GRAND RAPIDS -- While many are lining up to get the H1N1 shot, there's a controversy brewing at a Grand Rapids hospital.
One hospital worker, who comes in contact with patients as a part of her job, is refusing to get the vaccine because of her religious beliefs.
Rachel Denherder, a respiratory therapist at Helen Devos Children's Hospital, says, "in September [the hospital] sent a letter stating to us we had until November 30th to be compliant and to get the flu shot. They said we could sign a medical exemption waiver."
She decided to fill one out, basing it on her religious beliefs and the First Amendment of the Constitution. To her surprise, the hospital emailed her back, stating they were refusing that reason to avoid the vaccination.
Denherder says her belief that God created mankind in His image prevents her from putting anything considered to be toxic in her body. She considers the H1N1 vaccine to be toxic.
The medical community says the vaccine is not toxic, and is a life-saver. They state tens of thousands of people die every year from the seasonal flu. Protecting patients is why a spectrum health spokesman says the system is now requiring all employees -- full or part time -- to take the shots.
Curt Benson, a professor at Cooley Law School says the hospital have the right to require employees to get the shot. He says most employee contracts include the ability for hospitals to enforce their employees to get shots or take measures to prevent illness in the patients.
Benson says beliefs often conflict with laws and policies. He says you have to weigh the interests- in this case, one person's religious beliefs versus a wider patient safety concerns.
"Ultimately the final arbiter unfortunately for her is the employer they're going to say we respect your beliefs but responsibility to our patient is paramount and therefore we're going to err on the side of our patient and not you," Benson states.
Denherder says she and her husband are prepared for the possibility that she'll be out of work by the end of the month. "I didn't feel like I wanted to be bullied into getting a shot,” she stated. “It's a disappointment. I'm not sure if I'm ready to give up on my career. I love my job; I love what I do there. It brings me great joy, but I have to take a stand on what I believe in."
Denherder says she does have the other shots the hospital requires because she was vaccinated as a child.
