Using Your Nursing Credentials to Validate Anti-Vaxxer Theories

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As nurses we are supposed to understand and follow science. Yet all over the country nurses are using their background to validate crackpot theories about Covid and the vaccine. Should there be consequences for leading an effort to hurt the public health? After all, it violates basic nursing ethics in particular, do no harm. Should boards of nurses sanction these people or should the ANA or other associations put out a statement saying these folk don't represent us?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Some medical boards believe in those type consequences. It's certainly not outside of the scope of their authority.  

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

There should be consequences. I posted a link in another thread that points out that this is what is being looked at. You put out garbage info regarding medical advice/recommendations, you should be held accountable, up to and including removal of your license.

I am so very careful about any recommendations I make. People trust nurses to give them sound advice. I limit it to "please ask your doctor as he/she can best guide you what to do" or some other phrase like that. It's for the patient's protection and my own. I stay within my scope!

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

https://www.newson6.com/story/610dec9ac97a800be7f69785/doctors-contributing-to-vaccine-misinformation-could-lose-their-license

Doctors Contributing To Vaccine Misinformation Could Lose Their License

TULSA, Oklahoma -

The Federation of State Medical Boards says doctors who knowingly spread false information about vaccines could lose their license.

They believe this could help stop the spread of disinformation on social media.

"It comes down to that very simple thing, are you willing to take that chance and if you are, that is your decision and as a physician, I have to honor it,” Dr, Michael Ward said.

More of the article can be found on this link above.

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

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2021/08/11/dan-stock-indiana-doctors-viral-mt-vernon-school-board-testimony-full-misinformation/5551476001/

An Indiana doctor's COVID comments went viral. They were also full of misinformation.

Dr. Dan Stock looked and sounded the part. He was well-dressed, well-spoken, credentialed and explained complicated medical terms with ease, so even the layperson could understand what he was saying. 

There was only one problem: what he was saying was largely false, contrary to the opinions of the medical establishment, and potentially dangerous. 

More of the article on the link above. What we say matters. Words matter!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
On 8/31/2021 at 3:00 PM, SmilingBluEyes said:

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2021/08/11/dan-stock-indiana-doctors-viral-mt-vernon-school-board-testimony-full-misinformation/5551476001/

An Indiana doctor's COVID comments went viral. They were also full of misinformation.

Dr. Dan Stock looked and sounded the part. He was well-dressed, well-spoken, credentialed and explained complicated medical terms with ease, so even the layperson could understand what he was saying. 

There was only one problem: what he was saying was largely false, contrary to the opinions of the medical establishment, and potentially dangerous. 

More of the article on the link above. What we say matters. Words matter!

A pandemic of bad intentions or bad judgement or maybe both...

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

I want to believe it's not nefarious, spreading disinformation. But my gut says otherwise.

And if it's true, yes any nurse/doctor/pharmacist should lose their license for propagating such bad information.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I truly don't think that there are that many nurses and doctors that intend harm out there. It's unfortunate that there is some direct misinformation being passed along, but there are also many people that are skeptical and are trying to voice that in a true effort to do something good. If you think back to thalidomide, Vioxx, talcom powder, even smoking, the medical community has, in the past, supported treatments or interventions that ended up doing patients harm. I am NOT saying that I think the vaccine falls in that category myself, but there are people that don't understand the true depth of the research behind coronaviruses and I would like to think that they have the best interest of others at heart when they raise these concerns. I don't know what to do about it myself, but I don't think anyone should lose their license over being ill informed. Unless they do something like inject saline instead of the vaccine or something which is a direct attempt to deceive or harm patients. Nurses and doctors are people, too. And sometimes people make bad decisions about all sorts of things. While I wish the medical community could come together 100% to get people vaccinated, that's not going to happen because we're human and I don't think it should necessarily end someone's career. 

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
41 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

I truly don't think that there are that many nurses and doctors that intend harm out there. It's unfortunate that there is some direct misinformation being passed along, but there are also many people that are skeptical and are trying to voice that in a true effort to do something good. If you think back to thalidomide, Vioxx, talcom powder, even smoking, the medical community has, in the past, supported treatments or interventions that ended up doing patients harm. I am NOT saying that I think the vaccine falls in that category myself, but there are people that don't understand the true depth of the research behind coronaviruses and I would like to think that they have the best interest of others at heart when they raise these concerns. I don't know what to do about it myself, but I don't think anyone should lose their license over being ill informed. Unless they do something like inject saline instead of the vaccine or something which is a direct attempt to deceive or harm patients. Nurses and doctors are people, too. And sometimes people make bad decisions about all sorts of things. While I wish the medical community could come together 100% to get people vaccinated, that's not going to happen because we're human and I don't think it should necessarily end someone's career. 

When you put it like that I see your point. But this pandemic stands to kill millions in fairly short order, so I feel in this case, spreading around bad information should be looked at and corrected quickly.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
44 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

I don't know what to do about it myself, but I don't think anyone should lose their license over being ill informed. Unless they do something like inject saline instead of the vaccine or something which is a direct attempt to deceive or harm patients. Nurses and doctors are people, too.

It's not about being ill informed. It's about making public statements which are ill informed and dangerous when aware that your profession and degrees lend a veneer of credibility to poorly informed opinion. It's knowing that such behaviors will influence gullible, naive or confused people, resulting in more  infections and suffering.  There are appropriate and safer ways to address real concerns.  

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

There are appropriate and safer ways to address real concerns.  

But if you truly believe that what you're doing is to help others, then using social media or giving your opinion is not inappropriate. 

 

2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

It's knowing that such behaviors will influence gullible, naive or confused people, resulting in more  infections and suffering.

I just don't think that any nurse or doctor WANTS to cause more infections or suffering. I think that these people are, for the most part, trying to raise what they consider to be a genuine concern. And these days there are so many people sharing their expertise or opinion it's not as if people do not hear different points of view. But they're going to choose to listen to someone, for whatever reason, so we can hope that they choose to listen to those with true expertise. 

Again, I'm NOT saying that I agree with the people that are spreading misinformation, I just don't think they're evil or intend harm. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
4 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

But if you truly believe that what you're doing is to help others, then using social media or giving your opinion is not inappropriate. 

 

I just don't think that any nurse or doctor WANTS to cause more infections or suffering. I think that these people are, for the most part, trying to raise what they consider to be a genuine concern. And these days there are so many people sharing their expertise or opinion it's not as if people do not hear different points of view. But they're going to choose to listen to someone, for whatever reason, so we can hope that they choose to listen to those with true expertise. 

Again, I'm NOT saying that I agree with the people that are spreading misinformation, I just don't think they're evil or intend harm. 

Health professionals making public comments spreading fear or concern about vaccination during a pandemic are demonstrating flawed judgement. That should be addressed at high levels to protect the public.  

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