Texas Children's investigates RN for social media HIPAA violation

[JustBeachyNurse]

A neurosurgeon reportedly went rogue and posted screen shots to the TCH West of the nurse's posts. Ones she later deleted when she realized she said too much including wanting to swab the child and infect her unvaccinated teenager son. TX antivax FB groups are reportedly conspiring how much to offer for a swab of the toddler.

Texas Children's Hospital nurse investigated for Facebook posting as Houston toddler tests positive for measles | abc13.com

Thing is there were no "measles parties". Homes if those infected with measles were quarantined by the DoH. My mother was of the prevaccine generation born in the late 40's. Remembers classmates with polio and red quarantine signs. Her own home was quarantined when she had scarlet fever.

Measles infection puts one at risk for fatal post measles encephalitis known as Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) years after infection. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

And measles has been shown to likely long term "immune amnesia" where your immunity is wiped out. Long-term measles-induced immunomodulation increases overall childhood infectious disease mortality Long-lasting effects of "immune amnesia" induced by measles | Emory University | Atlanta, GA

[Emergent, RN]

I think much of the outrage here is related to the fact this particular nurse, in full disclosure of how sick this child was, was entertaining the idea of taking an invasive swab without consent for the direct purpose of spreading a potentially fatal disease to other children. Anti-vaccine or pro-vaccine, I feel most nurses would have a guttural reaction to this.

The article you cited directly contradicts your comments about sanitation!

I'm not sure that polio is a good disease to use in making an argument that vaccines are not effective. There is a near perfect correlation of vaccine administration and disease eradication.

The article explains that increased sanitation caused polio because infants previously were exposed via breastfeeding. It fails to mention that in the 20th century breastfeeding went out of fashion, and if it was done, it was done just a short time. It sounds like the polio vaccine recreates the natural process that used to occur.

You're right, that wasn't a good example, but I thought it quite fascinating and shared it because it had good information. In most other diseases better sanitation and living conditions had already dramatically reduced the occurrences prior to the vaccine.

My point is that the general vitriol towards people with different attitudes towards vaccines is harmful. As I said previously, this particular nurse sounds like she went pretty far off the rails, both in her thinking and professional conduct.

[Amethya]

This is extremely worrying. I mean (I'm from Houston) We were this close of an outbreak thanks to a crazed Nurse. That's scary. I'm glad they stopped her before it got worse. I have 5 kids that are exempt from immunizations in my school, I can't imagine how bad it would be if this happened.

My own children are vaccinated, but the ones who aren't?

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I'm glad that she was stupid enough to post this on FB. I'm glad that neurosurgeon also decided to speak up. This is one way that one person stopped a possibly deadly outbreak. This story is a good example of how one person can really change things for a community (for the better or worse).

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

The article explains that increased sanitation caused polio because infants previously were exposed via breastfeeding. It fails to mention that in the 20th century breastfeeding went out of fashion, and if it was done, it was done just a short time. It sounds like the polio vaccine recreates the natural process that used to occur.

You're right, that wasn't a good example, but I thought it quite fascinating and shared it because it had good information. In most other diseases better sanitation and living conditions had already dramatically reduced the occurrences prior to the vaccine.

My point is that the general vitriol towards people with different attitudes towards vaccines is harmful. As I said previously, this particular nurse sounds like she went pretty far off the rails, both in her thinking and professional conduct.

"Different attitudes towards vaccines"? Is that like "alternative facts"?

No. Antivaxxers are wrong. Period. As PP have said, I don't particularly care whether they feel persecuted or not. Science refutes them utterly.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

My point is that the general vitriol towards people with different attitudes towards vaccines is harmful.

Of course there is some vitriol towards nurses that propagate the anti-vaccine rhetoric, especially ones that use their platform as a "nurse" to do such.

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

I don't understand how you can be a nurse and anti-vax. Does not compute. Just why.

[Emergent, RN]

This is such an emotion issue for many. I was talking to my guitar teacher. They were advised to avoid vaccinations for one of their sons who has seizures. He mentioned this to the mother of a friend of his son's and her reaction was definitely out of proportion, and now he and his family are shunned.

I advised him not to share this with anyone again. His other son is fully immunized, so he's definitely not an ideologue on the subject.

Sometimes, it's difficult to have a calm, rational discussion here, or just generally online. Certain subjects such as vaccination, circumcision, immigration, don't lend themselves to civility.

[Naturally Brilliant, BSN, RN]

So where's the HIPPA violation? From the post that I read she said she treated a measles patient. Doesn't name the kid or show any specific identifying information about him. I'm a dialysis nurse, and today I treated a patient with end-stage renal disease. Does that mean this post right here is a HIPPA violation too?

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

So where's the HIPPA violation? From the post that I read she said she treated a measles patient. Doesn't name the kid or show any specific identifying information about him. I'm a dialysis nurse, and today I treated a patient with end-stage renal disease. Does that mean this post right here is a HIPPA violation too?

However, if this case had been reported in the news, made some headlines. It is too specific that it can easily identify who the child is.

She also identified where she worked, plus a measles kid...that is HIPAA

[Neats, BSN]

Everyone wants their 15 mins of fame....just be aware this can cost you dearly.

[nursel56]

So where's the HIPPA violation? From the post that I read she said she treated a measles patient. Doesn't name the kid or show any specific identifying information about him. I'm a dialysis nurse, and today I treated a patient with end-stage renal disease. Does that mean this post right here is a HIPPA violation too?

It is true she didn't mention his name, but what I do is ask myself if there is a reasonable expectation an outside party could figure out who I'm talking about regardless. Employers don't generally split hairs when they fire people for a "HIPAA violation", so I think it's better to err on the side of caution.

Since an end-stage renal patient in dialysis is common and your post doesn't include your location, the patient's age, gender, etc. I don't see a problem there.

[broughden]

You seem very angry regarding my statement.

I got curious. I found a fascinating article about polio. It wasn't common before the 20th century. The article hypothesizes that prior to that, infants were inoculated through their mother's breast milk. I hope you take the time to read this article, it is an eye opener for me!

Polio - Our World in Data

No one who contributed to that article is in the medical field.

Secondly, the children werent "inoculated" they gained passive immunity from the antibodies in their mother's breast milk.

It is hypothesized that they were infected during the time they were carrying the mother's antibodies, were infected with a suppressed form of the disease, and then gained active immunity.

None of which has anything to do with antivaxxer nonsense in modern medicine.