Possible Pedo patient and underage visitor

[zoopnever]

Here's one we haven't seen before. There's an HIV positive patient here, about 35 years old. He has had a visitor in the room (private) all day, identifies him as his son. They have been in the bed together almost cuddling, and the RN and Social Worker both feel there's something wrong there. The Megan's Law website was checked and the patient appears to be there and in violation of his probation, which means there are warrants. I say "appears" because the picture on the website is of a healthier person and the patient is thin and sickly (HIV) but the resemblance is there and the name of the patient is one of the aliases.

So we have called CPS and asked their advice, which is to say there is no advice unless we can get a positive ID on what we believe to be a child unrelated to the patient. The police at this time are not warranted. Any thoughts? Advice? How would you handle it?

-----------Z

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Tell him the policy is no bed sharing. Period. Does not matter who or why.

[Jules A, MSN]

Thank goodness your facility was on the ball if in fact this is an abuse case. Please keep us posted.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

how about getting a nurse that hasnt had him as a patient yet, go into his room and address him with what you think is his legal name,,,,see what response you get.....not very nice, but if he is doing what you re implying, he isnt either....

[StrwbryblndRN]

You did what you could do for now. I am surprised that CPS does not a least look into it. But I guess there are limits for them.

I would agree with the no bed sharing thing though.

Just keep you eyes open.

[It'sMe, RN, BBA, MBA]

did you notify risk management of the situation? I was the risk manager of a hospital system and I would want to know.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Call Childfind and ask about any lost kids matching your little boy's appearance. Then report a possible sighting.

[BelleKat, BSN, RN]

Call risk management,if this is in fact an abuse situation and at the very least it is very inappropriate the hospital needs to be much more active in finding out what is going on espeically in view of the difference in age and the pts HIV status.

[Jo Dirt]

It would infuriate me this creep would be so arrogant as to think he could pull this off right under your nose. I would have to confront him.

I would have to.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Sex Offender registries can be inaccurate (in my area, mistaken identity has led to murder more than once), and people can end up on one for offenses like public urination and having sex with a 16-year old when they were 19. That said, the situation looks very suspicious.

Definitely go to Risk Management and keep an eye on the situation. He shouldn't be sharing a bed with anyone, especially a child. Is the child a baby, toddler, or older?

[htrn]

What else do you know about this kid? Who brought him in to visit? Where is he staying at night? Where is his mother? And is he visiting all day when he should be in school? Do your visitors have to register and get a visitor badge?

Looks very suspicious to me. Who would drop their child off at a hospital to visit ANYONE all day and not walk them to the room or come to the room to pick them up?

[cruisin_woodward]

Sex Offender registries can be inaccurate (in my area, mistaken identity has led to murder more than once), and people can end up on one for offenses like public urination and having sex with a 16-year old when they were 19. That said, the situation looks very suspicious.

Definitely go to Risk Management and keep an eye on the situation. He shouldn't be sharing a bed with anyone, especially a child. Is the child a baby, toddler, or older?

I agree! I had a friend who got drunk at 21 and peed in public....now 20 years later, he's on the list. Another friend graduated from high school, his girlfriends parents didn't like him so got him for statuatory rape. But I think you should discretely follow your gut. As long as it isn't predjudiced by his HIV status...