"Angels of Death"

Published

This was the title to a show I saw on the History channel today...the theme of the show, "Nurses that kill" They profiled the big cases from a few years ago of the nurses who euthanized or killed several of their patients. Not sure why they chose to do a show on this, since in the whole hour long show, they only had like three cases. I'm sure you could find cases like this in many professions.

Yeah. Ted Bundy wasn't a nurse. Neither were Jack the Ripper, Gacey, Dahmer, et al.

I supposed it's the fear factor, though. Nurses have traditionally been polled as the most trusted profession. Get a few whackos, and it becomes sensationalized to look like we're all homicidal maniacs.

~Kat

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am really tired of documentaries showing the worst of nursing. I know these things happen but sheesh, we have taken beating enough. A few bad apples should NOT ruin any bunch.

Specializes in Medical.

I was thinking this when I watched "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" the other night. As soon as I saw that there was a nurse I knew she'd be the murderer :o Medical drama featuring Munchausen's by proxy? Look for the nurse.

I think I'd rather be associated with patient-killers than with rampagious sluts who'll do anything in a white coat, but I'd much prefer nursing being associated with professional, informed, competent care.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Seeing these shows just make you want to run out and get an IM shot.

As if kids weren't afraid ENOUGH to go to the doctor....

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
II'd much prefer nursing being associated with professional, informed, competent care.

I agree.

Unfortunately that doesn't make for good gripping ratings-grabbing TV shows.

Especially when one of the quotes from the show was something like:

"Ever since Florence Nightengale, Nurses have been given our trust...but what happens when that trust is abused?"

Just makes it sound like this is some epidemic, when it really doesnt happen that often when you look at how many practicing nurses there are in the whole world, since one of these killers on the show was from London.

I like the law & order comment, I"ve seen a few of those episodes.

What would make for a really good show would be "When nursing students attack!" LOL

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
What would make for a really good show would be "When nursing students attack!" LOL

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Specializes in Medical.
What would make for a really good show would be "When nursing students attack!" LOL

- the first patient she killed was by accident, but now she's got a blood lust: YOU could be next!

:rotfl:

Hey, maybe a show about nurse killers written by nurses. If it's aired enough the population flooding the EDs mights go down.

Hey, maybe a show about nurse killers written by nurses. If it's aired enough the population flooding the EDs mights go down.

Heeeeey! :idea: Not a bad idea.

Back to the whole idea of euthanasia, it goes to ethics. It is such a complex issue, stemming back to personal beliefs, and choices and role of a nurse. The patient has a right to dignity, the right to live, the right to be free from pain. The nurse has to honor those rights but at the same time he / she can't take that decision into their own hands and act out of their authority.

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