(no subject)
ugh so the stupid govt introduced this stupid law where health workers will be required to report gunshot and stabbing victims to the police.
i sent Hi. I'm an RN at adult ER - HSC (currently on maternity leave). I was reading in the paper today about the government intent to pass a law requiring docs and other health care workers to report to the police when victims of stabbing or shootings come to emerg to get treatment. I'm wondering if MNU is planning on doing anything about this. It seems to me like a law such as this puts nurses in a position of violating patient autonomy and confidentiality. It also seems like we're being asked to turn victims of violence over to the police for no reason other then them being victims. People know the police are there - if they want to report violence against them they will. Its not up to me as a front-line worker to make that decision for them or put them in a position where they are forced to talk to officers regardless of their wishes. I know i have had patients before who come in seriously ill from infections, because they were afraid to come to the hospital when they were injured - thinking that we would report them to the police. Whether they be victims of domestic abuse, have had criminal problems in the past - whatever - the hospital should be a safe place where people should expect to be treated for injuries without fear of being judged or reported. I know that such a law would make me extremely uncomfortable going to work. Its my job to provide people with care, and I would not be able to justify working as an arm of law enforcement. I know that the principles of patient confidentiality and the right to treatment would make it impossible for me to comply with such a law - thus putting myself in a position of breaking the law and loosing my license.
I am hoping you are planning on doing something against this law before they pass it. thanks, Kellee Hodge, Local 10
to my union and
I was reading today in the paper about the govt introducing a law requiring health workers to report gunshot and stabbing victims to the police, and Ive been reeling about it all day. I wrote to the MNU and CRNM, but I'm wondering if you know if theres something that can actually be done about it. Its completely insane to me. If I wanted to police patients i would have become a cop, not a nurse. Its not my job to determine if victims of violence need to report them to police - our patients know the police exist and how to contact them. People already don't come in until they have infections or complications that could have been avoided because they fear we'll call police on them. All this is going to do is further deter people from seeking medical care. I think its a total breach of confidentiality and patient autonomy, and i don't like the idea of choosing between that or breaking the law.
to one of the docs at my work who is also a medical ethics prof and got two responses (one from the president of MNU which makes me feel better about them) saying there aint shit we can do. so im thinking of resigning from er but i dont know and it all makes me so mad that im actually loosing at dr mario. apparently my union has been asking for a copy of the bill so they can see it and the govt been ignoring them, but gave the college of physician and surgeons a copy, who gave it a thumbs up. im so angry.
also the anarchy-festival people here are co-sponsering with exchange biz, who have a foot patrol they say functions as the 'eyes and ears of the winnipeg police service'. being the most dogmatic group of people ive ever me, im appalled they would do this. i guess dogmas only good when your using it to bring other people down a few notches, and should be shelved when it benefits you. fucking winnipeg
ive spent the day on a wild goose chase with my wretched evil grandmother and im in a foul mood. otherwise things are awesome.
i sent Hi. I'm an RN at adult ER - HSC (currently on maternity leave). I was reading in the paper today about the government intent to pass a law requiring docs and other health care workers to report to the police when victims of stabbing or shootings come to emerg to get treatment. I'm wondering if MNU is planning on doing anything about this. It seems to me like a law such as this puts nurses in a position of violating patient autonomy and confidentiality. It also seems like we're being asked to turn victims of violence over to the police for no reason other then them being victims. People know the police are there - if they want to report violence against them they will. Its not up to me as a front-line worker to make that decision for them or put them in a position where they are forced to talk to officers regardless of their wishes. I know i have had patients before who come in seriously ill from infections, because they were afraid to come to the hospital when they were injured - thinking that we would report them to the police. Whether they be victims of domestic abuse, have had criminal problems in the past - whatever - the hospital should be a safe place where people should expect to be treated for injuries without fear of being judged or reported. I know that such a law would make me extremely uncomfortable going to work. Its my job to provide people with care, and I would not be able to justify working as an arm of law enforcement. I know that the principles of patient confidentiality and the right to treatment would make it impossible for me to comply with such a law - thus putting myself in a position of breaking the law and loosing my license.
I am hoping you are planning on doing something against this law before they pass it. thanks, Kellee Hodge, Local 10
to my union and
I was reading today in the paper about the govt introducing a law requiring health workers to report gunshot and stabbing victims to the police, and Ive been reeling about it all day. I wrote to the MNU and CRNM, but I'm wondering if you know if theres something that can actually be done about it. Its completely insane to me. If I wanted to police patients i would have become a cop, not a nurse. Its not my job to determine if victims of violence need to report them to police - our patients know the police exist and how to contact them. People already don't come in until they have infections or complications that could have been avoided because they fear we'll call police on them. All this is going to do is further deter people from seeking medical care. I think its a total breach of confidentiality and patient autonomy, and i don't like the idea of choosing between that or breaking the law.
to one of the docs at my work who is also a medical ethics prof and got two responses (one from the president of MNU which makes me feel better about them) saying there aint shit we can do. so im thinking of resigning from er but i dont know and it all makes me so mad that im actually loosing at dr mario. apparently my union has been asking for a copy of the bill so they can see it and the govt been ignoring them, but gave the college of physician and surgeons a copy, who gave it a thumbs up. im so angry.
also the anarchy-festival people here are co-sponsering with exchange biz, who have a foot patrol they say functions as the 'eyes and ears of the winnipeg police service'. being the most dogmatic group of people ive ever me, im appalled they would do this. i guess dogmas only good when your using it to bring other people down a few notches, and should be shelved when it benefits you. fucking winnipeg
ive spent the day on a wild goose chase with my wretched evil grandmother and im in a foul mood. otherwise things are awesome.