Deal: NJ nurses can skip aiding hospital abortions

A federal judge says a major New Jersey hospital and 12 nurses who claimed they were forced to assist in abortions over their religious and moral objections have reached a deal.

Attorneys for the nurses and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey met with U.S. District Judge Jose Linares in Newark on Thursday and hammered out an agreement on the nurses' lawsuit.

Linares says the deal allows the nurses to remain in their current positions and doesn't compel them to assist in any part of an abortion procedure — except in emergencies where no other staff is available.

The nurses had said UMDNJ changed its policies in September to require them to undergo training in assisting abortions or risk losing their jobs. The hospital denied those claims.

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