Pubdate: Sun, 10 May 2009
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2009 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/info/letters/index.html
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Jen Skerritt

NURSES DEMAND ANONYMITY

Don't Name Those Caught Abusing Booze, Drugs: Union

Nurses caught abusing drugs and alcohol on the job should not be 
publicly named, union officials argue, calling it a "disturbing" 
violation that impedes their struggle to recover from addiction.

The Manitoba Nurses Union plans to challenge existing legislation 
that allows the College of Registered Nurses to publish the names of 
nurses disciplined for abusing mood-altering drugs at work.

Currently, any nurses censured for professional misconduct have their 
name and details of their violations printed in the RN Journal, a 
publication posted online and distributed to 11,000 Manitoba nurses.

The college argues the discipline process is open, transparent and 
helps protect patient safety.

Union president Sandi Mowat said it's inappropriate to broadcast 
someone's struggle with addiction. She said officials will ask the 
province to amend the act when it updates health-worker legislation this year.

A resolution to stop naming nurses busted for drug abuse passed at 
the union's recent annual general meeting. Mowat said the idea was 
spawned by a group of nurses whose colleague was publicly named and 
shamed for her addiction.

"They were quite disturbed by the whole thing because this nurse has 
worked hard to get her life back together," Mowat said. "These nurses 
are ill. We go a long way in this province to protect personal health 
information and in my mind this is treating nurses like second-class citizens."

Last year, four nurses were discovered abusing alcohol, cocaine and 
other narcotics at work -- including instances where mood-altering 
drugs were stolen from hospitals or health-care facilities.

Their names were made public in January, and a Free Press story about 
the issue sparked immediate backlash from some nurses.

The college disciplinary committee has said nurses who are 
disciplined for substance abuse have repeatedly failed to get proper 
treatment or are unwilling to do so. The discipline process is 
usually the last resort, and outlines orders the addicted nurses must 
follow -- including entering drug treatment programs or undergoing 
random urine screens -- in order to keep their licences and protect 
public safety.

Sue Neilson, the college's executive director, said the process 
protects patients since it ensures nurses meet a certain standard of care.

Neilson said current legislation allows them to publish the names and 
hold nurses to account.

"It's open, transparent and available to the public," Neilson said. 
"It's so the public can know that their care is meeting a standard."

Arthur Schafer, professor of ethics at the University of Manitoba, 
said there is merit in publishing the names of nurses caught abusing 
narcotics or alcohol at work. Schafer said the idea that ill nurses 
shouldn't be punished for their addictions shirks their 
responsibility not to endanger patients.

He said penalties should encourage addicted nurses to seek help and 
prompt colleagues to report anyone with a substance abuse problem 
before it leads to dangerous or inappropriate behaviour.

"Shaming is a way of denouncing it. Maybe people should be ashamed," 
Schafer said.

"At some point, if they don't stop and seek help, it might be 
appropriate to blame them."

More than half of nurses disciplined by the college since 2003 were 
punished for abusing drugs or alcohol on the job.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart