A Sticky Wicket

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

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Last night, I got into a disagreement with my best buddy's D-I-Ls. They wanted to use copies of the armbands of deceased patients, and display them publicly, as evidence against a hospital's wrongdoing. The copies were obtained by someone in their group who worked in medical records at the wrongdoing hospital.

I strongly encouraged them to familiarize themselves with HIPAA and explained it was a legal act to protect patients' confidentiality. One of the young ladies wryly said to me, "Get out of the system!"

I explained to her that I will bend the rules- even break the law- if it is the means to a greater end. I said that they would be shooting themselves in the foot if they used this information in their quest. The focus would not be on the wrongdoings of the hospital, but their wrongdoings in stealing patient information and breaching patient confidentiality.

The other D-I-L argued patient confidentiality didn't apply because the people were dead, I disagreed and again strongly encouraged them to gather more data before entering into this endeavor with great temerity.

The two held fast to their beliefs, so I gave them an ultimatum: Either they gain more knowledge before acting, come clean with their actions, or I would report them to the proper authorities.

What do you think about this situation?

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Specializes in PICU.

Davey Do:

I agree with you. If they illegally obtained those arm bands, any public display of medical information such as name, MR, DOB, etc. is a violation. Even if the hospital did some worngdoing against the deceased, having patient information such as that is illegal.  You are right, thw wrongdoing of the hospital will be overlooked and the more egregious act of the posting of the arm bands will be seen. 

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Specializes in ER.

It's disrespectful.

As far as Wrongdoing hospital,  I see too many patients who have health problems resulting from their own wrong doings. Then they expect the medical system to rescue them. There might be problems in Wrongdoing Hospital, but I'll bet a lot of their patients had too many Big Gulps.

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14 minutes ago, Emergent said:

It's disrespectful.

As far as Wrongdoing hospital,  I see too many patients who have health problems resulting from their own wrong doings. Then they expect the medical system to rescue them. There might be problems in Wrongdoing Hospital, but I'll bet a lot of their patients had too many Big Gulps.

     Haha!  What...personal responsibility for your actions?   "Would you care to supersize that"?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Now, let's stay focused here.

37 minutes ago, Emergent said:

many patients who have health problems resulting from their own wrong doings

With all due love and respect, my allnurses wife, is off the sticky wicket subject and purely conjecture, no matter how founded in truth gained empirically. 

We need to focus on the specific wrongdoings and the unethical behaviors of those who want to right these wrongs.

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Specializes in ER.

Well, I think it is totally disrespectful to use the bracelets of dead people. It's very exploitative. I don't think we should have to have a law to realize that. Common human decency should Rule the Day. The people who have passed from this life still deserve respect.

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Specializes in oncology.
2 hours ago, Davey Do said:

, as evidence against a hospital's wrongdoing

What did they think was the hospital's wrongdoing?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
10 minutes ago, Emergent said:

Well, I think it is totally disrespectful to use the bracelets of dead people. It's very exploitative. I don't think we should have to have a law to realize that. Common human decency should Rule the Day. The people who have passed from this life still deserve respect.

Agreed. And agreed.

HOWEVER....What if our death could stand for something and be utilized for altruistic purposes? What if my death's cause could save others from an early demise?

In the same vein of things, isn't sometimes one life more valuable than another? Of course, the rubber-stamped "all life is precious", is fitting, but I know in my heart of hearts that there are truly people out there for who I would take a bullet.

I'm not an altruistic hero type of guy, just a logical one. For example, I have no blood relatives who gives a rat's rear if I live or die. Belinda has several caring blood relatives that include children & grandchildren and I say her life is worth more than mine. Oh! And to add to it, Belinda is darn good practicing nurse.

I would take a bullet for Belinda, and not just because she is the most important person in my life. I've told a couple of close friends the same thing.

Before I get involuntarily admitted to geriatric psych for thoughts of self-harm, please allow me to adamantly state that I am the happiest I've ever been and love each day that I live. I'm merely saying that others need to have the opportunity to experience the same happiness and if I would have to give up some things, like life or respect, I'm willing to do so for the greater good.

Here endth my dissertation.

 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
13 minutes ago, londonflo said:

What did they think was the hospital's wrongdoing?

Very good question, lonfonflo, and I wish I could answer it.

In this situation, my best buddy's son was giving me the background information. It was so loud in this social gathering, and he's such a low talker, that I could hear only snippets.  Something about people dying and disease. I didn't have full weight of the situation, believing he was chit-chatting with me, and merely gave good eye contact and responses like "uh huh".

It was only when a D-I-L loudly voiced the plan that I responded. No matter what the hospital's crime, I knew they were going about it the wrong way.

After my statement about contacting the proper authorities, my presence in the social gathering ended rather abruptly.

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Specializes in ER.

@Davey Do

Would you take a cyber bullet for me??? ?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
19 minutes ago, Emergent said:

@Davey Do

Would you take a cyber bullet for me??? ?

Emergent, for you, I'd take a CWOMD.

Cyber Weapon of Mass Destruction.

I had to do a web search for cyber bullet before I committed myself and could come up with cyber bullying. You know, bullying on the internet, emails, etc.

This concept, of cyber bullying, is causing me to want and pontificate in a proliferate manner. 

Truism: Something is important because we give it importance. If we make what others say to or about us, their words can affect us. On the same hand, if we make what others think of us important, they have power and control over us- our reactions, thoughts, and feelings.

I want to say more, but my tablet posted without my consent, so I'll continue in another post.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

In essence, for some of us, there can be no CWOMD. Nothing is destroyed if nothing which is said or published is of any importance.

Take this situation with my best buddy's D-I-Ls: Which was more important? How others felt about me or standing up for principles?

 The 12-step program advises us "to practice these principles in all of our affairs" as it needs to ALWAYS be principles before personalities.

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