Nurses Fired For Taking Photos Of Patient
By Wyatt Earp | February 26, 2009
This story is both creepy and outrageous at the same time. And believe it or not, I don’t think it’s all that funny. I must be maturing.
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — Nurses accused of photographing a patient and posting the pictures on the Internet have been fired.
The investigation started with an anonymous call from an employee at Mercy Walworth Medical Center in Lake Geneva, with the allegation that a nurse took pictures of a patient with her cell phone and posted them on her Facebook page.
Okay, it’s bad enough that a nurse would take photos of a patient and his/her injury, but to post it on a Facebook page? That’s pretty despicable.
“There were two nurses that independently took a picture each of an X-ray of a patient,” Walworth County Undersheriff Kurt Picknell said.
The patient was admitted to the emergency room with an object lodged in his rectum. Police said the nurse explained she and a co-worker snapped photos when they learned it was a sex device. Police said discussion about the incident was posted on her Facebook page, but they haven’t found anyone who actually saw the pictures. (H/T – WISN)
Okay, a few thoughts:
1. The patient was probably humiliated enough when he/she entered the emergency room. Now, he/she finds this story. It is a real shame.
2. I am glad the nurses have been fired, and I hope they never get another job as health care professionals. The story says that they probably committed HIPAA violations, so I would also like to see them be charged criminally.
3. What the Hell is going on in Wisconsin?
Topics: People I Hate | 8 Comments »
February 26th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
“…they probably committed HIPAA violations…”
Actually, I think they would have to include info that identifies the patient for it to be a HIPAA violation. But it’s still a serious violation of his privacy. I’m glad to hear they were fired. Hags.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Wyatt is this really you?
This big fat story was served right down the middle to you and you whiffed. I want the old Wyatt back.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Wyatt, you don’t want to really know the answer to that question, do you?
February 26th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Personally I wouldnt see a problem with it if the nurses JUST took a picture of the x-ray. Now thats kind of funny.
Now adding a picture of the actual patient, thats just wrong.
February 27th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I’ll bet you are more mad that the article didn’t include pictures. If you don’t tell people who it is, how can they sue you without telling everyone who it was? Kind of like damned if you do and damned if you don’t. The kind of fight that lawyers love. MUD
February 27th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
If they waited a few months, then only showed a picture of the x-ray, and made sure not to include anything that could be used to track down who the guy was, then it might have been okay.
However, I don’t know all the particular details of this particular case, so I am withholding judgment.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I cannot imagine the humiliation of being in that condition and then finding out it was on facebook.
February 28th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
John D – Agreed. Firing them was the right decision here.
E.L. – No, but I’m sure it involves cheese.
K – And posting it online is despicable.
MUD – I’m sure there are lawyers all over this.
Marvin – I don’t know the details, and I’d rather not know them . . . ever.
Admiral – Yeah, I would die of embarrassment.