looking up a patients arrest records?

[LPNweezy]

A co-worker mentioned she did this and was telling me about some previous arrests of our patients. Is this illegal? It seems very unethical. what should i do?

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

It's public record. You can look up mug shots online.

[LPNweezy]

Yes i know its public and all, but isn't that a big conflict of interest? or should i look as it like i have a right to know? what do you think about it? :) thanks!

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

It's all public information. Guess it's matter of personal choice to know or not to know. Even knowing what the arrest record says may or may not give you an accurate picture. Once had a co-worker obsessed with looking through the local sex offender listings. I hear most of them have gone to work at airports doing screenings for the TSA.

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

I have looked up a patient a few times, after they've told me they were in jail for something, or they have a court date they will miss from being in the hospital. I've looked it up from being curious. I guess it is a conflict of interest if you treat your patient differently based on what you find. I treat prison inmates the same as any other patient, except for the fact they are shackled to the bed and an armed deputy is sitting in the room. lol I've found that the inmates can be the nicest patients as long as you give them some common respect.

[LPNweezy]

Thanks for the replies! I didn't want to judge my co-worker for this, and now that i see it is fairly common to look up records! :) i will choose not to, because i want all my patients to be innocent angels in my eyes :icon_roll i can't imagine if they had broken the law! hahaha

[SilentfadesRPA]

It is public record and what an individual does on their own time can not be legislated however the problem is in sharing of that information with others that is the problem. This action calls into serious question of professional ethics of the care giver and liability for the employer.

If this conversation was reported to management they would have cause to terminate an employee for malicious gossip of a patient - not that it was not true but it is gossip and surely can affect care rendered.

If you read correction nurses blogs and professional correction resources

it is general consensus of the professional NOT to know the criminal history or charges of those we care for as it can affect the care given even on an unconscious level or have the appearance of doing so.

Marc

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

As far as I am concerned, this practice is legal, because this is a matter of public record. You can go to the local court system to look up this information, and much of this information is also available on-line through courts that have available Web sites to look up a person's criminal or traffic record. Before working in health care, I worked at a muni court. That being said, is this ethical or moral? As nurses, we have all come across situations that are considered "legal." However, what is legal often crosses a fine line between what can be considered ethical or moral. Does the nurse have a reason to look up this person's record? For example, feels that the patient my be a threat to his/her safety? I have taken care of patients who have been handcuffed at the bedside with a police guard. Then, I may want to know their criminal history. However, this is usually supplied on admission. Otherwise, I do not see a reason to do this other than being nosy or having nothing better to do (i.e. taking care of the patient). I have also worked with nurses who looked up criminal and traffic records of family members for no reason. For me, it is a need to know basis, just the same as HIPPA. Unfortunately, their are no laws concerning this, because it is public record. Just my opinion.

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

I have looked up a patient a few times, after they've told me they were in jail for something, or they have a court date they will miss from being in the hospital. I've looked it up from being curious. I guess it is a conflict of interest if you treat your patient differently based on what you find. I treat prison inmates the same as any other patient, except for the fact they are shackled to the bed and an armed deputy is sitting in the room. lol I've found that the inmates can be the nicest patients as long as you give them some common respect.

LOL, I can definitely relate to this. I read this post after I submitted my comment. When I worked for the muni court, the "prisoners" in their orange jumb suits and handcuffs were usually more pleasant that the general public. In fact, they were basically nicer. The key is to treat all peole with common respect. I even met one man in a store two years later who thanked me for this. I have found no difference in the patients that I have worked with who are "prisoners."

[Bella'sMyBaby]

I work in LTC & personally, I think ALL Residents should have a background check BEFORE admission to a facility.

There was a previous thread on this subject.....

Sex offenders & other violent offenders should not be with the general population.

Now the hospital environment is a different issue.....

However if a nurse wants to look up arrest records, that's their right; it's a matter of public record.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

is the co-worker doing this on work time?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

It's all public information. Guess it's matter of personal choice to know or not to know. Even knowing what the arrest record says may or may not give you an accurate picture. Once had a co-worker obsessed with looking through the local sex offender listings. I hear most of them have gone to work at airports doing screenings for the TSA.

If you know this for a fact, you really should inform TSA that these people are working for them.