title: [Ethical dilemma in the Women's Hospital of Basle. Diaconesses took a stand on abortions].
abstract: In the 1940s there occurred an ethical conflict in the Women's Hospital of Basle. It arose in the context of a shortage of nurses, the introduction of the Swiss national criminal law, the change of the hospital director, the increase of abortion and the nursing ideal of obedience and serving. The conflict showed the social change towards measures of birth control such as abortion and sterilisation. Different political opinions and strong convictions clashed. The paper is focusing on denominationally affiliated nurses, the deaconesses of Riehen, who were standing between the religious conviction to protect unborn life and the professional principle of unconditional nursing. Finally they decided to leave the hospital.
authors.affiliation: Büro für Sozialgeschichte, Dornacherstrasse 192, CH-4053 Basel. sbraunschweig@vtxmail.ch
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braunschweig
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000266:history*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000266:history*; D016519:Hospitals, Religious / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000266:history*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000266:history*; D013557:Switzerland