how to defend yourself against lab complaint

[grammy57]

Friend had just started in CCU. Preceptor asked for a blood draw. Draw was done, labeled, and sent to the lab. Lab filed a complaint against friend stating mislabeling. The vial was returned with a different cap than those used in CCU and the label looked like it had been removed and reapplied. How do you defend against an accusation of which you have no proof. It's a lab says/friend says situation. Manager first said obviously lab error but at hearing did an about face. Union rep not much help either. Results will come back next week at the earliest. If against friend should a lawyer be hired? This would be on the record as a first of 2 offenses before being fired.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I personally wouldn't hire a lawyer over all of this but if she has malpractice insurance I would tell her to contact them.

[grammy57]

Is this not as serious as my friend thinks? How do you protect yourself? Other nurses on the unit/shift are not very friendly. Not sure whom to trust.

[Thomgirl]

How did a lab complaint warrant a hearing? Every hospital I've worked at, lab whines, specimen is redrawn, done. Why is this being made a huge deal?

[grammy57]

I really don't know why. According to my friend, the lab has filed numerous complaints lately after years of no complaints, at least this exact complaint. My friend pointed this out at the hearing. My friend called it a tier 2 complaint, I think.

[Rod, Male Nurse]

exactly.....why is there even talk of lawyers and other garbage?

[grammy57]

As to the lawyer, my friend says they are innocent and it's a class 2 (?) serious enough that a second one will be grounds to be fired. And friend does not know any other way to protect themselves and remove an error from their file.