Update: Whistle-Blowing Nurse Acquitted
Posted on 15. Feb, 2010 in News Stories
A nurse who was on trial for illegally using information to report a doctor to the medical board was acquitted last week by a jury.
Anne Mitchell, a former nurse administrator at Winkler County Hospital, was on trial after she and her fellow nurse Vicki Galle wrote an anonymous letter to the Texas Medical Board. In the letter, they expressed their concerns regarding Dr. Rolando G. Arafiles. The county sheriff, a friend of Dr. Arafiles, investigated and discovered their identities.
Although Vicki’s case was later dropped, Anne went to trial. Prosecutors attempted to prove unsuccessfully that Anne had a personal motive for reporting the doctor.
Anne and Vicki have filed a federal lawsuit against the doctor, Winkler County, the sheriff, and prosecutor for vindictive and malicious prosecution.
This is an update of a previous news story: Texas Nurse on Trial for Reporting Malpractice.
What_The_Heck
Feb 17th, 2010
YES! This is great that she was released from this ridiculous charge. I hope Dr’s of the unethical type will take this as a wake up call that they can and will be watched and have to be accountable.
Danielle
Feb 27th, 2010
SERIOUSLY….the texas prosecutors should BE ASHAMED good use of texan dollars!!!! Hmmmm first Bush then this must be the water LOL
Margaran
Mar 11th, 2010
Both the Sheriff and the prosecutor deserve jail time. Perhaps the citizenry & local government will choose more carefully when these lawsuits start costing them money.