Video RN screaming, dragged into police car d/t refused blood draw on unconscious patient!

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

July 31 2017, guy fleeing police crosses median and slams into truck and dies. The truck catches fire severely burning the innocent driver, Mr. Gray, who was taken to SLC University. Police later showed up demanding to the UNCONSCIOUS innocent patient's blood. RN Alex shows them the policy requiring consent, arrest, or a warrant. Hospital administration back up RN Alex.

Police aggressively arrest RN Alex and removes her from the hospital. Officer body cam insanity released today:

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:

Video shows Utah nurse screaming, being dragged into police car after refusing to let officer take blood from unconscious victim - The Salt Lake Tribune

Long video body cam:

In this video, the aggressive officer can be heard saying that he will ensure all the "transients" are brought to this hospitals ED since they won't cooperate after being told the administrators and privacy officer are on their way.

Original Crash (graphic):

Interesting note about Alex, she was a 2x Olympian, US Ski Team member, and national champion is Slalom and GS.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I am embarrassed for your tone-deafness. She was being assaulted, had no idea what this crazy man was going to do to her. He provoked every move she made.

Oh but she did know what was happening. I am not siding with the officer here but I was taught from an early age that when an officer says 'You're under arrest" you cooperate let the handcuffs go on and say "I want to call my lawyer.

This officer was clearly out of line but the entire scenario was mishandled by all parties. The officer could easily have obtained the necessary warrant. After all the comatose patient wasn't going anywhere. In the full version of the video the nurse in question used language that I have learned by working in psych can provoke agitation. I think the whole thing could have been handled differently from the Get Go and resolved without any hands on conflict.

Those who have commented on the amount of time it took to address this after the incident should know that it is common to not comment on a situation until an investigation has been completed. This process can take several weeks.

Hppy

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Oh but she did know what was happening. I am not siding with the officer here but I was taught from an early age that when an officer says 'You're under arrest" you cooperate let the handcuffs go on and say "I want to call my lawyer.

This officer was clearly out of line but the entire scenario was mishandled by all parties. The officer could easily have obtained the necessary warrant.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. First, and this was prominently noted in the report I posted, Payne never said to her "you're under arrest" or "turn around and put your hands behind your back" instead he shouted "we're done" and lunged at her after swatting at her phone. I'm pretty sure any of us would have taken a few steps back and been confused about his behavior. Second, they could not have gotten a warrant because there was no probable cause and Payne knew it. Third, she was not dealing with a psych patient. I'm curious to know what language she used that you feel provoked him, especially given that in the report she was repeatedly described as calm and professional. I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm generally interested because neither I nor the people investigating the situation see it the way you do.

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I was never taught that, about being arrested.

I'm curious too, what language did she use to provoke agitation.

Even if she did, he should have had and kept himself under control.

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Blood draws and imaging are required to diagnose the reason for the mental status change. Unconscious patients cannot give consent. Any results of the ER work up would be easily available to law enforcement.

Both the cop and the nurse were drama queens.

Absolutely WRONG...yes, bloodwork is necessary to the MEDICAL TEAM. Both HIPAA and the Constitution search and seizure amendment protect patients-including unconscious ones-from having information obtained for their medical treatment handed to police without a warrant.

Implied consent for medical testing to guide medical treatment to benefit the patient is entirely different from implied consent for legal/forensic testing that may be used for or against the person in court. That's the whole point here. The fact that the patient cannot consent does not mean police can go through his medical chart-they need a warrant for that and in this case they didn't have one.

I certainly hope I am never unconscious in a hospital where a nurse hands my chart to police (or anyone else!), to potentially be used against me, thinking that my inability to consent means I forfeit my Constitutional rights.

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I'm new to this, so real question here... when you say "Any results of the ER work up would be easily available to law enforcement" does that mean every ER admission includes a blood alcohol/drug screening?

No. But an ER workup in a patient with alerted mention very likely would as the differential diagnosis for altered metal status includes intoxication. Trauma workup often include it as well because substances are often associated with many mechanisms of injury.

As I and others have stated though, the fact that these tests are done to guide medical treatment certainly doesn't mean police are entitled to the results with no warrant.

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Respect for nursing judgement is getting worse over time. What a mess.

How is following hospital policy (and the law) "nursing judgement" that demands respect? That is very simply doing one's job. The policies and laws deserve respect. So does the nurse who did the right thing under tremendous pressure. But, "nursing judgement" is not what this is.

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Oh but she did know what was happening. I am not siding with the officer here but I was taught from an early age that when an officer says 'You're under arrest" you cooperate let the handcuffs go on..

This officer was clearly out of line but the entire scenario was mishandled by all parties. The officer could easily have obtained the necessary warrant. After all the comatose patient wasn't going anywhere. In the full version of the video the nurse in question used language that I have learned by working in psych can provoke agitation. I think the whole thing could have been handled differently from the Get Go and resolved...

Hppy

The report from the police committee investigating the officers conduct faulted the officer for not instructing the nurse to turn around and place her hands behind her back, nor even "giving her a chance"to comply before using forceful and painful "control" holds. He abruptly placed his hands on her and barked at her for not following instructions that he NEVER GAVE. She was loud, yes, but honestly I'm not certain that in the heat of the moment I would have stayed cool enough to realize the exact behavior one is supposed to exhibit when told "you are under arrest." Did he want her to freeze? walk to the car? hands up or behind her?

As someone with no psych experience who struggles at times when dealing with acutely mentally ill patients in a critical care environment, I would love to know what specifically was provacative in her language? I think I would choose words very similar to hers if trying to speak professionally and without being confrontational. Please educate me on how her language could have been improved.

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yes, the result of one stupid, egotistical cop's inability to do what he was told. To break of the chase. and this was apparently NOT his first incident of doing that. So, a man died a horrible death, leaving his wife a widow, and kids, if any, without their dad. It sickens me.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
yes, the result of one stupid, egotistical cop's inability to do what he was told. To break of the chase. and this was apparently NOT his first incident of doing that. So, a man died a horrible death, leaving his wife a widow, and kids, if any, without their dad. It sickens me.

Is there a source for this? I had heard the crash happened immediately after they turned on their lights?

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^^^I'd love a source too. I actually live where the accident happened and work at the hospital the patient was taken to. I drive through where the accident happened almost everyday if I leave the valley I live in. The chase started at a gas station in the town of Wellsville and it ended less than half a mile from where it began when the person the police were pursuing crashed into the truck driver (victim in this story). The road is actually burnt and rough from the explosion so even though it's been a few months you can still see where the accident happened. The chase lasted less than two minutes and I haven't read anything about the cop being told to break the chase, and don't see how he could have when it was so short lived.

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When cops earn back the respect they have squandered by protecting their culture of brutality, racism and murder with impunity, maybe then I'll believe they only want the best and brightest amongst their ranks. It's clear that today they are not recruiting from the top of the barrel.

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