Safe staffing at hospitals

[pickledpepperRN]

From the Orange County Register

Letter to the editor:

http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=84752&section=COMMENTARY&subsection=COMMENTARY&year=2004&month=3&day=9

Safe staffing at hospitals

I was shocked to learn that the California Healthcare Association persuaded the Orange County Board of Supervisors to ask the governor to waive sanctions against hospitals that violate the safe-staffing law. As a patient advocate, I must protest this dangerous agenda on behalf of our most vulnerable citizens, those who are sick and in the hospital.

This is a transparent attempt by the hospital trade association to punch a giant loophole in the only consumer law that will reduce medication errors, decrease hospital malpractice liability and reduce patient mortality. Protecting the public is government business.

DeAnn McEwen, R.N.

Cypress