Do you think this law is fair in regards to healthcare workers in Illinois?

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Here in Illinois today, a law just went into effect, revoking any health care professional who practice under a license or certificate from working in the health care field who were convicted of sexual assault, misdemanor battery against a patient, or any forcible felony against a patient. Many practicing doctors and nurses alike lost their Illinois license...Do you feel that this law is justifiable, or do you think that those who were convicted should be given a second chance especially if they were not a multiple offender. Would like to hear other people views on this issue.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/assault

So a battered wife should give her husband second chances until when? The coroner is involved?

Why do you want to give someone the chance to actually hurt you? If it qualifies under the law, they need to be held accountable. If they choose to commit the act, they don't even deserve a pity party, yet alone another chance.

Why should it be only towards patients? The law doesn't differentiate between victims- it's against a HUMAN.... not some sub-category of people who should put up with abuse/assault because they're not a patient at the time (they may be soon if they hang out with the "second chance" offenders....

If you slugged your spouse, then you deserve to have your license yanked... a volatile temper isn't limited to domestic situations....

OY......

Im not saying give someone a second chance to hurt you, but at the same time, realize that everyone is not perfect. Hell in that case, every other practicing professional should have their license revoked as many professionals violate laws all the time, even when they dont know. All I am saying is no one is perfect. Besides, I see if someone is a repeat offender compared to a one time offender. Say for instance, a person committed an assault crime and was punished by law, goes to nursing school and graudates(proving they are on the right track), and gets license(I personally know of a few people with similar cases) as a Nurse, should they not be given a second chance? Should this one incident hang over their head like a dark cloud. In my eyes, if the board felt that you were stable enough to be granted a license, then you should be able to practice and be given a shot just like others. One incident does not determine a person nature, however if it is a multiple occuring problem then i can see other wise. An old neighbor of mines was charged for vandalism because he hung out with some guys that vandalized a person car and fled the scene, and he didnt because he was trying to do the right thing. As a result, he got thrown under the bus so to speak as he was charged with committing the crime. It isn't fair to him. Doing the right thing doesn't always get you somewhere.... This is why each case should be looked at individually as the board of nursing does. I agree

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Say for instance, a person committed an assault crime and was punished by law, goes to nursing school and graudates(proving they are on the right track), and gets license(I personally know of a few people with similar cases) as a Nurse, should they not be given a second chance? Should this one incident hang over their head like a dark cloud.
Insert rape or child molestation for assault in your post. Both are forms of assault, should rapists & pedophiles get a second chance?

Again, I'm ok with anyone, in any State, having to be reviewed by the board before and during licensure if convicted of simple assault of a non-patient provided substantial time has passed. Assault on a patient, no second chances.

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Im not saying give someone a second chance to hurt you, but at the same time, realize that everyone is not perfect. Hell in that case, every other practicing professional should have their license revoked as many professionals violate laws all the time, even when they dont know. All I am saying is no one is perfect. Besides, I see if someone is a repeat offender compared to a one time offender. Say for instance, a person committed an assault crime and was punished by law, goes to nursing school and graudates(proving they are on the right track), and gets license(I personally know of a few people with similar cases) as a Nurse, should they not be given a second chance? Should this one incident hang over their head like a dark cloud. In my eyes, if the board felt that you were stable enough to be granted a license, then you should be able to practice and be given a shot just like others. One incident does not determine a person nature, however if it is a multiple occuring problem then i can see other wise. An old neighbor of mines was charged for vandalism because he hung out with some guys that vandalized a person car and fled the scene, and he didnt because he was trying to do the right thing. As a result, he got thrown under the bus so to speak as he was charged with committing the crime. It isn't fair to him. Doing the right thing doesn't always get you somewhere.... This is why each case should be looked at individually as the board of nursing does. I agree

Do you want Casey Anthony taking care of your kid? And she wasn't even convicted- but didn't report the kid missing....she was guilty of things she wasn't charged with- wanna give her another chance with a kid? Not me.

Nobody is perfect. But criminal records help weed out those with history of extremely poor judgement and choices. That may or may not change in the future. For a felony, I say you made your bed- get comfy..... If it's a lesser charge- maybe it was a fluke. If we're talking felonies- as I got from the op, then forget it. You can have the convicts take care of you if you choose- I'm sticking by the decision IL has made..... if the person wants to work w/a license, move out of IL.....

You're not getting the answers you want-- doesn't that say that more people want felony convicts away from public jobs???? It was their choice to commit a crime- time to deal with the consequences. IF they do change, they can still be incredibly helpful to others by educating them on ways to not follow in their path. But hands off the public.

Disagree all you want- nothing will change my mind about convicted felons being in healthcare.

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Im not saying give someone a second chance to hurt you, but at the same time, realize that everyone is not perfect. Hell in that case, every other practicing professional should have their license revoked as many professionals violate laws all the time, even when they dont know. All I am saying is no one is perfect. Besides, I see if someone is a repeat offender compared to a one time offender. Say for instance, a person committed an assault crime and was punished by law, goes to nursing school and graudates(proving they are on the right track), and gets license(I personally know of a few people with similar cases) as a Nurse, should they not be given a second chance? Should this one incident hang over their head like a dark cloud. In my eyes, if the board felt that you were stable enough to be granted a license, then you should be able to practice and be given a shot just like others. One incident does not determine a person nature, however if it is a multiple occuring problem then i can see other wise. An old neighbor of mines was charged for vandalism because he hung out with some guys that vandalized a person car and fled the scene, and he didnt because he was trying to do the right thing. As a result, he got thrown under the bus so to speak as he was charged with committing the crime. It isn't fair to him. Doing the right thing doesn't always get you somewhere.... This is why each case should be looked at individually as the board of nursing does. I agree

where are you getting such crappy impressions of healthcare? Your friends/family in healthcare? You been hurt by someone in healthcare? There are a LOT more "good" than "bad" healthcare professionals. And if you know differently- you're obligated to report it if you are in healthcare- or you're just as guilty.....

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Insert rape or child molestation for assault in your post. Both are forms of assault, should rapists & pedophiles get a second chance?

Again, I'm ok with anyone, in any State, having to be reviewed by the board before and during licensure if convicted of simple assault of a non-patient provided substantial time has passed. Assault on a patient, no second chances.

I get what you saying, i agree rape or child molestation, then the person does not need to be given a second chance. Thats just a boundary that dont needs to be crossed. From what I seen most that committ those type of crimes have a mental problem......I agree with you about a simple assault on a non-patient, they should be given a chance. I one nurse in particular who is not very patient, but have all the patience in the world when it comes to working with a patient. That is a line he knows not to cross. Yes, assault on a patient, i think a few years should have to pass before a person able to get licensed. People make mistakes, and people committ crimes every single day, health care professionals or not, but just didnt get caught for their misdeeds(which is why i'm not too quick to judge).

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I get what you saying, i agree rape or child molestation, then the person does not need to be given a second chance. Thats just a boundary that dont needs to be crossed. From what I seen most that committ those type of crimes have a mental problem......I agree with you about a simple assault on a non-patient, they should be given a chance. I one nurse in particular who is not very patient, but have all the patience in the world when it comes to working with a patient. That is a line he knows not to cross. Yes, assault on a patient, i think a few years should have to pass before a person able to get licensed. People make mistakes, and people committ crimes every single day, health care professionals or not, but just didnt get caught for their misdeeds(which is why i'm not too quick to judge).

Judgement and critical thinking/assessment are not the same thing. :) So, if they're not caught, they're ok? :uhoh3::eek::lol2::lol2:

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Judgement and critical thinking/assessment are not the same thing. :) So, if they're not caught, they're ok? :uhoh3::eek::lol2::lol2:

Im not saying that it is ok if they are not caught. Every nurse, doc, paramedic, or whatever is not an angel by any means. Some committ crimes, but never get caught and thus are able to practice, while a person who may have gotten in trouble with the law once, future gets destroyed. They should be given a chance to show they have changed. Funny because yesterday in my EMT class, the instructor mentioned that we should stay out of trouble because once you get a felony you will not be able to get licensed, which is untrue because the NREMT board goes by a case by case basis like the Board of Nursing. The program director mentioned that when he was a teenager, as most in the class are, that he was frequently involved in bad crimes, and by the grace of god he never got caught. He said he use to drink before going to work, smoked stuff that is illegal and did a lot of bad things with his friends. He never got caught for his deeds, therefore he was never punished, so I say again and again, why a person who committs a crime one time, is deemed an outcast, like a dark cloud hanging over their head. They should be able to prove themselves, given a chance. As a person who is a christian, God forgives us for our sins, and gives us a second chance, so I feel that others should be able to forgive others if they made a misjudge in character.

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But if they are CONVICTED, there is a legal difference- and accountability.

True- people do lousy things- and maybe some should be convicted- but the ones who are taking care of patients in a healthcare setting deserve to have a license yanked as part of their punishment- Period. You can talk all day about people who don't get caught, and it has nothing to do with the law recently passed in IL.... if you want anyone who has ever done anything illegal but NOT been caught- figure out how to determine that, and what should be done :)

I don't think your point has anything to do with the law just passed.... it's about what ifs....can't punish a what if- only a conviction. :)

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Completely justified, IMHO. I wish more states would put laws like this into place (and I think the trend is in that direction).

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.......Did the nurse pursue any action as a result of being hit in the face? Assault of a healthcare worker is a felony in IL.

Good luck with that. A sleeping patient that reacts instinctively in self protection to an outside physical stimulus is not consciously aware they are doing so - doesn't even come close to fitting the definition of assault. This type of instinctive reaction is not uncommon. A smart nurse (or other HCW) would attempt to verbally arouse the patient before making physical contact that might elicit this type of instinctive self protective reaction.

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This law states that anyone with a forcibly felony will have their license revoked, not just against a patient, AGAINST ANYONE!! Personally I think the law sucks b/c law makers made the law to broad when they added any felony against anyone. This could be you, your loved one or friends(stuff happens) may get into a bar fight and gives the other person a black eye and was charged with a felony battery 30 years ago will be affected by this law.. That's bull, that person will be banned from healthcare for getting into a fight at a bar that long ago. Geeeeez whatever happened to reform, lets just put everybody in the world that has a felony in a boat and give them food and water and let them coast away, the hell with them, they can't be changed, hell their convicted of a battery felony!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Of the 11 announced Monday, nine are registered sex offenders and two others were convicted of violent crimes. The convictions of the 11 include child Mediaography, indecent solicitation of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and battery. In at least two cases the victims were patients.

Sounds as though every one of those people deserved to lose a license. I wouldn't want them caring for my child!

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