Nurse who survived Ebola is suing the hospital

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 4, 2015

I'm mixed about this one. While it is Nina's right to sue, the image of nursing will become tainted. She will be seen as a "greedy nurse" because the public is very quick to judge. I agree that something like this is the only way safety measures will be put into place to protect nurses; and it's sad it has to come to this. However, there is always a cost. And if she loses, she won't be the only one to lose.

The public? I'm amazed at how many of our OWN are painting her as greedy.

Gooselady, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2015

First Lie
Liberia says Dallas Ebola patient lied on exit documents

It's not clear Duncan knew the pregnant woman he helped into a car had Ebola. Whether he was clear, or suspected, or it never crossed his mind, we'll never know.

It's difficult to believe he was completely oblivious . . . anyone who appeared to be ill in that region had a good chance of having contagious Ebola infection. I can see him going into denial or just being afraid he wouldn't be allowed 'out' and 'into' the US unless he stated a categorical NO to the questionnaire. I can see a desperate, frightened person thinking this way. It was so unbelievably irresponsible, selfish and WRONG whatever his motives were that there are no excuses.

When we say he was lying, I think 'lying' pops up most often as a deliberate, premeditated thing, which his lie may not have been. So anything piled up on him being an evil liar doesn't hold much water. It's more a function of how terrifying Ebola is and how we need to take into account that people have and will 'lie' like Duncan did and we need a more effective screening procedure.

Or, at least the current screening procedure ONLY allowed Duncan to slip through, compared to allowing a lot more potentially infected individuals, so it's not a perfect system, but workable enough.

FLAlleycat · Mar 4, 2015

I can see him perhaps in denying. But I can also see him in really not knowing. The family had been told the girl was ill with pregnancy-related illness. He lived in an area where there was no Ebola. It's W Africa where malaria was/is still more prevalent than Ebola. Even Dr. Brantley, working in the thick of Ebola, thought he had malaria. But, you are right. Denial is powerful!

to be honest, I'm quite surprised our screening process has worked so well I really thought we'd see many, many more Duncan's!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

Well, now someone who was on the airplane with Amber Vinson is suing. It was on our local news. The woman was in isolation for 3 weeks. This one is a crock IMO. She needs to take acting lessons.

T

The store where Vinson shopped for wedding dresses had to close. The owner lost her business r/t public avoidance of the store where the Ebola nurse and her entourage tried on dresses. I describe Vinson as the Ebola nurse because that's how she was viewed by the public.

Would it be ok for the dress shop owner to sue A Vinson for the loss of her business?

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

I can see him perhaps in denying. But I can also see him in really not knowing. The family had been told the girl was ill with pregnancy-related illness. He lived in an area where there was no Ebola. It's W Africa where malaria was/is still more prevalent than Ebola. Even Dr. Brantley, working in the thick of Ebola, thought he had malaria. But, you are right. Denial is powerful!
to be honest, I'm quite surprised our screening process has worked so well I really thought we'd see many, many more Duncan's!

I watched the interviews with nurses who took care of Duncan in the ER. One nurse said he lied more than once when answering questions about his health history. I don't remember the specifics, but the fact that he lied to ER staff sticks in my head.

FLAlleycat · Mar 5, 2015

I watched the interviews with nurses who took care of Duncan in the ER. One nurse said he lied more than once when answering questions about his health history. I don't remember the specifics, but the fact that he lied to ER staff sticks in my head.

Wouldn't that be a HIPAA violation?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

Wouldn't that be a HIPAA violation?

His family released his medical records to the media. I fail to see how this would be a HIPAA violation.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

I watched the interviews with nurses who took care of Duncan in the ER. One nurse said he lied more than once when answering questions about his health history. I don't remember the specifics, but the fact that he lied to ER staff sticks in my head.

I posted this link earlier, but maybe you didn't see it. The conversation about Duncan's truthfulness happens at about the 2 and a half minute mark.

I support Nina's right to sue, but just wanted to address the comment about Duncan's "lie." The ER nurse who took care of Mr. Duncan on the night he was delivered to PHD by ambulance states that he was not honest when asked about the statements he had previously given HER in the ER.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp28QYJDMI
That is at about 2:30 I think.

Guest575949 · Mar 5, 2015

You don't see soldiers suing the government because they CAN'T sue the government. You're not allowed to -- part of the paperwork you sign when you join.

I'm aware. That's why I said I was NOT referring to soldiers. The comment I was replying to basically paralleled Nina Pham's case with soldiers. The person said "you don't see soldiers suing..."

I thought it was silly parallel to attempt and draw- not only because soldiers can't sue, but also because not fighting for yourself (if you are able to) isn't something deserving of any type of prize.

CecileSF · Mar 6, 2015

It's hard to say what are the facts. But if the hospital did fail to provide proper education and precautions, she should be awarded the money. Hazards of contracting an illness is part of the job description of nursing, it happens. But I hope my employer will do everything it can to protect it's workers.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Mar 6, 2015

It doesn't surprise me she's suing. I absolutely support her. They were not provided the resources or education they needed to provide care while protecting themselves.

That being said, I do have a hard time believing they edited the video of her in the hospital. It seemed she genuinely did appreciate the care she was getting there.

I did kind of suspect she was being used as a PR pawn. I found it suspicious how much media attention she got compared to Amber. Some of that may have been related to how much information her family was willing to relate.

One article I read mentioned that end of life care was discussed as an indication that she wasn't doing as well as portrayed to the media. I do think having an end of life care discussion with a patient that could go downhill quickly while she could still participate in the discussion. I'm not sure this was an indication that she was actively going downhill.

I wonder if her worker's comp is ending and she's not prepared mentally to return to the bedside (as the same article said she has no intention to do). She has been put through a terrible situation and I do support her in this.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2015

It doesn't surprise me she's suing. I absolutely support her. They were not provided the resources or education they needed to provide care while protecting themselves.
That being said, I do have a hard time believing they edited the video of her in the hospital. It seemed she genuinely did appreciate the care she was getting there.
I did kind of suspect she was being used as a PR pawn. I found it suspicious how much media attention she got compared to Amber. Some of that may have been related to how much information her family was willing to relate.
One article I read mentioned that end of life care was discussed as an indication that she wasn't doing as well as portrayed to the media. I do think having an end of life care discussion with a patient that could go downhill quickly while she could still participate in the discussion. I'm not sure this was an indication that she was actively going downhill.
I wonder if her worker's comp is ending and she's not prepared mentally to return to the bedside (as the same article said she has no intention to do). She has been put through a terrible situation and I do support her in this.

Considering that she was ill with a very deadly infection, I think a discussion about end of life care was completely appropriate. They wanted to know her preferences about being intubated, put on dialysis, etc.