Texas Children's investigates RN for social media HIPAA violation

[JustBeachyNurse]

A neurosurgeon reportedly went rogue and posted screen shots to the TCH West of the nurse's posts. Ones she later deleted when she realized she said too much including wanting to swab the child and infect her unvaccinated teenager son. TX antivax FB groups are reportedly conspiring how much to offer for a swab of the toddler.

Texas Children's Hospital nurse investigated for Facebook posting as Houston toddler tests positive for measles | abc13.com

Thing is there were no "measles parties". Homes if those infected with measles were quarantined by the DoH. My mother was of the prevaccine generation born in the late 40's. Remembers classmates with polio and red quarantine signs. Her own home was quarantined when she had scarlet fever.

Measles infection puts one at risk for fatal post measles encephalitis known as Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) years after infection. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

And measles has been shown to likely long term "immune amnesia" where your immunity is wiped out. Long-term measles-induced immunomodulation increases overall childhood infectious disease mortality Long-lasting effects of "immune amnesia" induced by measles | Emory University | Atlanta, GA

[mtmkjr, BSN]

My kids got all their required vaccinations. I am generally grateful for all the good that has come from them, and I'm in favor of mandatory vaccines for certain childhood diseases.

That said, I believe there is a lot we don't know and I always leave open the possibility that some harm has come from one or more of them that we aren't aware of yet.

While I disagree with those who think we know NOW that there is harm enough to stop vaccinating, I respect their opinions. Some of them are out of ignorance, others have misinformation, and others have educated, thoughtful opinions.

(Edited to add: I don't actually respect the opinions of those who are ignorant and misinformed, but I respect the person)

So I will keep advocating for childhood vaccines, but I don't think anyone should try to shut down the debate.

[Emergent, RN]

The woman's opinions on vaccination is really irrelevant to the case. There are two items that I see where she is grievously in the wrong .

A) Posting a highly controversial and unethical statement on a public forum, identifying her place of employment, department, and the diagnosis of a patient.

B) Making the irrational statement of her intent to infect her son with a potentially serious disease. As someone mentioned previously, measles is not innocuous like chicken pox.

I had the measles as a child. I was around 4. I remember the palpable fear and seriousness of it. I was confined to a darkened room, people spoke in hushed tones.

Like I said, this woman has gone off the rails. I blame the internet , it fans the flames of extremism .

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Antivaxers do not belong in nursing. Period.

So you say. Slap, slap.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

The woman's opinions on vaccination is really irrelevant to the case. There are two items that I see where she is grievously in the wrong .

A) Posting a highly controversial and unethical statement on a public forum, identifying her place of employment, department, and the diagnosis of a patient.

B) Making the irrational statement of her intent to infect her son with a potentially serious disease. As someone mentioned previously, measles is not innocuous like chicken pox.

I had the measles as a child. I was around 4. I remember the palpable fear and seriousness of it. I was confined to a darkened room, people spoke in hushed tones.

Like I said, this woman has gone off the rails. I blame the internet , it fans the flames of extremism .

My siblings and I, our cousins and neighbors all had measles, German measles, mumps, and chicken pox, as well as 5th Disease. I guess people knew these could all have some bad consequences, but I don't recall terror being associated with these UCHD - usual childhood diseases. It was just expected that all kids would get them. There were no vaccines back then - that we/our parents and grandparents and aunties knew about. Just calamine lotion for itching and aspirin (yes, aspirin) for fever. Mom also gave us hot milk sweetened with rock candy, or ice pops.

I now it's a different world, I am not going to fight the annual pro vs. anti-vax battle, as no one ever changes anyone else's mind and many rude remarks are made about those who aren't so sure that forced vaccines are safe and effective. Other posters says we are unscientific and even question whether we are even nurses at all because Heaven forbid a different viewpoint than the majority be expressed or merely wondered aloud.

So, to each his own. No point in trying to have a calm, rational discussion, just go right to Aunt Slappy's type of remark. People have different opinions, for various reasons, but they'll get little if any respect around here.

The nurse in this article is an idiot re: HIP HIP HOORAY.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I guarantee they terminated this nurse because of her anti vax stance and used the "HIPAA" violation as an excuse. If I remember correctly, she didn't identify the patient, so it wasn't a true violation. This is one of the many reasons you should not disclose your employer on social media. Its also a bad idea IMHO to ever discuss a patient, no matter what.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

This nurse needs a mental health evaluation. Her line of thinking is bizarre. It makes no sense.

Back in the day, we did purposely expose our kids to chicken pox. I did it with my 4 boys. This was to a) get it over with and b) to make sure they got it all at once, sparing me the inconvenience of having them get it one by one.

This is how I got chickenpox, TBH. The rationale was so that I would get it while I was young and could bounce right back, since EVERYONE got it at some point. There was no vaccine at the time.

[DextersDisciple, BSN, RN]

The article explains that increased sanitation caused polio because infants previously were exposed via breastfeeding. It fails to mention that in the 20th century breastfeeding went out of fashion, and if it was done, it was done just a short time. It sounds like the polio vaccine recreates the natural process that used to occur.

You're right, that wasn't a good example, but I thought it quite fascinating and shared it because it had good information. In most other diseases better sanitation and living conditions had already dramatically reduced the occurrences prior to the vaccine.

My point is that the general vitriol towards people with different attitudes towards vaccines is harmful. As I said previously, this particular nurse sounds like she went pretty far off the rails, both in her thinking and professional conduct.

I'm sad to say I always enjoyed reading your posts but I really really disliked this one. I'm not trying to be rude I am just shocked that you would be defending antivaxers.

[broughden]

Other posters says we are unscientific and even question whether we are even nurses at all because Heaven forbid a different viewpoint than the majority be expressed or merely wondered aloud.

Because the core of nursing, one of its foundation principles, is evidence based practice. The EVIDENCE points to the fact that vaccines and herd immunity are safe and save lives with a minimum of adverse effects.

So if someone cant comprehend and process that, then they are in fact being unscientific and shouldn't be anywhere in the field of healthcare with the possible exception of janitor.

[Emergent, RN]

I'm sad to say I always enjoyed reading your posts but I really really disliked this one. I'm not trying to be rude I am just shocked that you would be defending antivaxers.

I wasn't defending people against vaccination in the least. Did you read the article in full? It explains why there was a dramatic increase in polio in the 20th century, the probable cause being the lack of immunization through breastfeeding.

[nehneh14]

Not only are anti-vaxxers disturbing in and of themselves, it is now known that Russia has been intentionally spreading anti-vax propaganda via FB and other social media for years now. So people worldwide have been under attack for who knows how long as part of a cyber disinformation campaign. This was deliberate, and aside from Wakefield, who was horrifying enough, to know there has been a concerted effort to indoctrinate people with anti-science views and to foment distrust in media/science with the aim to weaken an apparent "foreign" threat??? Chilling. Anti-vaxxers have been duped by a foreign power who would like nothing more than to see a pandemic bring other countries to their knees. Health care professionals have a duty to combat these ridiculous, ignorant anti-science beliefs. To do otherwise is to do harm and is a dereliction of our duty as nurses.

[Emergent, RN]

Not only are anti-vaxxers disturbing in and of themselves, it is now known that Russia has been intentionally spreading anti-vax propaganda via FB and other social media for years now. So people worldwide have been under attack for who knows how long as part of a cyber disinformation campaign. This was deliberate, and aside from Wakefield, who was horrifying enough, to know there has been a concerted effort to indoctrinate people with anti-science views and to foment distrust in media/science with the aim to weaken an apparent "foreign" threat??? Chilling. Anti-vaxxers have been duped by a foreign power who would like nothing more than to see a pandemic bring other countries to their knees. Health care professionals have a duty to combat these ridiculous, ignorant anti-science beliefs. To do otherwise is to do harm and is a dereliction of our duty as nurses.

I thought that the Jewish bankers, led by the Rothchilds, were the one seeking global domination via the trilateral commission!? It's really the Russian led antivaxers? Thanks for alerting us!

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

Stupid cow.

Why the hell would you willingly submit your child to that disease

She deserves everything that gets thrown at her