[PANurseRN1]

Originally Posted by Nemhain

This story is disturbing. Too bad they won't get jail time. Hopefully they'll never work as CNAs again. Kudos to their employer for being so quick about alerting the authorities and the patient's family and not attempting to keep it quiet.

This is why I think ALL health care facilities should prohibit employees from bringing ANY type of camera into work. Got a cell phone or PDA with a camera built in? Leave it at home. Some work places already have these rules.

The previous hospital I worked at banned all cell phones because so many had the camera function; admin. was afraid of HIPAA violations.

[angelbaby82]

Yes, thats pretty sick to do that to a elderly woman! I hope god gets them!

[Jess1983]

*speechless*

[Faeriewand]

I am shocked that these girls participated in this behavior. I just got my CNA certification in May after completing 5 months in school going 4 days a week. We learned all about hippa and maintaining the patient's dignity. I can only imagine that their schooling was not as thorough.

It's good to know that there are people out there who stand up for and protect the rights of the elderly. Kudos to that employee and to the Healthcare facility for doing the right thing.

I would like to know what the punishment/sentence will be for those two.

[mercyteapot]

Actually, there is no good reason that these girls should have needed to be told about HIPAA to know that what they've done is a violation of this woman's dignity. They obviously didn't care.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Originally Posted by Nemhain

This is why I think ALL health care facilities should prohibit employees from bringing ANY type of camera into work. Got a cell phone or PDA with a camera built in? Leave it at home. Some work places already have these rules.

I've had a cell phone/camera for years and no way am I leaving it home, so that idea for legislation is as unenforceable as it is unrealistic.

I'm appalled that CNAs, who've supposedly had training in respecting the rights of patients, would even think to do such a thing.

[Nemhain]

Originally Posted by Angie O'Plasty, RN

I've had a cell phone/camera for years and no way am I leaving it home, so that idea for legislation is as unenforceable as it is unrealistic.

I'm appalled that CNAs, who've supposedly had training in respecting the rights of patients, would even think to do such a thing.

The idea is quite enforceable and realistic. My cousin works at a hospital in Maine and if a device that is capable of taking a picture (camera/phone/pda) is brought out onto the floor (said devices must be left in lounges/lunch rooms) the employee will be written up. Three such write-ups will result in the employees' termination.

[phil1968]

It is exactly these sort of situations that act to motivate legisaltors into action over a ferver. Does anyone really think that it was an isolated act? I can't imagine that they were the only ones who ever did that. A creative prosecutor could have come up with something to charge other than a misdemeanor. The poor woman was violated, as was her family. It is a shame that a signal was sent that if you do something like that, all you get is slap on the wrist.

[PANurseRN1]

Originally Posted by Faeriewand

I am shocked that these girls participated in this behavior. I just got my CNA certification in May after completing 5 months in school going 4 days a week. We learned all about hippa and maintaining the patient's dignity. I can only imagine that their schooling was not as thorough.

It's good to know that there are people out there who stand up for and protect the rights of the elderly. Kudos to that employee and to the Healthcare facility for doing the right thing.

I would like to know what the punishment/sentence will be for those two.

Their level of education is irrelevant. It wasn't education they were lacking, it was basic human decency.

[mercyteapot]

What needs to happen to these very stupid girls is for the family to file a lawsuit against them. I realize they probably have no assets, but a lawsuit could put a lien against future earnings, and if they're driven into bankruptcy, so much the better. They'll learn that there ARE consequences to their behavior, even when the law isn't equipped to deal them out. I am sure there will be a lawsuit against the facility, which will probably settle, but that sure isn't going to teach these girls a lesson.