BenJCarter,

Try saying “sh!t, f*ck, c*nt” [the first time I tried to write the full words but my free speech was limited by the blog engine - seems this soap box has limitations too, BenJ] on network TV and see if there are laws restricting your free speech. The constitution isn’t as powerful as we’d like to think, and saying you’ll do something just because you can is the attitude that gives America problems like Iraq.

Which reminds me: remember GWB and his warrantless wiretaps? Another case of losing a freedom we supposedly had.

You've got to be kidding. 2 of the European picks are decades old and the third is a libel case. Some Western European countries have arguably better freedom of speech protection than Americans (for example, there is far less FCC-style regulation and no-one cares if you burn a flag). We should be more concerned about the egregious problems in countries where free speech really is threatened.

Here in the US we have our fair share of free speech limitations and we ought to be slower to brandish our brilliance before others. Time, manner and place restrictions are more limiting than one might think, while incitement to hatred which is punishable in other countries could do with being addressed here. The likes of the Westboro Baptist Church idiots may be taken as fools, but there are plenty of religious people with great power whose words cause violence towards gays, abortion clinic workers, blacks, etc.

Let's not wag our fingers at others without considering our own flaws.

It's only fair to point out that she'd been warned before for committing a similar infraction.

I'm Christian but I understand that as a physician I leave my religion at the door. If I think a person would benefit from a prayer then I can do it in my head or on my own time. If a patient asks for a prayer or asks me to pray with them, then that's a different matter.

Let's not be so naive as to think there aren't some Christians (and people of other faiths) who could react badly to someone professing atheism. I've seen it happen and would not trust that a person would be guaranteed the same standard of care afterwards.

Back in Ireland I have friends whose relatives were abused, both physically and sexually, by religious clergy and the idea of something like this happening to them would really upset them. They wouldn't want religion brought up in conversation, particularly not when they are ill.

Professionals follow policies and codes of conduct to protect their patients/clients and themselves. The whole thing was initiated by the nurse. She knew the rules and broke them, repeatedly, so she has to face the consequences. End of story.