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valkyriesdaughte -> RE: "Comming out" to one's doctor...advice please? (8/28/2007 6:42:23 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: hereyesruponyou
What an uninformed response. Let's start with my state, the only one i know about well enough to comment on. BECAUSE battered partners often either recant their stories or out and out lie to authorities, the police actually press the charges of assault and battery here with the thought being "it's for your own good". Now judgement always comes into play, but all it really takes for trouble is one nurse etc who decides this is "wrong" and the police are called in, and once again it's a crap shoot whether it goes past that.
There is no real way to protect against everything that can happen. We all know there are risks and they are not always physical.
In defense of my nursing colleagues everywhere: Yes, i supposse it's feasible for "one nurse" to take it upon herself to start a federal case out of something, BUT: health care institutions have an ongoing love affair with self written policies. They also like the "important people" to get to feel important occassionally. The majority- if not all- institutional policies regarding the reported of suspected abuse of patients, adult or children, are very specific, generally:
1. Assess the situation: not only the presenting physical system, but teh interaction between the possible victim and significant others/family members present. Others can be excused fromt eh room by healthcare personnel, and the patient tactfuly questioned alone. This usually yields the most usuable info: if someone is being honest about falling down, running into the wall, or playing rough, they tend to answer without hesitancy. If they look at the floor, emphatically deny, or can't seem to remmeber how they got the bruises, the red flag goes up. (i.e.- the self written policy)
2. Once the flag goes up, the suspicions are reported to the attending physician and nursing supervisor, they can either further evaluate the situation, or ask for the crisis team or social worker to assess the situation.( the important people feeling important)
3. ONLY when there is a valid reason with corrabating evidence, are law enforcement called. Really- no one wants to bother the boys and girls in blue unneccessarily, it makes them cranky.
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