Comments on: Texas Nurse on Trial for Reporting Malpractice

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:34:59 +0000

The police in this case overstepped their authority, in my opinion.

By: A Nurse

A Nurse — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:06:29 +0000

A nurse should first and always look out the welbeing of her patients. Should a fellow nurse or doctor endanger the welfare of a patient then it is that nurses responsibility to report the incident, truthfully and as thoroghly as she is capable of. This doctor found a place to work in a rural setting where he thought he could do as he pleased and not suffer the consequences of giving less the adequate care. Living in a rural area that has difficulty aquiring doctors does not mean these patients have less rights or that those rights can be violated. Nurses and doctors must be held accountable. Bullying these nurses for reporting the truth shows his character for what it is. The nurses reported to the medical board what they felt was a threat to their providing quality of care to their patients. The worst part is they felt they had to do this reporting anonymously,without their hospitals support. The nursing supervisor was attempting to protect her patients. Had one of these patients been seriously injured or died she would have been to blame for not reporting this same doctor. Ever wonder why there is a shortage of good nurses?

By: nursedouglas

nursedouglas — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:36:03 +0000

I believe those nurses did the right thing. It is our job to be patient advocates, and if it weren’t for brave nurses, like the above mentioned, more patients would be in danger. I applaud those nurses for doing the right thing and reporting the doctor. I do not feel that it was misuse of information because the reported it to the right place and DID NOT break any HIPPA laws! I hope more nurses have the courage to stand up for patients, and hope that in the future we’re not punished for doing our jobs! Thank you ladies and may god be with you!

By: Nurse

Nurse — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:13:43 +0000

As nurses, it is OUR JOB to report anyone, who is doing things out of their scope of practice Dr. or not.

By: mjfan

mjfan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:26:24 +0000

My understanding is that the nurse came across the information based on her position as the nursing supervisor. I don’t think she witnessed the items herself. From what I read, she dug up medical records to find the things against the doctor. That’s illegal.

By: Cat

Cat — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:32:23 +0000

This is why nurses, the best people to see malpractice, so often don’t report it – fear of the clout doctors have. That doctor will keep iy up til he kills someone and the nurses’ careers are ruined. in what way was information “illegally obtained” if they reported things they witnessed?

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:34:37 +0000

These nurses deserve thanks for being willing to go out on a limb to advocate for the patient welfare. He wasn’t harassed. He was reported for poor medical practice.

By: rozee

rozee — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:48:40 +0000

mjfan, What these nurses did was not illegal. They did not violate HIPPA, nor did they harrass the doctor. They voiced their concerns to the appropriate persons, their voices ignored. They acted well within legal bounds in reporting their concerns. They were illegally retaliated against by being fired for being “whistle-blowers.” The standards of care were violated in patient care- and so they had reason to report their concerns. The case was dropped against Vickilyn Galle. Today Anne Mitchell stands trial.

By: mjfan

mjfan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:37:25 +0000

Um, just cuz she found out something doesn’t mean she can harrass him. It’s also wrong to use illegal info to file against someone. The doctor messes up. But what Vickilyn did was illegal. My two cents.