Nurses Call the Governor of Tennessee

Published

The state of TN is prosecuting nurse Radonda Vaught for reckless homicide. You can contact the Governor or DA to let him know what you think about this choice.

Governor Bill Lee

1st Floor, State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-2001
email: [email protected]

District Attorney Glenn Funk

Specializes in ED, ICU, Prehospital.
4 minutes ago, Horseshoe said:

I get that you and other prudent and reasonable nurses are of that opinion. NOT being of that same opinion, does not mean one advocates bad nursing practice. It's simply a difference of opinion on what the penalties should be.

Something interesting (to me, at least)---I was perusing an auction site for houses.

One listing said, "Do not disturb tenants. It is a criminal offense to do so."

It is a criminal offense. I will go to jail if I park my car, get out, and walk around the property, whether the owners are there or not, because it's private property.

A friend had a felony conviction for throwing a brick thru a window as a juvenile. His sentence was suspended, but he has a felony on his record. It is a criminal offense, punishable by jailtime, to destroy PROPERTY.

So what do you think should happen when someone destroys a life through negligence?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
5 minutes ago, Horseshoe said:

I get that you and other prudent and reasonable nurses are of that opinion, and have the right to that opinion. NOT being of that same opinion, however, does not mean one advocates bad nursing practice. It's simply a difference of opinion on what the penalties should be. Both sides can agree that the nursing practice was appalling and negligent. Doesn't mean that reasonable people only have the right to ONE opinion.

...but consider this...and this is heartfelt question.

If this case doesn't meet the standard of criminal negligence, then there is NO LIMIT other than intentional homicide, we are willing to tolerate in our profession. Is there any limit for you?

If you think that doesn't damage the profession, it absolutely does.

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
2 minutes ago, HomeBound said:

Something interesting (to me, at least)---I was perusing an auction site for houses.

One listing said, "Do not disturb tenants. It is a criminal offense to do so."

It is a criminal offense. I will go to jail if I park my car, get out, and walk around the property, whether the owners are there or not, because it's private property.

A friend had a felony conviction for throwing a brick thru a window as a juvenile. His sentence was suspended, but he has a felony on his record. It is a criminal offense, punishable by jailtime, to destroy PROPERTY.

So what do you think should happen when someone destroys a life through negligence?

I think they should lose their license and the ability to ever work in healthcare again and pay restitution to the family to the degree that that they can. And of course, in this day and age, lose the ability to ever walk away from that negligence or hide behind anonymity because their act was made public far and wide in news reports and internet. Their ability to harm another human being in a medical setting is eliminated and their life is basically ruined. They just aren't sitting in a jail cell for years or decades.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
9 minutes ago, Horseshoe said:

Both sides can agree that the nursing practice was appalling and negligent.

I've asked this question over and over and nobody has answered it. Where would you draw the line? How bad does a nurse have to violate basic nursing standards before you'll agree that there is negligence that rises to the definition of criminal? I'm seriously interested in what that threshold would be.

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
6 minutes ago, HomeBound said:

Something interesting (to me, at least)---I was perusing an auction site for houses.

One listing said, "Do not disturb tenants. It is a criminal offense to do so."

It is a criminal offense. I will go to jail if I park my car, get out, and walk around the property, whether the owners are there or not, because it's private property.

A friend had a felony conviction for throwing a brick thru a window as a juvenile. His sentence was suspended, but he has a felony on his record. It is a criminal offense, punishable by jailtime, to destroy PROPERTY.

So what do you think should happen when someone destroys a life through negligence?

Quite frankly, a lot of laws are absurd. No wonder jails are full to the brim.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just now, Wuzzie said:

I've asked this question over and over and nobody has answered it. Where would you draw the line? How bad does a nurse have to violate basic nursing standards before you'll agree that there is negligence that rises to the definition of criminal? I'm seriously interested in what that threshold would be.

Where *I* would draw the line would be in intent and malice. Just because you are not put in prison does not mean you cannot be penalized very severely. But Tennessee clearly doesn't make that distinction; it's not up to me.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, Prehospital.
1 minute ago, Horseshoe said:

I think they should lose their license and the ability to ever work in healthcare again and pay restitution to the family to the degree that that they can. And of course, in this day and age, lose the ability to ever walk away from that negligence or hide behind anonymity because their act was made public far and wide in news reports and internet. Their ability to harm another human being in a medical setting is eliminated and their life is basically ruined. They just aren't sitting in a jail cell for years or decades.

You missed my point.

My point is---that in this society, we have agreed upon certain rules. Rules, that if broken, for whatever reason (I really liked that house! I wanted to see it! I have the right to go over there, I won't hurt anybody!)---people go to jail.

If you disregard the rights of others (as in, The Five Rights of Medication Administration)---you are held accountable.

My question was....are the defenders of RV actually saying that ignoring all of these rules and thereby killing this patient, that this falls BELOW the societal standard for criminal behavior when walking on private property without permission can send me to jail?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
3 minutes ago, Horseshoe said:

Where *I* would draw the line would be in intent and malice. Chemical impairment. Because you are not put in prison does not mean you cannot be penalized very severely. But Tennessee clearly doesn't make that distinction; it's not up to me.

ETA: dang, I keep screwing up the editing process.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, Prehospital.
Just now, Horseshoe said:

Where *I* would draw the line would be in intent and malice. Just because you are not put in prison does not mean you cannot be penalized very severely. But Tennessee clearly doesn't make that distinction; it's not up to me.

Which is why the law has sub-categories for things like this---we can, yet again, circle back to the distracted driver who swerves to miss a kitty cat and plows into a group of kids waiting for the schoolbus. Where was the malice and intent?

The law is this way for a reason. There is "reasonable doubt" and there is "intent" and there are "extenuating circumstances". Let RV explain her "extenuating circumstances that had no intent or malice and create reasonable doubt in the mind of a judge."

She needs to answer and answer well for the behavior she exhibited.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
4 minutes ago, HomeBound said:

You missed my point.

My point is---that in this society, we have agreed upon certain rules. Rules, that if broken, for whatever reason (I really liked that house! I wanted to see it! I have the right to go over there, I won't hurt anybody!)---people go to jail.

If you disregard the rights of others (as in, The Five Rights of Medication Administration)---you are held accountable.

My question was....are the defenders of RV actually saying that ignoring all of these rules and thereby killing this patient, that this falls BELOW the societal standard for criminal behavior when walking on private property without permission can send me to jail?

Just because we have stupid laws that put people in jail for petty offenses doesn't mean that we have to compound the problem by putting medical professionals in jail for incompetence and stupidity. Change the stupid laws that put people in jail for petty offenses and have them make restitution for silly stuff.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
3 minutes ago, Horseshoe said:

Where *I* would draw the line would be in intent and malice. Just because you are not put in prison does not mean you cannot be penalized very severely. But Tennessee clearly doesn't make that distinction; it's not up to me.

But the lack of intent is why she isn't being charged with murder.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
18 minutes ago, Jory said:

...but consider this...and this is heartfelt question.

If this case doesn't meet the standard of criminal negligence, then there is NO LIMIT other than intentional homicide, we are willing to tolerate in our profession. Is there any limit for you?

If you think that doesn't damage the profession, it absolutely does.

And to take it a little further, how many here who are opposed to criminal charges would support legislation that health professionals (because we can't single out nurses with special protections) cannot be criminally prosecuted for any reckless or negligent action whatsoever?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion