Providing Medical Care To Child Molesters

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2007

I've provided care to a man listed on the sexual predator's list. I've cared for drug addicts, murderers, drunk drivers who have killed innocents, and all kinds of patients. For me it's just a matter of focusing on the physical and keeping my personal judgements and feelings about them out of it.

It's not easy for sure. Sometimes I have to think "I'm getting you well so you can go to jail and pay for your crimes."

TazziRN, RN · Mar 25, 2007

I do my job and nothing more or less. I once had a suspected rapist try to joke with me while doing my assessment. I paid no attention, just did my job, and he got uncomfortable with me when he realized the charm wasn't going to work.

This is someone who hasn't paid for their crime, mind you. If they've done the time (or are doing it now), then that's another story.

KellNY, RN · Mar 25, 2007

To be 100% honest (flame away!) I would not accept a member of that "family" as a pt. That case brought so many emotions out for me, that I truly feel that I would not be able to offer ethical care to the pt.

If for some reason I had to, no I wouldn't talk to them, and if I did it would be telling them how I felt about them. If they tried to start a conversation, I'd say something like "I'm sorry, but it makes me sick to my stomach to even be in the same building as you, let alone the same room. I'm going to complete my required tasks and then leave the room" and do just that.

No amount of time in jail could possibly be justice enough for those monsters. No one was there helping that little boy feel well while he was being raped, and later murdered. (not that I'm attacking you. i respect you very much for being a bigger person than myself, I guess)

FTR-I've cared for mothers who's crack smoking caused IUFDs, miscarriages, etc, for pregnant women who were incarcerated, to male inmates (didn't know the crime-didn't want to), to women who are having their 5th kid taken away from them due to meth addiction, etc.

Raping and murdering a child, then dumping his body like he were trash is in another world, IMO.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Mar 25, 2007

Simply put, the thing that MAKES us a great nation is that this is a nation of laws, not men.

As such, the criminal justice system is the ONLY place to vest punishment. Any other method, including lack of providing competent care to someone in need, is putting the man (or in this case, the nurse) in higher position than the law.

We have decided, as a nation, that there is greater danger in vesting our powers in men and not law.

That is the bottom line.

~faith,

Timothy.

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2007

Tweety may have the right idea - Getting 'em better to go to JAIL - but, like you I have a tough time with it --

I do what is NECESSARY. With POLICE in ATTENDANCE. No DISCUSSION. But, I did get a chance to close a door and whisper and you can bet I had a THERAPEUTIC conversation with one. May have only been therapeutic for me - but, hey that's what COUNTS!

I KNOW that PRISON LIFE is BRUTAL for these - SO I KNOW they will get theirs -

BUT SOMEHOW IT STILL DOESN'T SEEM LIKE JUSTICE -

But, I know that me sacrificing my safety and career for this type of EVIL is not only unwise, unnecessary and unlikely to have any effect on 'em -

it only serves to upset me!

So, the worse of a bad mamba jamba someone is --- the more cold and direct I become.

As I see it, I have a JOB to do - technical ONLY! These are not human, so nothing but basic HUMANE treatment from me. No warm fuzzys available here.

Oh YEAH -

AND LETS GET 'EM BACK TO JAIL! WHERE THEY BELONG!

Because, IMHO, DEATH is WAY TOO EASY!

:angryfire

PANurseRN1 · Mar 25, 2007

I would do what I had to do, but it would be the absolute minimum. No small talk, no extras. I would have a hard time having compassion for a sleazoid who harmed a child like the most recent case.

KellNY, RN · Mar 25, 2007

NREMT-I hear you, BUT, just wanted to let you know, that some of these non-humans are actually given extra protection, private rooms, etc because there have been lawsuits about gaurds who turned a blind eye to violence, prisoners that were abusive not getting punished, etc. As much as you and I may disgaree with this: They still have the right to "fair" treatment, and yes-even protection while being held by the state.

So, often, they don't "get theirs", they actually get special tx. Not sure if this is in every state/area, but here it often is. (think about it-if jail was really that bad for those 'people'--why do we see them in court looking miserable but alive with no injuries?)

LydiaNN · Mar 25, 2007

With the latest killing of little Christopher in Georgia, I have really been wondering about this. This has upset me so much I can't hardly stand it.
How do you feel about providing medical care to a child molester? I know if they were a patient, we are obligated to provide the care, how would you get past your personal feelings? Just go in and do what you have to? What if they wanted to talk and you didn't want to talk to them?
This is very personal as it has happened in my own family, without a death being involved, but none the less, very, very difficult to deal with. After my sons and I going through 3 years of therapy, I still cannot get past what happened.
Blessings to all.

I've had to provide care to child abusers before, although to the best of my knowledge, not to pedophiles or murderers. You just have to put aside any personal judgment and be task oriented in these situations. It isn't even a matter of how we feel about doing this, it is a matter of professional ethics. This is what we agreed to do in essence when we got our license. If they're our patient, then we need to provide the relevant care.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Mar 25, 2007

It's not easy for sure. Sometimes I have to think "I'm getting you well so you can go to jail and pay for your crimes."

Just a few thoughts:

When I was in nursing school I took care of a guy who'd slammed his car into a house trying to evade the police who were after him for doing/possessing/dealing crack. He was badly hurt & on our neuro floor.

A few rooms down the hall was a woman whose car was rearended by another person going at full speed...can't exactly remember how fast. She had her reflex and could breathe on her own but didn't open her eyes talk, responded only to painful stimuli. She was also 6 weeks pregnant at the time (she carried baby to fullterm & he was born healthy). The person who rearended her was under the influence of something, if I remember it right.

I remember when I got my pt assignment that day (for the crack dealer, after I'd read his hx), I broke down crying & told my instructor that I couldn't take care of that pt, because for all I know it was him or someone like him that rearended Ms. xxxx and left her like she was. I remember thinking I didn't ever want to be a nurse if I had to take care of people like him.

Now with a few years' experience behind me, I can look at that and say, just because I am hanging their IV meds or changing a dressing, or whatever, that does NOT mean I agree with what they've done, or that I like them as a person. I personally may think the person needs to be strung up by their scrotum, but I'm still going to do what I have to do to get through my shift. I like Tweety's rationale, as the pokey might be more punishment than they bargained for, esp if they are a child molester.

I currently work mother/baby. It is most of the time a happy place with more focus on wellness & education than anything. But we get 12yo's whose stepfather raped them & they are delivering his baby. And sometimes he's in the room with the girl's mother. Sometimes we get crackheads who are popping out their 7th baby in as many years, the first six of whom are in someone else's custody. I don't agree with what these people have done, to be quite honest, I hate it. But I'm still going to take care of them while they are with me.

Your patient may be a child molester, and you know about it. He may be a child molester that hasn't been caught yet. Your waiter may be a child molester. Your banker may be one. Creeps are out there in many forms.

BULLYDAWGRN, RN · Mar 25, 2007

3 yrs ago I provided medical care to wounded and some dying iraqis or insurgents whatever you call them, i call them terrorist. Yes it was difficult trying to keep alive something that given any chance it would kill you without thought. But I did it along with everyother medical personel I came into contact with. I do rank a child molester along side a terroristas far as things I'd like to do nasty and midevil things to, and I reckon I'd tx them along with the rest of the heard of pt's that come through the er or unit. But I'd definitly would not like it.

TrudyRN · Mar 25, 2007

With the latest killing of little Christopher in Georgia, I have really been wondering about this. This has upset me so much I can't hardly stand it.
How do you feel about providing medical care to a child molester? I know if they were a patient, we are obligated to provide the care, how would you get past your personal feelings? Just go in and do what you have to? What if they wanted to talk and you didn't want to talk to them?
This is very personal as it has happened in my own family, without a death being involved, but none the less, very, very difficult to deal with. After my sons and I going through 3 years of therapy, I still cannot get past what happened.
Blessings to all.

Yes, just do what you have to do. It sounds, though, like, given your history, that you maybe shouldn't be involved in this person's care. At least not more than once.