A Legal Nightmare: Denver Nurses Indicted in Newborn Death

Nurses Activism

Published

A Legal Nightmare ---Denver Nurses Indicted

Author(s)

Karren Kowalski, PhD, RN, FAAN

Marianne D Horner, MS, CNM

MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing

May / June 1998

Volume 23, Issue 3

CE Hours: 1.50

When does a mistake by a nurse constitute criminally negligent homicide? The authors of this article assisted defense attorneys on a recent case in Denver in which three nurses were indicted on the charge of criminally negligent homicide when a medication error resulted in the death of a healthy newborn.

http://216.251.241.177/ce/KnowledgeQuest/article.cfm?ID=FC448716%2D4481%2D11D4%2D83DC%2D00508B605149

Dear Brownms46,

Your post is important to me, b/c it reaffirms the understanding I've gained from many other nurses' posts: you go up the chain of command, even if belittled for questioning an order...you hang tough and keep asking, and ultimately refuse to admnister the med if the answer still doesn't sit well with you. Although I am not hesitant about asking questions, I think I have a tendency to defer to others--to let them override that quiet voice that says, something ain't right; but, your post and the others are helping me see that nobody's outcome but the patient's matters when there is a question--all egos be damned, first of all mine.

Also, the need to watch for documentation of changes is emphasized in your post, something I've read of in other posts too.

I look forward to nursing school in the distant future; but, meanwhile, I'm getting as aware as possible as to the realities of being a nurse. Thank you and the other nurses.

Specializes in Everything except surgery.

Dear Franca,

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your compassionate response! I'm glad something positive came out of me putting my two cents in..:-).

I would like to welcome you to the world of nursing, and I'm sure you will do well in all that you do. Believe me you're VERY WELCOME.

Good Luck in School and always remember that still small voice is there for a reason, and always stand by your convictions. If you see yourself in that bed with each pt. you care for...you will do just fine.

I think you must be a much stronger person than you may think. You're coming into nursing at a perilious time, as you can see. But no matter what the perils...I hope you have a long and successful journey.

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