Legality and Ethics of Terri's past nurses talking to the press

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I understand that nurses who took care of Terri Schaivo in the past are now going on some talk show circuits. Is this ethical for us as nurses to do this? Is the license of the nurse in jeapardy for doing this by FL law? Does HIPAA cover this that you all know of?

This whole case stinks. I am so torn between the two sides that I don't know what to think anymore. I wonder what King Solomon would have done?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Or, unless they have a consent form from the patient/family. That's why you always see doctors holding press conferences when celebrities are in the hospital (like Clinton's recent surgery). They obviously got a release form.

:coollook:

This is true, as we know all about Terri and her condition. But there's a difference between holding a press conference to give information about her condition, and nurses/CNA's being interviewed about what went on in private. Did Clinton's nurses go on TV and talk about what his wife did during his stay?

Who gave them the release form and permission to be interviewed?

Who gave them the release form and permission to be interviewed?

I'm not saying they actually have a release form. Obviously I don't know. But, if they do have it, it's legal, at least under HIPAA.

HIPAA doesn't specifiy what form the disclosure has to take. It only specifies that you need the consent form to do it.

For all we know, maybe they have a consent form.

:coollook:

Specializes in ER.

I think it is unethical at best for them to be discussing aspects of her care or their interaction with family. Obviously, if they were required by the courts to offer testimony or give depositions, it is a different story. But just to be "in on the action", I think is deplorable, and they should face some kind of sanctions. I don't know what the law on this is, and I have not heard first hand what any of them have said, and will not seek it out. Sounds too much like gossip.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I'm not saying they actually have a release form. Obviously I don't know. But, if they do have it, it's legal, at least under HIPAA.

HIPAA doesn't specifiy what form the disclosure has to take. It only specifies that you need the consent form to do it.

For all we know, maybe they have a consent form.

:coollook:

I know what you're saying. Even if I had a release form I still wouldn't talk to the press about a patient or their family. I only talk to family members with the patient's permission, or if they have the PIN #. Obviously, if I thoughtsomething criminal was going on I would follow the chain of command and report it to the police.

It still doesn't sit well with me and they aren't helping Terri. They are only adding fuel to rumors and gossip. Even if what they remember is the truth, by the time the press twists it around and it's spread all over the internet the "facts" are very skewed.

It still doesn't sit well with me and they aren't helping Terri. They are only adding fuel to rumors and gossip. Even if what they remember is the truth, by the time the press twists it around and it's spread all over the internet the "facts" are very skewed.

I agree. At the very least, it's distasteful, if not illegal.

:coollook:

My thoughts are that if these nurses are ethical and to be believed, why in the world didn't they speak up at the time the incident's were suppose to have happen. You bet if I would have found unexplained "needle marks" under a patients breast and arms I would have been bringing it to someones attention immediately not months/years later. Make me think they are only in it for fame and/or money

I understand that nurses who took care of Terri Schaivo in the past are now going on some talk show circuits. Is this ethical for us as nurses to do this? Is the license of the nurse in jeapardy for doing this by FL law? Does HIPAA cover this that you all know of?

This whole case stinks. I am so torn between the two sides that I don't know what to think anymore. I wonder what King Solomon would have done?

__________________

These nurses went to the police years ago. It was legal AND it was ethical.

Nurses who talk about their patients for any reason should be givien applications for Domino pizza.

They talk to us becuase its private...that is the social contract.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
my thoughts are that if these nurses are ethical and to be believed, why in the world didn't they speak up at the time the incident's were suppose to have happen. you bet if i would have found unexplained "needle marks" under a patients breast and arms i would have been bringing it to someones attention immediately not months/years later.

from:

key events in the case of theresa marie schiavo

http://www.miami.edu/ethics/schiavo/timeline.htm

march 29, 2004

nursing home workers discover 4 "fresh puncture wounds" on one arm and a fifth wound on the other arm; the workers state that a hypodermic needle appears to have caused the wounds. attendants discovered the wounds shortly after the schindlers visited terri schiavo for 45 minutes. toxicology reports indicate that no substance was injected into terri schiavo. clearwater police later conclude that the marks might have been made by a device used to move ms. schiavo and, in any case, that no evidence of abuse or other wrongdoing could be found.

st. petersburg times report (may 15, 2004)

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
My thoughts are that if these nurses are ethical and to be believed, why in the world didn't they speak up at the time the incident's were suppose to have happen. You bet if I would have found unexplained "needle marks" under a patients breast and arms I would have been bringing it to someones attention immediately not months/years later. Make me think they are only in it for fame and/or money

They did speak up back then. This case has been local news for years, with a smattering of national interest. It's only been recently that it's become a media frenzy nation wide. So it seems like some of this is new, but it's actually old news, digging up bones that have been buried and dealt with already. The press is good at that. What's interesting is where was the national frenzy the first time they pulled her tube?

I understand that nurses who took care of Terri Schaivo in the past are now going on some talk show circuits. Is this ethical for us as nurses to do this? Is the license of the nurse in jeapardy for doing this by FL law? Does HIPAA cover this that you all know of?

This whole case stinks. I am so torn between the two sides that I don't know what to think anymore. I wonder what King Solomon would have done?

I am so tired of hearing about this Terry. I agree with the first respondent to speak about a present resident or former resident is just wrong wrong and people need to check them selves on being so willing to tell someone else's story. When I here about all the publicity this case has gotten it upset me because of the recent Medicare issue. There trying to stop Medicare for all and how many people will that effect and they wasting tax dollars voting on a woman's life who preauthorized herself to die if this ever happened. So I dont understand what all the hooplaa is all about. In my opinion I think she should be removed from the tube feeding, take a look at her quality of life her parents need to let go. I know its a very touchy and undecisive situation but we as nurses deal with death and sickness every day. I have said a prayer for this lady every since i first heard about her while I was still in nursing school. I mean if her parents really believe that one day she'll snap out of it with absolutly no brain activity that may need to be evaulated next. :crying2: :o

I am so tired of hearing about this Terry. I agree with the first respondent to speak about a present resident or former resident is just wrong wrong and people need to check them selves on being so willing to tell someone else's story. When I here about all the publicity this case has gotten it upset me because of the recent Medicare issue. There trying to stop Medicare for all and how many people will that effect and they wasting tax dollars voting on a woman's life who preauthorized herself to die if this ever happened. So I dont understand what all the hooplaa is all about. In my opinion I think she should be removed from the tube feeding, take a look at her quality of life her parents need to let go. I know its a very touchy and undecisive situation but we as nurses deal with death and sickness every day. I have said a prayer for this lady every since i first heard about her while I was still in nursing school. I mean if her parents really believe that one day she'll snap out of it with absolutly no brain activity that may need to be evaulated next. :crying2: :o

No one is trying to "stop Medicare for all" . . . there are some definite changes but not stopping it. Medicaid is paying for Terri's monthly expenses. Terri didn't "preauthorize herself to die" legally and THAT is what all the hoopla is about. Her parents have one opinion of her wishes and her husband has another but no one really knows. Her parents don't believe that one day "she'll snap out of it" but do think there is some rehab potential that was lost, they do not want her to be actively put to death and think that she should be able to have more rehab as there is some controversy over whether Michael didn't allow her to have even normal nursing care. She doesn't have "absolutly (sic) no brain activity".

And if you are "tired of hearing about this Terry" (sic) . . .then stop reading about her and turn the channel.

steph

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