospital run by a church

[Behind the Aegis]

64. I am not sure

It probably has ties, but it the only human hospital in town.

[TankLV]

67. Were you in a Catholic hospital?

If you were, it's a moot point. It is, after all, a CATHOLIC hospital.

I was in one, too, as there are not many choices here - and I was baptised into it. But mainly, I didn't pay it much attention, because the crappy nursing and care provided to me was taking up all of my time! I don't think I even opened the damn drawer next to my bed.

But I, to, although a "christian" and a former "catholic", am quite thin-skinned lately, and find the rantings of these so-called pseudo-christians disturbing even tho somewhat funny, because whenever we as a society try to become more inclusive of EVERYONE ELSES's feelings, they get all bent out of shape when that happens. Seems TOLERANCE is a major SIN to these idiots. So, in that regard, now that I am being asked to think about it, I am pretty damned fed up with the SPECIAL RIGHTS given these yahoos over everyone else, so like my parents used to do - GET RID OF THEM ALL (bibles) if you can't be INCLUSIVE of EVERYONE! A hospital room is not supposed to be a LIBRARY! I'm sure if one asked, one would be given a bible very easily. Not so sure of the other "holy" books.

[Behind the Aegis]

71. Not Catholic

I am in Oklahoma, I am sure there is a Catholic hospital here...probably in Tulsa. Catholics are as popular as Jews here (and that ain't very popular). The nurses were great, as they were the ONLY ones who would tell me what was going on. The doctors wouldn't even acknowledge me (as I am not a 'wife').

It was not pleasant at all. First, my partner was in horrible pain (a gas furnace blew up in his face), and, second, I couldn't get a straight answer. But, having the religion shoved in our faces was a bit much!

[bobbieinok]

86. in Tulsa: St Johns and St Francis

my dad was in St Johns a total of 8 months....it was very hard to find a nun there....there was one whose job it was to help the families who had someone in surgery.....she would check on progress,etc; this was EXTREMELY HELPFUL

[tkmorris]

43. Yes I would actually.

Are you a christian?

[XemaSab]

45. Why would this be offensive?

Mildly irritating, yes, but something to get upset about?

If I went to a hospital and there was a book of Mormon in the drawer, I really wouldn't worry about it.

If the issue was handing out Bibles to school children, I would feel differently, but this doesn't seem to be that big a deal.

[Qanisqineq]

56. as an atheist -- no, not offended by its presence

Just as long as nobody takes it out and starts reading it to me. Or, as long as no one comes in and starts preaching to me or tries to pray with me. I've been in hospitals where a nun or other religious person has come along, had a normal conversation, and then said that they would pray for my recovery and that was perfectly fine. But as long as it is not shoved down my throat or I am forced to participate, I have no problem.

I rarely notice Bibles in hotels or hospitals. I don't put anything in the drawers in case I forget about it. However if others are offended, I don't see a problem with the Bibles being kept some where else and the patients can request one if they want. And the same goes for holy books of any religion being available upon request.

[Carni]

75. No, personally I wouldn't be/but that superbug thing kind of freaks me out

If the spreading of germs is actually part of the rationale then IMO the hospitals have a damned good reason to ban them.

Perhaps these religious charities could provide a fresh NEW bible to patients free of charge if there is a need.

[wickerwoman]

78. Yes, it's predatory.

People in hospitals are sick and often scared about what's going to happen to them. The Bibles are placed there to catch people when they are feeling vulnerable and uncertain. As an atheist, I find that predatory, tacky and offensive.

What's wrong with keeping Bibles in the church and delivering them on request? Absolutely nothing. But the fundies will push and push for bedsides because they know the whole point is to grab new people when they're down.

[Zhade]

84. Absolutely. It's an unwelcome assumption.

That assumption being "you are Christian". I am not.

[tmorelli415]

8. Not even worth responding to this garbage!

[Deep13]

14. Um, flesh-eating super-bug!!

Holy Jesus Christ, if there is a danger of that then burn the damn things!

[progressivebydesign]

18. I'm not Christian, and I'm not offended by them.

I don't choose to read them, I don't have a problem if they're there. Now if a nurse picks it up and starts evangelizing me.. then we have a problem. But otherwise not worth getting your hospital gown in a knot over it. That's the kind of shit, even though it's not started with the Democrats, that the rightwinger everpersecuted (in their minds) American christians will use as proof that they are being martyrd.

[Payback Time]

22. It's a good idea if it's about germ control

Otherwise, Christians may not be ready for it. With the power struggle in the U.S., it would not fly here. Although the Bible has truth, beauty and wisdom in it, it is still very restrictive as people take it way too literally. So much of it was created by the mind of men! It is holding us back from the greater and more gentle spirituality that will encompass earth in the future Golden Age (I am hoping). Check out http://www.kryon.com/k_chanelDC05.html
This is channeled information and many might ridicule it but there are things here that may ring true for you :-)

[UCLA Dem]

21. Can you feel a fundie uproar coming...??

[Sandpiper]

25. If you want to read the bible in the hospital

Why not bring your own, or have a family member bring one to you?

Why do so many Christians think they have some sort of inalienable right to be regaled with bibles, crosses, and Christian symbols everywhere they go?

[uppityperson]

31. Keep them in the hospital chapel and have 1 delivered if you want.

Every hospital I have been involved with has a chapel, a quiet room for people to go to for reflection. Store bibles, korans, Book of the Dead, etc there and have them available to people who might want them. Then sterilze them or discard them or send them home with whomever uses them. The Gideons might break even financially, not having to have a book in every room, yet sending home books with readers. Or charge them. No need to have 1 in every room soaking up nasty germs and spreading disease of the lord.

[Chovexani]

34. That's how it should be done. (n/t)

[PsychoDad]

77. Not a bad idea .

Pretty good one....

Would require those offering the books to be in touch with the Hospital chaplin to supply the demand as needed, and hopefuly the chaplin isn't a fundy of some stripe.

Maybe we can start a multi-religious book service to hospitals :D

[Chovexani]

32. It's about proselytizing

Every tenth person that gets saved, they get a toaster. :P

Seriously, the Christian paraphrenalia isn't for them, it's for us unwashed, heathen masses. I also think the fundies have serious entitlement issues. My otherwise sensible liberal Democrat mom gets nuts when it comes to the trappings (esp. around the winter holidays). I always ask her how she'd feel if, everywhere she went there were Hindu shrines, pentacles, etc. and if she didn't agree with those things that she would be made like a second-class citizen. Without missing a beat, she says stuff like, "but this is a Christian nation, people need to stop whining and trying to get rid of Christian symbols everywhere." Way to miss the point.

I think fundies have this sincere belief that the world revolves around them and their Christianity because it is the only true religion, etc. And that anyone who thinks otherwise needs to suck it up and deal. At the root of it is a profound self-righteousness and sense of entitlement.

[daleo]

30. We got Gideon Bibles at junior high school in my callow youth

My friends and I, being rebellious 13 year olds, discovered that they made serviceable hockey pucks for basement floor hockey games.

But, if you are sick enough to be in hospital, you shouldn't even be thinking of floor hockey.

[Merlin]

38. Muslims & Jews share the same bible as Christians (OT)

Just wrote about this fascinating, little known fact last week.

Muslims trace their own biblical lineage to Abraham. The aged Abraham was paterfamilias of the Jews through his son, Isaac, by 100 year old wife, Sarah. But Abraham also had a slightly older son (by Sarah's maid, Hagar, with Sarah's consent). Call him Ishmael.

Though "god" "promised" Abraham that both his sons would become a "father of many nations," we hear no more of Ishmael for the rest of the book.

That part of the OT was written down in about 900 b.c.e., based upon tribal lore and legend dating back another thousand years or so at least.

About 1,500 years later comes the latter day "prophet" Muhammed who "discovers" that his people, the Arabs, were the descendants of -- who else -- Ishmael! It was, in fact, this ingenious claim of lineage made by Muhammed in the 7th century c.e., that, along with the powerful, poetic Quran, energized his new Muslim religion.

Until then, the Arabs of that era felt themselves to be at an enormous cultural disadvantage to the Jews who were steeped in the vainglorious belief that they were the chosen ones. Now, with this assertion that they, themselves, also descend from Abraham, the Arabs at once vaulted--in spiritual fervor--into a position of equality with the Jews, with whom they now lay collective claim--under the Old Testament--to the encomium "Chosen People of God."

Of course all of it is pretentious myth, lore and legend. The bible is a collection of writings that are, by turns, poetic, vile, obtuse, wise, hate-filled, charitable, vicious, loving, vindictive, generous, mad and ingenious. Any claim that these works were "written by" or "dictated by" or in any other sense the product of the Creator of the Universe is the most absurd, irrational pile of horseshit ever foisted upon the feeble mind of mankind.

[Igel]

69. And Houston shares the same yellow pages with Dallas.

Both yellow, probably have a lot of the same names and phone numbers (not necessarily matched up in the same way), similar layouts, printed, perfect bound.

There are lots of similarities, but saying they're the same is stretching the truth way past the point that it snaps.

[Catchawave]

40. What about that Gideon bible in my cheap hotel room?

I'd rather have a munchie or two. Hope this helps!

[LizW]

42. Don't mind the Bibles, but

I really get uncomfortable with the hospital chaplains that come in and want to pray with you every day. I don't pray in public, it makes me uncomfortable. But you don't want to be rude to these people who think they are doing good. (Who needs bad karma when you're already in the hospital, you know?) But it's annoying that they just assume that everyone shares their faith and likes to practice it in groups in public.

[Bridget Burke]

47. Most hospitals ask your religion when you are admitted (or earlier).

Hospitals in the US, that is. Perhaps you could leave that part blank? If they still come to call, see if there are Patient Advocates--or some such--who'd send a polite message that you'd rather not see a Chaplain.

Chaplains can do good work in hospitals for those who need them. Let the chaplains bring any religous reading that's requested. Some hospitals serve such a wide variety of faiths that a whole library would be needed by each bed--and most hospital rooms don't have that much extra space.

That "flesh eating bacteria" thing really tears it for me.

[Coexist]

44. no big deal, instead of a bible, post a sign

that says that free bibles are available, just ask your nurse or candy striper for one. When they remove them after a patient leaves the hospital they can disinfect it, or the Gideons can supply new ones for each patient if its that important to them.

Gee that's some tough, divisive issue there.

[DuaneBidoux]

46. What if, instead we added some other religious books?

I hate to see it come down to this kind of BS. People use religion for comfort, true or false, and it has meaning to people. This is the kind of stuff that gets the left into big trouble.

As an agnostic I can live with Bibles in hotel rooms (and have noticed that frequently now they actually open the Bible in the hotel room to some chapter like John 3:16). I just close the Bible, take it off the table, and place it in the drawer.

Nobody ever promised we could have a world that is continually non-offensive to our sensibilities--hell every time I see Bush's picture I want to vomit. As much as I would love to have all pictures of the idiot removed I know it would never/should never, happen.

[damntexdem]

48. But what about those who want one? And where can I find my ...

Necronomicon?

[HockeyMom]

50. Never saw a Bible in hospital room

I was in 3 times. Twice to have my kids (Salvation Army Hospital) and once for my ectopic pregnancy (Catholic Hospital). Nope, no Bibles. Priest came in to see me in the Catholic one and wanted to say the rosary with me (don't get me started with that one again), but no Bible.

[silverweb]

51. It should be about the bacteria.

The article, I think, has played up the religious angle and the Gideons/fundies, et al, are making it an issue, but the real issue here should be the risk of contamination.

"HOSPITAL chiefs are considering removing bedside Bibles because of concerns about offending non-Christians and spreading the superbug MRSA."

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staph aureus) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci) are the two most prevalent "superbugs" at this time, but there are others, as well. I see a lot of infectious disease reports and necrotizing tissue infections range from skin, to lungs and other internal organs, to bone -- and they can be deadly.

The idea suggested of storing various religious texts in the hospital chapel and distributing them upon request, then sterilizing or incinerating them, is the best and safest idea. To be honest, I'm not even sure if sterilizing them would be 100% effective at this point. If they're handled by a patient with known infectious illness, they should probably be incinerated afterwards.

[Bridget Burke]

54. Yes--there's something about that phrase: "Flesh Eating Bacteria"

Why don't they keep various religious texts in the Chaplains' office? They can be distributed as needed & the patients can take them home! Surely, religious groups would be glad to replenish the supplies.

[truthisfreedom]

52. they might consider irradiating them between patients.

i'd personally prefer a nice book on electronics.

[ima_sinnic]

57. I am a non-religious person but I am not offended by Gideon bibles

in the least. They are part of the "package" in a hotel room and I just skip over the bible to get to the free stationery. I couldn't care less about seeing one next to a bed in the hospital, if I could ever afford to stay in a hospital. But it'd be nice if they put some other kinds of reading matter there, too, even People magazine (though of course something weightier, like The Nation, or The Progressive, would be far preferable!), because I am an obsessive reader and would hate to have to fall back on the bible in desperation.

[MetalFingersDOOM]

62. Ridiculous..

I'm no Christian, but this is really absurd. No one is forcing patients to actually read the Bibles.

[rainbow4321]

63. Forget banning Bibles, get docs and staff to WASH their hands

Working in the hospital I see it everyday...people go from patient to patient without washing their hands. Doctors are the worst.

People may wear gloves and a gown (if it is convenient for them at the time) but they don't wash their hands, they don't have any kind of shoe covers, certain items in the patient room/bathrooms don't get washed down after the pt leaves. Patients' visitors don't follow strict handwashing when they come and go. Would be interesting to culture elevator buttons to see what is on them. There was a recent study that cultured the hospital computer keyboards and found MRSA and VRE. Both last for days/weeks on hard surfaces <counters, keyboards,etc...>

We have to drag the computers into all the pt's rooms to scan their armbands before giving them any medication, yet I never see anyone totally wiping down the computer-on-wheels from top to bottom after it has been in the MRSA or VRE room.


Long term care facilities in our area are full of MRSA/VRE (a friend of mine is a case manager at one and has said they have hallways full of people on isolation).

If facilities are going to get serious about stopping the spread of these diseases, they need to look elsewhere cuz books at the bedside are not the root of the problem!

[Deja Q]

65. OMG, we're persecuting them evangelicals once again!

:eyes:

Get a frigging clue talibornagains, special rights are not equal rights. They're making things equal, so stop trying to make things special (for you, at the cost of everyone else.)

[Igel]

70. It's a reasonable thing to do to prevent disease (I assume they're

properly disinfecting the tv remote, the carpet, curtains, and walls between patients, or at least at regular intervals? ... ummm ... probably not.)

If that's the reason, most people, fundies included, won't mind. But they will, because the other, less justifiable reason, has already been mentioned. There's no way to say it's not part of the equation.

The idea of saying the hospital wants to cater to a particular brand of intolerance, and not others, is pernicious.

[Horse with no Name]

81. In Britain they do

They take these threats seriously--much more than we do in the states.
They have MRSA in almost epidemic proportions. They are doing what they can to prevent patient-patient spread of the disease.
The docs there are even asking for isolation wards to keep the disease from being spread to the uninfected patient population.
This isn't a religious argument.

[thebigidea]

74. good thing its not for us or even Bill O' Reilly to decide

let the individual hospitals decide, nobody else has a stake in it. I'm sure Hannity will get a few weeks worth of of programming out of this total nonissue.

Someone up above said we should save our ammo or something for another battle - but, since when WAS this a fight?

[Theduckno2]

79. Going to be in the hospital? BYOB

That's Bring Your Own Bible (no, not beer).:rofl: Or holy book of your choice. Or none at all.

Edit: Added, Or none at all.

[Horse with no Name]

82. UK is taking the MRSA epidemic seriously--unlike here

There are several steps that may be undertaken to minimise the spread of MRSA between patients.


Hospital staff should wash their hands scrupulously, preferably using antibacterial soap and disposable towels.


Patients colonised or infected with MRSA may be kept away from other patients by being placed in separate rooms, either alone or with other patients who also have MRSA. Access to such rooms should be restricted to essential personnel.


Hospital staff should wear gloves and disposable gowns prior to having physical contact with MRSA patients. Before leaving the room, they should discard these safely, and wash their hands.


Visitors and carers likely to have a lot of physical contact with patients should also wear disposable gloves and gowns. All visitors should wash their hands before leaving the room.


MRSA can survive on inanimate objects or surfaces such as linen, sinks, floors and even mops used for cleaning. For this reason, areas where MRSA patients are nursed should be thoroughly cleaned using disinfectants.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/mrsa.htm