TX Nurses facing criminal charges for reporting doctor to Board of Medicine

This is insane! I live in TX and have not heard one word of it on the news or in the newspaper!! I can't believe that these nurses are being charged for being a patient advocate and doing what they thought was right. What good is the whistle blower law if we don't abide by it? I hope that this does not prohibit nurses in the future for standing up for their patients for fear of being persecuted for doing so. This certainly does reek of politics. What a shame. I am furious!!

We, as nurses do have a whistle blowers law.....It is called our license!!! Are we not patient advocates anymore, are we not suppose to be the last line of defense for the patient ? If that isnt a whistle blowers law, than what is one? We as nurses are obligated by LAW to be there for the patient....I.E. ADVOCATE!!! What is the world coming to when we as caregivers can't be the patient advocate... I had a situation once where a pedi E.R. doc refused to intubate a severe asthmatic...He said that he had never intubated a asthma pt. yet and wasn't going to start with this 12y.o. boy!!! I not only went above his head to the pedi Icu doc, but I also went to the house supervisor and also reported him to the state board....When asked why i went to the board by my manager...I told her because the guy was going to let a 12 y.o. die right in front of his mother, due to him not wanting to intubate the kid.... She said fair enough you did the right thing...I don't want to work with someone that irresponsible with a human life...especially a doctor who should know better....By the way the kid was on the vent for 2 weeks due to this docs lack of skills, but is alive and well do to the pedi icu doctor taking the pt. over and intubating him....I will report another doctor if I have to ....If it means saving someones life....The nerve of Texas!!!

i want to know, if the medical board isnt subject to subpena (sp)....how did the sheriff's dept get the info?. is this the medical board screwing the nurses but coming off like they are behind the nurses?

The sheriff's office got the info because the doctor involved went and filed a harassment complaint against the nurses with law enforcement after being informed that a complaint against him was made. They went through the nurse's computer. This is on law enforcement not the medical board who is behind the nurses as they should be.

This case could have far reaching consequences. Nurses shouldn't have to fear felony charges when making a complaint and being patient advocates. They did their job.

I can't help but wonder if this doctor has connections in law enforcement and politics. And the scary thing is they were fired from their jobs with all the major agencies standing behind them. They made a motion to have it dismissed and that verdict is pending.

The link provided above has info about a defense fund in case anyone is interested. They are facing 10 years and 10k in fines. I think I'm going to send something if this case isn't dropped.

It's Texas, The South, The Good Ole Boy System! Nuff said?

Thanks for posting this! The more who see it the better. Absolutely ludicrous what they are taking these nurses through, they will be vindicated!!!!!!!

Lubbock is Western Texas. You are less than an hour from New Mexico. Not exactly the South.