Pulled from floor by "Men in Black"

[mikala3]

I was working, and a group of suited up men pulled me from the floor and asked me questions about a patient's care. Afterwards, my charge nurse said that more than likely there is a law suit in the works and that they had pulled several people including her. That made me wonder what goes on in cases like this?

.

So if the family sues the hospital would I be required to testify? Is this a common thing?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

1) Maybe

2) If they come again, remember: Never, ever talk to anone like this without your own lawyer present

3) Never, ever sign ANYTHING without your own lawyer reading it first

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I was working, and a group of suited up men pulled me from the floor and asked me questions about a patient's care. Afterwards, my charge nurse said that more than likely there is a law suit in the works and that they had pulled several people including her. That made me wonder what goes on in cases like this?

.

So if the family sues the hospital would I be required to testify? Is this a common thing?

Am I understanding it correctly that a group of men, wearing suits, "pulled you" into a room to discuss a patient and you didn't ask for ID? Or authorization to talk to them?

Why on earth would you talk to a "group of suited up men" without knowing the agenda, and your potential liability in doing so?

Sounds like once they were finished with you, they have a potential witness--and no protection on your part from anything.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

NEVER EVER talk to anyone like that without a lawyer present. You also NEVER say anything to anyone if you do not know who they are. Just an FYI for the future. CYA at all times.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

I can't imagine any appropriate scenario in which you are "pulled from the floor" by an unidentified group of people to answer questions about a patient without violating HIPAA.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Ask to see a release of information from the patient stating that they give you permission to talk to said men in black :)

Seriously, tell them that you are unable to discuss the patient's care with anyone without a written release, and that if it pertains to any potential legal action, you will only answer questions with your attorney present. Then refer them to your nurse manager if they keep pressing the issue.

If they start making threats about how you're being uncooperative or breaking the law...well, only a judge can rule if you've broken the law, so that's an empty threat.

And don't let them insinuate that if you need a lawyer to talk to them that you must be guilty of wrongdoing...better they think that and you're protected legally by your lawyer's presence, than you trying to show that you're innocent by cooperating without legal protection for you.

[JBudd, MSN]

What the rest said....

First: who are you?

Second: does the hospital know you are here?

Third: What authority do you have?

Fourth: I'm calling security.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Never talk to anyone without the hospital legal team present!!!!!

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

[Altra, BSN, RN]

The situation, as it has been presented, strains credulity. Maybe some important details are missing.

[Andy Droid]

Maybe these were friends of the patient, and this was some not-so-elaborate set up for the patient to sue the hospital for HIPAA violations. (you apparently did answer questions to some random unknown folks about a specific patient.....)

[nursel56]

If they tell you this is a harmless otoscope, run.