While this may have seemed to be a gesture of good faith, it was found that Sarah Kuteh was breaking a code of conduct as determined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) rules. She repeatedly talked about her faith to other patients, unsolicited.
Sarah was then dismissed by Darent Valley Hospital after a patient complained about her behavior.
Sarah took this issue to court, but the court ruled in favor of the firing.
According to Daily Mail, the patient “had replied ‘open minded’ to the question on the form concerning religion and alleged the Claimant had told him that the only way he could get to the Lord was through Jesus.”
The court record elaborates on the incident.
“(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.”
Sarah maintains that she acted appropriately, requesting that there be distinction between appropriate and inappropriate expressions of religious beliefs in the code.
She also believes that the ruling is in direct conflict with her right to express her religious beliefs.
This is certainly a tricky situation. Many people would appreciate the comfort she could provide in discussing her religion, but that opinion is not universal. What do you think? Please share to get the conversation started!