Reporting child abuse

Published

So I'm doing a visit today and the lady who is heavily pregnant admits to m, she and her daughter and viciously beat/peed on/not allowed to eat due to her spouse/mother in law. I ask my doctor what to do about it and dr said pt has a plan to leave give her time before calling family and children. I am obligated to report! So I called when I got home and filed the report causing FACS to jump into action!

I know I did the right thing reporting but I feel so bad going against my doc... Am I right????? Am I wrong???

Sorry new grad

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I would report in a heartbeat, you don't need a dr order to report so don't feel bad at all.

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Sorry for typos I posted from my phone and its been a long emotionally draining day and having a hard time sleeping now

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My dilema is my doc asked me not to and to give her more time but I was worried if more harm came to her it would come back on my license.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

You may feel bad about going against your doc, but wouldn't you feel much worse if you found out the victims died as a result of this abuse?

You did the right thing, and that doctor needs to get a clue!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Your doc can get over it, but would you be able to if the abuse escalated and there were more significant injuries or worse life threatening injuries upon your return.

Both the MD & nurse are legally obligated to report the situation. if you have first hand knowledge (whether the patient told you or you witnessed the injuries) you have no choice but to report the law is rather clear on that issue. You would not be excused because you followed the physician's wish to give her "more time to leave". Perhaps she feels unable to leave hence why she revealed the details to you, looking for a way to get out.

Sleep well, you did the right thing.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
My dilema is my doc asked me not to and to give her more time but I was worried if more harm came to her it would come back on my license.

Um, your Doc KNOWS about this abuse and is content to sit by and let this "plan" fall into place? S/he is also a mandatory reporter, has s/he forgotten that? Best to let them worry about their own license and you not worry about yours--you did the right thing, IMO. If this is true and your Doc did NOTHING to protect these people, I have to wonder about his/her morals and lack of ethics....

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
My dilema is my doc asked me not to and to give her more time but I was worried if more harm came to her it would come back on my license.

YOu are right it could come back on you and your license you are a mandated reporter...shame on him. I'd report him to the board of medicine for his inaction....:devil:

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I am confused. Who is being abused and by whom? No difference, all abuse needs to be reported.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Sorry for typos I posted from my phone and its been a long emotionally draining day and having a hard time sleeping now

YOU DID GOOD!!!!! It is very hard to experience and witness these things. What a long hard day...:hug:. If that was a relative would you want someone to stop it? I'm sure you would. That Doc should be tarred and feathered. You saved 3 lives today!!!! :yeah::redbeathe

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Specializes in ED/ICU/TELEMETRY/LTC.

You think if you are sued that doctor is going to cover you if you are sued? NOT! You did great. No child deserves anything like that and no doctor should sanction it. She can have her plan and get out without that child suffering such abuse.

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Specializes in Orthopaedic Nursing; Geriatrics.

You absolutely did the right thing! One of my biggest regrets of my entire career is a time when the doctor I worked for would not report an obvious abuse case and I didn't do it on my own. I swear, that was in 1982 and I STILL have regrets!

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