Comments on: Nurse faces 10 years in prison for reporting doc’s malpractice

By: Carol Katarsky

Carol Katarsky — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:38:47 +0000

There is another follow-up story regarding the verdict here: http://healthexecnews.com/breaking-whistleblower-nurse-acquitted-of-charges

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:37:02 +0000

This has already come back as not guilty. The jury ruled quickly. This article didn’t mention it, but the sheriff was also in business with Dr. Arafiles. He was not in this as some sort of life debt. As always, follow the money. It was a homeopathic supplement business. I might guess that prescribing his own products over those for standard practice played some part in the initial charges, but I don’t know for sure. There again, I advise investigators to follow the money.

By: Lisa Vieira

Lisa Vieira — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:43:13 +0000

I would like to follow the case. please post any updates.

By: Leslie P

Leslie P — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:32:25 +0000

I live in San Diego, California and have been a nurse almost 15yrs. I am sad to say that retaliation towards nurses who speak out against patient safety issues and discriminatory practices is a regular occurrence in 3 health-care/biomedical systems.

It is a no win situation for nurses-if you speak out you are black balled and labeled as “not being a team player, difficult”; if you ignore the unsafe and illegal practices you keep your job (most likely given a job promotion) but risk loosing your license, being sued, a patient being seriously harmed (or die) and compromising your morale values.

How can I continue to do what I love-Nursing-but protect myself legally?
Last comment: I applaud these two nurses. Their selfless acts are protecting and saving patients.

By: Karen Grinmanis, MS/Ed, RN

Karen Grinmanis, MS/Ed, RN — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:23:31 +0000

This really is absurd. There was no “misuse” of protected information. The names of patients were removed and the substandard care delivered was reported as it should have been.
According to the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, “The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient, and “The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving healthcare environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.”
Both of these nurses acted within the scope of the profession by reporting this MD. As far as loosing their employment as a result maybe not a bad thing, why continue employment at a facility that allows substandard care to be delivered? Wonder if Medicare or Medicaid paid for this substandard care?

By: HealthExecNews.com » Blog Archive » Breaking: Whistleblower nurse acquitted of charges

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:12:55 +0000

[...] compliance officer at Winkler County Memorial Hospital, was charged by the county prosecutor after the doctor she reported for suspected malpractice said he felt “harassed” by her allegations. She had previously anonymously reported Dr. [...]

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:14:16 +0000

I am enraged that this even happened in the first place. Absolutely unbelievable that nurses, who took an oath to be patient advocates would even be considered on charges of this nature. Nurses are first and foremost there for patient safety and patient rights. Sounds to me like there is a lot that needs to be investigated in regards to the sheriff as well as the hospital itself. I find it highly interesting that the third nurse who also reported things to the medical board never received anything. Sounds to me like the hospital itself is a little more than sneaky and underhanded. Maybe it is time for a federal investigation into the practices as a whole there. Nurses as a whole do overlook a lot of things that should be considered as shody practice…. the hospital should be so lucky to have a nursing staff who cares enough to report a Doctor who gives them a less than sparkling reputation!!!! Appauling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:13:36 +0000

Sounds like the Sheriff needs to be investigated. This is an outrage! I can only imagine what the nurses did turn a blind eye too up to this point. The hospital should stand by them since this doc has had problems before. What’s next for the rest of us? We are taught to be patient advocates and where does it get us?

By: Carol Katarsky

Carol Katarsky — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:48:07 +0000

To “Just my two cents”: In response to your question, Mitchell was the hospital’s compliance officer at the time she sent the letter to the medical board. As far as I can tell, she continued to hold that position until she was fired.

By: Judy Buckley

Judy Buckley — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:10:12 +0000

Wonder if this hospital is accredited under the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Hospitals? I also applaud this nurse for having the courage to stand up and report this. The doctor sounds like he has a sense of entitlement the size of Montana – not least because of his support by the sheriff. Talk about conflice of interest. The doc and the sheriff and the hospital officials need to be taken down a peg. Obviously, this kind of retaliation discourages reporting of future events. I hope the court finds in favor of this nurse and that she and the second nurse win their countersuit.