Dallas, TX
Prompted by public outcry over the Ebola infection of two Dallas-area nurses, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital issued a statement stressing the high level of training given to all employees on their Ebola isolation unit. "All of our doctors, nurses, and patient support staff were made adequately aware of the hazards associated with treatment of patients infected with Ebola virus disease," stated Mike Hamilton, spokesperson for the hospital.
"The website for the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is referenced on at least one sign in the isolation wing, sufficiently outlines procedures for interacting with infected persons," continued Hamilton. "Plus, the hospital has a closet stocked with masks and gowns and stuff like that."
"What happened here is a tragic accident; however, it should be noted that the nurses in question were given adequate training, and had previously performed proper isolation procedures on flu-patients while under supervision."
When reached for comment, corporate liability attorney John Davidson and legal council for Texas Health Presbyterian stated "Look, the hospital has done its due diligence here. Really, it's the nurses' fault -- they should have followed proper personal protective equipment protocol." Davidson, whose retainer is as yet undisclosed, is one of the four attorneys and seven paralegal assistants representing the hospital, a team which has so far billed over $500,000 in legal fees to the hospital.
An anonymous source at the hospital indicated that Hatrick Parran, the attending physician at the time of both nurses' exposure, was in a hurry to get the incident behind him. "After the news went public, he [Parran] kept going on about how this was going to 'ruin his career.' I think in the end administration just had him retake the OSHA-required online blood-borne pathogen awareness course. It was all really hush-hush."
Satirical news from the world of chemistry, not affiliated with C&EN.
These were trained nurses! Whatever happened to personal responsibility in this country?!?!? /satire
ReplyDeleteLet's quit focusing on Hatrick Parran and look at the system wide failures that allow 22 year old nurses to work with dangerous pathagons without a direct supervisor present. It is simply not possible for one person to fund the hospital while also being present to supervise every action of every young nurse. Perhaps another layer of "assistant physicians" to directly supervise the nurses and enforce policies full time would help. The nurses would certainly receive more hands on instruction. But that would cost money. too bad.
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