No Case Against Nurses in Katrina Deaths

let me ask you a question, in the instance that you sited as your example of precedent, should the nurse have been prosecuted? Is there such thing as a sentinel medication error so severe that it warrants criminal prosecution?
But in this instance, we are talking about "mercy killing". What would have been more criminal, to let those patients starve to death and eventually collapse or to as gently as possible end their lives. Either outcome could be prosecuted by a desperate enough attorney.
Thanks for the info, though!

I'm not sure I understand your post. Are you saying that there are no legal grounds or precedents for filing criminal charges against an RN for activities performed in the course of one's nursing employment duties?

If so, that is not the case. If I remember correctly, there were 2RN's and an NP brought up on criminal charges about 5-7 years ago in CO for an error in medication administration that led to the death of an infant. I don't believe that they were charged with any intentional wrongdoing, but the district attorney argued that their actions were so negligent as to be criminal. Again, if I remember correctly, one agreed to a plea deal and 2 were cleared at trial. When I have time later, I'll search for link to an article.

umm are you familiar with the Katrina case?

basically a bunch of critical patients and staff were essentially abandoned at the hospital. after a couple days they were out of supplies and it was clear no help was coming. when the staff was forced to leave to save their own lives, they were forced to make the decision between letting their patients die slow and painful deaths or to euthanize them.

this case has nothing to do with medical errors or negligence. it's an issue of ethics in a horrible disaster situation.

mcubed,

I know that this thread is about the criminal case against the nurses and doctors charged in the deaths of patients after Katrina.

I don't think you read the first page of the thread. sunnyluv remarked that she didn't think there was any legal precedent for criminal prosecution of RNs for their actions in the line of duty. I was making her aware of a case in CO a number of years ago where nurses were criminally charged in the death of an infant that resulted from a series of medical errors. I was trying to make the point that if one DA was willing to criminally charge nurses who made a series of errors, it was not a stretch for another DA to criminally charge nurses who were alleged to have acted deliberately in the death of patients.