Health Officals Say Nurse Re-Used Large Needle

The Oklahoman ^ | 10-11-02 | Jim Killackey

[LibKill]

This is CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.

[Treebeard]

This has been a big news story for a month now in OKC. The pool of infected individuals keeps getting larger, so large, in fact that it has become a separate lawsuit generating "event". That means, in addition to the normal ambulance chasing stuff re. job related or automobile injuries, we now have radio airwaves filled with commercials from lawyers trolling for clients that have been to this particular clinic. It's right up there with "phen-phen" in airtime lawyer commercials.

Apparently there wasn't a huge deal of oversight on this guy for this many people to be infected. The initial story was just a few individuals and now it's 850 plus, and they still don't have a handle on an exact number.

[LibKill]

This really bites.

I don't say this often, but:

UNCHAIN THE LAWYERS!

Or take this stupid S.O.B. and give him a shot from his own dirty needle. He deserves it.

[Enterprise]

You only shake your head in disgust.

[the_doc]

I personally think the guy is crazy.

[the_doc]

ping

[Treebeard]

I tend to liberally apply that old adage "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity," but HOW does a supposedly trained medical professional in the AIDS era NOT pick up somewhere along the way that you DON'T reuse needles?

[Cicero]

I don't know if the supervising physician is normally present when the nurse performs these procedures, but if so he should have noticed the difference between a 3cc and a 20cc syringe, I would have thought.

Not using a hypodermic more than once without sterilizing or discarding it is something that even most laymen would know, let along a trained nurse. This does seem likely to be criminal negligence to me.

[LibKill]

He may be crazy, but I think he is either one of the laziest S.O.B.s ever born, or he was acting out of sheer malice.

Of course, I am not all-knowing all-seeing. I am just using a little common sense. I could be wrong.

[nothingnew]

...three- step procedures along with Dr. Jerry W. Lewis...

Who's the third guy, Dean Martin?

FMCDH

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Crutcher said he does not believe Hill intended to cause harm. He said Hill's actions apparently resulted from a misunderstanding of proper procedure.

Why the hell is the state epedemiologist defending this guy?

This is criminal, plain and simple.

I think somebody needs to look into Crutcher's background to determine why he is defending Hill.

[FITZ]

I hate to say it but hospitals, doctors, nurses, etc can be pretty dangerous for your health. Many of the good ones are leaving the field because of the ridiculous amount of paperwork and regulations. If you have to use healthcare, you should be careful and alert to what they're doing to you.

[the_doc]

You have to be crazy to be lazy (or malevolent) in that way.

[Treebeard]

The only thing I want to see in a 20 mL syringe that is being put in the ol' heparin lock is that lovely Demerol cocktail they gave me in the ER after an auto accident...

Mmmmm....demerol... :P~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (homer simpson drool)

[FITZ]

Why the hell is the state epedemiologist defending this guy?

Look how long it took for them to require dentists use sterilized equipment. They weren't doing much with the instruments between patients even after HIV came out. The problem with inspections in hospitals and clinics is that they are scheduled well in advance so people get everything in tip-top shape for the inspectors and then they can get back into their usual routines afterwards. If inspections were reasonable but spur-of-the-moment, they might reveal real things going on.

[hole_n_one]

......and what's with
all these male nurses?

[LibKill]

You have to be crazy to be lazy (or malevolent) in that way.

Perhaps. That changes nothing when it comes to punishment.

And a crime like this deserves SEVERE punishment.

I have, as you have, as many FReepers have, been trusted with responsibility for the lives of others. This is a tremendous responsibility and excuses are not permitted.

[the_doc]

Who said anything about excuses?

[Sandmansleeper]

I am a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and find this appalling! Both Hill,CRNA and Dr. Lewis should have realized that this technique is dangerous; that is, using the same syringe and needle on multiple patients.

Both are in positions which are indefensible and deserve to be sued. Tragic...Very Tragic!