Supervisors at Abington Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia have explained that they sought only to avoid a confrontation when they told African American employees to stay out of a patient's room after a man ordered that no blacks assist in the delivery of his child.
Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 3, 2003
NAACP wants hospital supervisors punished
Local leaders call for Abington hospital to discipline those who told minority staffers to stay out of a patient's room.
Local NAACP leaders yesterday called on Abington Memorial Hospital to discipline supervisors who told minority employees to stay out of a patient's room after a man demanded that only white staffers assist in the delivery of his baby.
( By Oliver Prichard, Inquirer Staff Writer, 10/04/2003 03:01 AM EDT)
What I have seen here is this little thing that everyone seems to be forgetting about. The patient's Bill of Rights. They do have the right to refuse care from anyone they wish and the hospital is FEDERALLY MADATED AND REQUIRED to comply with their wishes. Regardless if it is discrimantory or not against a certain race. The patient is allowed to have whatever beliefs they want to have and we haver to respect them and give care according to them.
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A patient has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her individual dignity, and with protection of his or her need for privacy
A patient has the right to a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
A patient has the right to know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.
A patient has the right to know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he or she does not speak English.
A patient has the right to know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.
A patient has the right to be given by the health care provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
A patient has the right to refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
A patient has the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his or her care.
A patient who is eligible for Medicare has the right to know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the health care provider or health care facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate.
A patient has the right to receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
A patient has the right to receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill, and upon request, to have the charges explained.
A patient has the right to impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, physical handicap, or source of payment.
A patient has the right to treatment of any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
A patient has the right to know if medical treatment is for the purpose of experimental research, and to give his or her consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research.
A patient has the right to express grievances regarding any violation of his or her rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the health care provider or health care facility which served him or her and to the appropriate state licensing agency.
A patient is responsible for providing to the health care provider, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illness, hospitalizations, medications, and any other matters relating to his or her health.
A patient is responsible for reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.
A patient is responsible for reporting to the health care provider whether he or she comprehends a contemplated course of action, and what is expected of him or her.
A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
A patient is responsible for keeping appointments, and when he or she is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the health care provider or health care facility.
A patient is responsible for his or her actions if he or she refuses treatment or does not follow the health care provider's instructions.
A patient is responsible for ensuring that the financial obligations of his or her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
A patient is responsible for following health care facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
People are entitled to a competent nurse. Not a black one, white one, christian one, etc. Giving in to this type of behavior only serves to degrade nurses further. A hospital is not a Burger King.
Back in 1992 at the start of the Los Angeles riots Reginald Denney was assaulted and hit in the head with a brick by a black criminal. His life was saved by two black people who left their home and drove him to the hospital where the black neurosurgeon (nurses and other staff) saved his life.
DPLEAR:
I hear you. If possible I will as charge assign the nurse a patient requests. Once I did have to tell a patient who asked for a white nurse that the only registered nurse competent to care for the IABP and other technical support needed was black.
That patient thanked the nurse and asked for her to be his nurse after that.
Spacenurse I totaly agree with you on this. I also have assigned nurses to change rooms based on pt's wishes or requests. I also have told a pt that the assignment could not change due to safety issues. If explained the pt usually agrees to the solution.
Hello from African America, 
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
Some life experiences help to shape one's view on the issue. I don't see where anyone said "it's all about me".