Animal abuse

[K8e]

So, I am a psych nurse in a psych clinic. Reading patients' charts, I come across admitted animal abuse from time to time. This is actually very traumatizing for me and weighs heavily on my mind. I had asked my manager if I could report the animal abuse to try and save these pets from the torture they are forced to endure. My manager told me this would constitute a HIPPA violation. My question: Why are health care professionals mandated reporters of child, domestic, elder abuse but not animal abuse? Why should the two be any different? Animals are also living, breathing beings who have emotions and feel pain. I would like to know why having a healthcare professional report the CRIME of animal abuse is not permitted. Instead, we are to ignore it and allow the suffering to continue. I love psych nursing and love my job, but this is just so wrong. It is truly a sick world we live in ?

[JackChase1212, MSN, APRN]

12 hours ago, K8e said:

So, I am a psych nurse in a psych clinic. Reading patients' charts, I come across admitted animal abuse from time to time. This is actually very traumatizing for me and weighs heavily on my mind. I had asked my manager if I could report the animal abuse to try and save these pets from the torture they are forced to endure. My manager told me this would constitute a HIPPA violation. My question: Why are health care professionals mandated reporters of child, domestic, elder abuse but not animal abuse? Why should the two be any different? Animals are also living, breathing beings who have emotions and feel pain. I would like to know why having a healthcare professional report the CRIME of animal abuse is not permitted. Instead, we are to ignore it and allow the suffering to continue. I love psych nursing and love my job, but this is just so wrong. It is truly a sick world we live in ?

K8e I sympathize with your trauma regarding animal abuse, and you raise an interesting question about reporting. This will be an interesting thread when people start weighing in. I think the bottom line though is that animals do not hold the same rights as humans. As horrible as that sounds in the instance of abuse. I agree with you that it should be reportable to authorities.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I definitely feel this should be reportable and give the animals an opportunity for a better life. I too would be traumatized by this.

[brownbook]

This happened long ago so my husband doesn't remember the details...but when he was working Adult Protective Services he was trying to do a health and safety check on an elderly couple. They would not allow anyone into their house. However they had dogs and it was obvious the dogs were not healthy nor being well treated. He contacted the SPCA. The SPCA was able to go into the house to assess the dogs, and my husband went with them and was able to start some interventions with the elderly couple.

Just call the SPCA, maybe ask if you can report this anonymously because this is a patient/nurse HIPAA, confidentiality situation, but you believe animals are being abused. See what they say?

[TriciaJ, RN]

On 6/26/2019 at 12:45 PM, brownbook said:

Just call the SPCA, maybe ask if you can report this anonymously because this is a patient/nurse HIPAA, confidentiality situation, but you believe animals are being abused. See what they say?

I second this.

[B52, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'd also make an anonymous report.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

I agree that it should be a mandated report, just like any other dependent abuse ? ugh. How awful. I'd want to make an anonymous report as well, but it doesn't sit quite right with me, HIPAA-wise. You'd still be making the report based on info you obtained within a confidential nurse-patient relationship. Even de-identified patient info should only be used for medical/educational/research purposes. But morally speaking, how could you NOT report, you know?!?

Really interested to hear what others have to say about this.

Gosh, I don't think my conscience would be able to let it go unreported. I couldn't bear it ?

[VegGal, BSN, RN]

I remember that a couple years ago, the FBI made some statement about animal abuse and how it would be taken seriously because they found a link between those who abuse animals and who then go on to become serial killers, wife beaters, etc.

If it were me who found out about the abuse, I'd report it anonymously. You can even report it to PETA. They take reports very seriously. I've used a different email address and reported things to them before.

[Obsidian]

I agree absolutley 100 percent about reporting this anonymously to the SPCA. You have to be a voice for the animals when they have no voice. Ignoring it is just untenable.

[Yousuf Thomas]

I absolutely agree with you.I absolutely agree with you.

[amoLucia]

Interesting post.

I'm thinking, if nurses are MANDATED reporters, would this not fall into that category?

Like what if a nurse were to discover that the pt was planning a bombing at a school or mall?

I don't believe that the intent of HIPAA was to equate it with the sanctity of the confessional, as it seems to have evolved.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

On 10/15/2021 at 11:36 AM, amoLucia said:

Like what if a nurse were to discover that the pt was planning a bombing at a school or mall?

From the HHS webpage on HIPAA privacy rules:

Serious Threat to Health or Safety. Covered entities may disclose protected health information that they believe is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to a person or the public, when such disclosure is made to someone they believe can prevent or lessen the threat (including the target of the threat). Covered entities may also disclose to law enforcement if the information is needed to identify or apprehend an escapee or violent criminal.

Here is a link to the entire page.

Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule