New gunshot-reporting law worries nurses [Canada]

toronto - nurses in ontario say a new law requiring hospitals to report gunshot wounds to police could create risks, rather than protecting public safety.

ontario has become the first province in the country to pass such legislation.

for years, police have been lobbying for mandatory reporting of gunshot wounds as a way to help crack down on gun violence.

doris grinspun, executive director of the registered nurses association of ontario, says the law could discourage people from seeking medical attention. she says the law won't prevent heated encounters between patients and nurses.

"mandatory reporting could lead to some ... abusive situations," she says.

full story: new gunshot-reporting law worries nurses

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

Well, the people who are involved in gang activities and such don't EVER co-operate with the police anyway. So much as I'd love to report these guys to the cops, I don't think it would do any good. So why bother violating privacy, getting the patients all upset and riled up at the nurses, if it isn't going to affect anything as far as crime control?

As long as the hospital has good security for when the other gang members come trooping in, or when the shooter decides to come back and try to finish the job, the nurses should be just doing their jobs....

I approve of this legislation. Hospital security is rarely in any position to take care of gang members with guns. Does anyone have hospital security that's equally armed? When I worked in Toronto, they didn't carry guns.

There are hospitals where gunshot wounds are NOT reported!?!

I'm completely shocked. I'm serious.

steph

[talaxandra]

Reporting gunshot wounds is mandatory here, too.

There are hospitals where gunshot wounds are NOT reported!?!

I'm completely shocked. I'm serious.

steph

I think this has long been the law in the US, but it wasn't in Canada (until now in Ontario). Fortunately gun violence is still pretty rare there. When I lived in Toronto people would start freaking out if there was one shooting a week for two weeks in a row (this in a city of a few million people). I dount you'd see the same reaction in any American city.

I think this has long been the law in the US, but it wasn't in Canada (until now in Ontario). Fortunately gun violence is still pretty rare there. When I lived in Toronto people would start freaking out if there was one shooting a week for two weeks in a row (this in a city of a few million people). I dount you'd see the same reaction in any American city.

You are right! :)

steph