I have had three separate instances when "medical practitioners" have "offered" similar "religious services" and I can state without hesitation that in each case their offer was OFFENSIVE to me, by the "innocent" manner in which it was given (i.e their conviction that they were "doing good" when they weren't) and by their ASSumptions about my own belief and need for NON-MEDICAL "assistance."

As I recognize that these were "acts done in ignorance" I declined (I think politely) their offers. In two of the cases my indication of disinterest resulted only in a "reluctant and disdainful" agreement to cease, which probably I should have reported but didn't.

In a separate incident, while being prepared for cardiac surgery and after initial administration of pre-anesthetic, the anesthetist appeared, as is usual. The purpose of such a pre-op visit is to inform the patient about the procedures to be used, any risks attendant, and to assure informed consent of the patient.

Instead of discussion of the pending surgery, this person decided that I needed a moral lecture about my dissolute life-style, something he ASSumed without foundation, and which - at any rate - was none of his business since I had three other qualified practitioners to advise me on the subjects he wanted to preach to me.

When I interupted his "well intenioned" sermon to ask "How does this relate to the surgery that is about to be done" he got mad and left.

That made me feel really confident about having him participate in what was fairly high-risk surgery, but at that point there was little I could do about it.

While I'm quite certain that in his own feeble (note: sarcasm) mind he was sure that he had fulfilled the intent of the customary pre-op meeting, I felt his conduct did not include the intended consultation and was unprofessional enough that I made written reports of his conduct to my own two principal doctors with interest in the procedure, with the request that I not ever be attended by this person in the future. I did not report his conduct to the hospital, although I probably should have.

While I can be moderately forgiving of persons who "project their beliefs" in addition to performing their professional obligations, I have found that such persons invariable do inject "unprofessional" aspects into the overal handling of the patient. I also have found, irrefutably, that persons who feel compelled to "express their belief" are TOTALLY IGNORANT of how offensive they are, unnecessarily, to their VICTIMS.

In the case under discussion, the old lady's assertion that "she wasn't offended but others might be" means that she WAS VERY MUCH OFFENDED but she's a sweet old lady who didn't want to cause trouble, just as the common "I've got lots of friends who are ****" is a SURE AND CERTAIN INDICATION of poorly concealed bigotry.

Only those with full knowledge of what actually happened - and with knowledge of the persons involved - are qualified to render judgement in this case, as to whether an offense occured or as to the appropriateness of the punishment; but I have no problems with believing that the nurse quite likely exceeded the boundaries of professional conduct, based on what is included in the reports.

John