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?
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
I would have a conversation with his "son" and find out the city/state he was born in. An easy check of the Bureau of Vital Statistics, they would most likely confirm this for a hospital...find out if this patient is listed on the boy's birth certificate.
How old is this "visitor"? I would ask to see an ID if he is of driving age.
I stopped cuddling with my dad before a time I can even remember. And I can remember pre-school at age 4. On the list or not, tell him to knock it off.
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?
this is a great point. i agree with you, totally. i wonder if there is anyway to pull up a previous history from this man's records to see if he has it documented somewhere about his family.... usually it's in medical records about marital status, children, etc...
is there a note in the chart about his next of kin? perhaps if the child is of school age and cannot drive, you can call the next of kin and say that mr. man's son cannot stay since it's past visiting hours and you would like them to be picked up, and if they say "he doesn't have a son".... then you'll know.
I'm surprised social services isn't more concerned. I've seen parents who have their children with them while they are hospitalized because they have no where else to send them,.that just isn't ok. If you are so ill that you need to be hospitalized you shouldn't be taking care of children. Who is responsible for the child while the pt is in Xray or asleep? The hospital isn't a daycare and someone should be doing something.
If this child isn't even related and the pt isn't safe to be around children than you have a whole other issue. Best of luck.
Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.
Okay ummmmjust to play the devils advocate here.........curious as to if this would be the same kind of reaction if this was a 35 yo female patient with her child, cuddling. Would that seem as weird? Would we automatically think --is there something sexual going on here? Is that a missing child that is not hers?
Not sure of the age of the child but I just was thinkingof when I was in the hospital for 5 days as a patient and my son was in--brought by his dad or my parents-- and he would climb in my bed and cuddle and watch cartoons. I was missing him terribly--he was maybe 5 at the time. Yes it was not all day. But I just always hate to assume the worst before I know. He could be close with is son. Maybe he is depressed knowing that he has HIV and his time with his son is limited...... I know if I had that kind of dx I would want to spend as much time as I could with my kids and I would be doing a lot of cuddling.
Now of course if there actually IS something going on and this child is being harmed or violated of course I would want to see this issue stopped right away. I just, working in psych maybe, hate to assume things....and know that being HIV+ can be a risk factor for depression. Pulling the child out and asking a few questions might be helpful.
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I would never confront this man, that is not my job, nor do I need to put myself at risk. If you are wrong and this REALLY is a sick man finding comfort in human connection the ramifications could be brutal. This man has HIV, it just smells of a discrimination lawsuit to me. Follow your protocols. Would anyone confront a suspected murderer? The chances he might bolt or attempt to hurt someone to flee or cover his butt are elevated in this situation in my opinion.
This is tough, you have a battle here over being a professional and your own emotions and feelings over this. I'm all for telling him the policy over no bed sharing, just explain infection control aswell. KEEP an eye on the child, maybe speak to the child...ask questions etc
I'd let risk management handle it. Report your concerns to them and your unit manager, then continue to care for the patient as if there was nothing wrong.
And as someone else already pointed out, depending on the age and the situation, it may be appropriate...when I was in the hospital in September s/p hysto, my ten year old son parked himself in the bed next to me and refused to leave my side. Hubby had to pry him away. He was only there for a few hours, and hubby was there as well the whole time, but it was obvious that he was missing mommy and wasn't leaving voluntarily.
But if your gut feeling is that something else is going on, it's probably a different situation entirely...just that with me not being there, it's easy to play devil's advocate.
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
How can you say the police are not warranted. You have a guy that looks like the picture on the website, using one of the aliases on the website. It seems like a no-brainer to me. Call the police at once. This man is breaking the law. If you falsely accuse him and he is inocent, he will get over it.
BabyLady, BSN, RN
2,300 Posts
I would have a conversation with his "son" and find out the city/state he was born in. An easy check of the Bureau of Vital Statistics, they would most likely confirm this for a hospital...find out if this patient is listed on the boy's birth certificate.
How old is this "visitor"? I would ask to see an ID if he is of driving age.