A coworker was stunned to go into a room and find a parent watching an pro-terrorism, anti-America, anti-Semitic video. Allegedly, it was calling for the destruction of the president, America, Jews. She was horrified at the content and even more so horrified that the parent was watching in front of the child, and didn't seem to care if she heard.
She called Risk Management who said there was nothing to do, because it would be a violation of HIPAA.
I felt DCS should have been called because it is emotionally abusive to subject a child to hate speech. (we're talking actual hate speech, here). She was going to consult with a social worker on this aspect.
I also suggested she make an anonymous FBI and/or Homeland Security tip.
After Charlottesville we saw reporting on hate and terrorist groups participating in that event on all major news channels, they were not promoting their agenda, which is what this nurse witnessed...
The OP did not see this personally. From the first lost:
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A coworker was stunned to go into a room and find a parent watching an pro-terrorism, anti-America, anti-Semitic video. Allegedly, it was calling for the destruction of the president, America, Jews. She was horrified at the content and even more so horrified that the parent was watching in front of the child, and didn't seem to care if she heard.
[...]
As for whether the child heard this or not, the OP later had this to say.
It's a good point. I refrained from posting more detail for a variety of reasons. But the child was not definitely old enough to have discourse about the topic.
Perhaps if the OP were to provide all of these details we would better be able to determine what, if any, abuse or neglect to the child and/or any reportable event occurred.
I "watch" a lot of things that don't reflect my personal beliefs. I'm also not a big believer in over-sheltering children, but prefer to discuss both positive and negative things with them. From your post, I'm not sure there's enough information for me to make a personal judgement call about this parent.
But what if the next nurse in that room is Jewish? I also watch things that I don't agree with, but not in front of kids and certainly not in a public place like a hospital.
But what if the next nurse in that room is Jewish? I also watch things that I don't agree with, but not in front of kids and certainly not in a public place like a hospital.
I don't see what difference that would make. The nurse in the next room should consider that maybe I'm Jewish, too.
I don't see what difference that would make. The nurse in the next room should consider that maybe I'm Jewish, too.
What I meant was the next nurse taking care of that child, what if they're Jewish? You think they'd want to know about this situation?
What scares me is so many people are blowing this off. What part of "see something say something" do people not understand? Let the cops, FBI, CPS etc figure it out. Bombings are prevented by people being concerned and making the effort to tell the authorities.
What I meant was the next nurse taking care of that child, what if they're Jewish? You think they'd want to know about this situation?
What scares me is so many people are blowing this off. What part of "see something say something" do people not understand? Let the cops, FBI, CPS etc figure it out. Bombings are prevented by people being concerned and making the effort to tell the authorities.
Do I think they'd want to know about what someone was watching on TV? No. I can't imagine any reasonable person would care ...and how would the patient know their nurse's religion anyway?
I don't interpret "see something say something" as "report people if you think they're watching an offensive video". I just can't make sense of that in my mind- at all.
What I meant was the next nurse taking care of that child, what if they're Jewish? You think they'd want to know about this situation?
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And what if he or she is? Are you going to censor or restrict what the family can watch on television? Because it might offend some of the nursing staff?
And what scares me is that so many are advocating thought control. What part of "1984" did we not understand? The idea of sicccing law enforcement on someone for what they're thinking makes my blood run cold.
And what scares me is that so many are advocating thought control. What part of "1984" did we not understand? The idea of sicccing law enforcement on someone for what they're thinking makes my blood run cold.
This is actually worse, because we really have no idea what the patient is thinking ...we just think they might be thinking something. There are times when I'm flipping channels, get distracted, and look up thinking, "What the heck is this?" ...or I'm watching a video on youtube and the next one auto-starts ...or I'm just watching something interesting that doesn't reflect my personal ideals at all. TV is not particularly meaningful to me and may not be to a lot of other people. It's just a time-waster, and I imagine there's a lot of time to waste when you're sitting around in a hospital.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
The OP did not see this personally. From the first lost:
As for whether the child heard this or not, the OP later had this to say.
Perhaps if the OP were to provide all of these details we would better be able to determine what, if any, abuse or neglect to the child and/or any reportable event occurred.
I'm glad you said it. This has spawned a great side discussion, but I have many issues with the actual post itself. Mostly that this was told to the nurse second hand, so we don't know how valid the actual description was. People are known to exaggerate things or misconstrue the truth accidentally. Perhaps this was a documentary about a horrible terrorist group, and that particular clip that the person witnessed was real life footage of a terrorist group. There are just too many possibilities for me to jump to a conclusion either way.
In regards to this being child abuse, I can't say that it is. In my 12 years working pediatrics I have come across much more horrible verbal things said to and witnessed by children, as well as actual physical abuse and neglect. This isn't right, but I can't say it is child abuse. Reporting this for child abuse would just clog up and delay what is already a slow child protective services system anyway.
I've watched some crazy, hateful videos in the past. Doesn't mean I agreed with it, nor was it illegal. As for this being child abuse and thinking anything would come of reporting this to CPS... I'm sorry, but what on earth are you thinking? I've seen children be left with drug addicted parents because foster parents are so hard to come by. I've seen them be violently abused in foster homes. Despite her hateful beliefs, believe it or not, there are worse things than exposing a child to hateful beliefs.
chare
4,372 Posts
The OP did not see this personally. From the first lost:
As for whether the child heard this or not, the OP later had this to say.
Perhaps if the OP were to provide all of these details we would better be able to determine what, if any, abuse or neglect to the child and/or any reportable event occurred.