In response to Roe Vs. Wade being overturned last week after it was found to be unconstitutional by a conservative majority of 5-4, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in Illinois is out of a job after she sent out a viral tweet explaining she would no longer prescribe “Viagra” to “white” men who vote conservative.
BREAKING: Registered nurse Shawna Harris, who said she prescribes meds based on the political affiliation of her patients, has resigned. https://t.co/5MZRttNtzt
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 27, 2022
The nurse was identified by @Libsoftiktok as Shawna Harris, who sent out the “discriminatory” tweet from her now-deleted Twitter account @shawnalynn_75.
“I prescribe meds… I can also choose not to prescribe them. So… from now on… if you are a white male who votes conservative, your penis needs to ask God for the power to rise. No more viagra.” Oh my!
She crafted her tweet on Friday, hours after the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which overturned Roe v. Wade, ruling that there is no constitutional right to an abortion, and the right to privacy does not include that right.
After she was identified as a nurse at Sara Bush Lincoln Medical Center in Cole County, IL, the hospital condemned her comments on Sunday.
This is not the practice of Sarah Bush Lincoln. We provide care to everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race religious, etc. This is being addressed. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
— Sarah Bush Lincoln (@sarahbushnews) June 26, 2022
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“This is not the practice of Sarah Bush Lincoln. We provide care to everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race religious [sic], etc,” the hospital said. “This is being addressed. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.”
On Monday, Sarah Bush Lincoln announced that the nurse was no longer with the hospital noting that the APRN, “who posted a discriminatory message on social media over the weekend, has resigned.”
Shawna Harris issued an apology that was included in Sara Bush Lincoln’s announcement, acknowledging that her words were “hateful.”
“I am deeply sorry for my posts on social media. I allowed my personal feelings to spill out. Those hateful words are not aligned with how I have provided care to my patients. Sarah Bush Lincoln is a wonderful organization and my actions have tarnished its reputation. I have resigned and know my patients will be well cared for.”
“Our mission is to provide exceptional care to all,” said hospital President and CEO Jerry Eckler. “That means we provide care to everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation disability, income, national origin, cultural personal values, beliefs and preferences.”
“Our mission is woven throughout our fabric and discriminatory practices are not tolerated,” he added. “We are sorry this issue has caused turmoil.”
As soon as the news broke that Roe Vs. Wade had been overturned, abortion was automatically outlawed in 18 US states, thanks to specially devised “trigger laws” and historic bans that were automatically reenacted after Friday’s ruling.
Abortion bans in those states will now become law within 30 days unless they are blocked by state judges.
A Louisiana judge on Monday temporarily blocked the state from banning abortions despite its trigger law, and a judge in Utah followed closely behind, blocking that state’s ban for 14 days.
I suspect there will be weeks, if not months, of fallout as a result of this historical Supreme Court ruling. But let us just hope that health care providers don’t start losing their collective minds to the point where their better judgment is overruled by their emotions.