My first nude

To All:

I debated & debated with myself & others in the healthcare field, as to whether I should respond. My opinion is obviously not popular & some think I am moralistic & pompous. But in the end, I decided to respond because I feel so strongly about this issue.

My intentions were never to pass judgment on Marina or anyone else. My intentions were only to try to understand & try to protect (the patient's rights). Consider the peace pipe smoked! I harbor no ill feelings towards anyone with regard to their feelings, beliefs or opinions about me or my position. I can most certainly agree to disagree.

At the risk of sounding idealistic & moralistic (Alberto: I assure you, neither of which are my intentions), I feel obligated to explain my position, hopefully a little better. I obviously, did not do a very good job previously. Please, consider this:

As an experienced nurse (over 20 years), I came to realize that if I did my job well, I could convey to my patients that I had their best interests at heart & they would in turn honor me with their trust. Curiously, I discovered, most of my patients felt an unspoken obligation towards me. Many times they would go to great lengths to try to please me. Sometimes, they offered me gifts. Early into my career, I made it my policy to refuse all gifts, no matter how large or small. These gifts made me feel uncomfortable. I would explained to them that while I appreciated their gifts, I was obligated to refuse their gifts. I further explained that I felt that if I accepted their gifts, I would somehow be taking advantage of the delicate trust they so faithfully placed in me. Some understood, some did not, but all understood I was rejecting their gifts, not them as human beings. I also explained to them that by rejecting their gifts, it in no way had any effect on the level of care I would continue to give them in the future.

I feel all involved in the above discussion of this image may agree that the bond between a patient & any healthcare giver (in my case a nurse) is a special bond. I also feel that all of us who are healthcare givers may understand a little more fully just how precarious this bond can be. One step on either side of this bond and the result can be disastrous for both the patient and/or the healthcare giver.

Who's to decide what is right or wrong with regard to this image? Certainly, I can agree, it is not me. I am not able to remain neutral. To say I both understand & agree with all the statements made above would be a lie. I don't lie. I am painfully honest, I suspect Alberto is too. I can live with that. I respect those who stand their ground, no matter what they believe the truth to be, as long as they BELIEVE it is the truth. To say I apologize for my statements would also be a lie. I apologized only if I had upset anyone BY my statements, not FOR my statements.

Me? How do I see it? I see a blurred line. Marina, I respect your right to blur it, but I don't have to agree with it. At the risk of inciting new anger from all who don't agree with my opinion, I respectfully submit that by displaying a picture of your patient holding the sign, it blurred the line even further. I do not question if she did it freely of her own free will. I am sure she did it willingly and with great respect & support for you. The question remains, "Should you have allowed her to do this?" I honestly don't know. I can only say I would not have allowed it.

To all that read this:

This is my opinion. It is not offered as fact, only my opinion. Please respect my opinion & don't send me hate e-mail. I would NEVER send hate mail of any kind to anyone! I assure you I am not ignorant, nor intolerant. Neither am I a racist, nor pro-American or anti-any other country on the face of this earth. I love people in general, even those that don't agree with me. I try very hard to ask the right questions. Clearly, I am not always successful. But I will continue to ask them, I refuse to be intimidated. Ever!

Respectfully,

Jayme

It's a dangerous path and I think everyone who questioned marina was right to do so. Had it turned out something was awry (it wasn't) those who did not question because they did not feel the right/power to, would have been unable to forgive themselves.

We all have the right to an opinion, to challenge or to question. We have to, we need to.