Pubdate: Sun, 17 May 2009
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2009 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Paul Rutherford

SHAMING NURSES A BAD IDEA

In the ethical spat that is brewing between health minister Theresa 
Oswald and the Manitoba Nurses Union, about whether or not the names 
of nurses who are disciplined for being addicts should be made 
public, it's somewhat humourous to hear Oswald's reason for rejecting 
a change to the law.

"Protection of the public needs to be paramount," the health minister 
told the Canadian Press. In other words, openness and transparency is 
the way to go when dealing with the health care of Manitobans. 
Patient safety is at risk so these hard-working nurses, beset by 
addiction problems, need to be named.

We can't forget Oswald's behaviour in keeping information secret in 
the Brian Sinclair fiasco. Serving the public appeared to be the last 
thing on their minds back then -- suddenly it has become "paramount."

Addicted nurses working in our health care system is a serious issue 
which creates an ethical dilemma for politicians and health care 
administrators. Not just nurses but all those working in health care 
are at greater risk of spiralling out of control with addictions due 
to the easy availability of drugs.

Is it the right thing to do to publicly shame them into getting help? 
On the other side of the coin can the provincial governing body 
afford not to weed out and identify addicted nurses in order to keep 
the public's faith?

The College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba regularly prints the 
names of nurses disciplined for a wide variety of offences in its 
magazine, which is also available on its website. The magazine 
includes details of what offending nurses are ordered to do, such as 
undergo counselling. In many other provinces like Ontario, as an 
example, there's open and transparent discipline for nurses accused 
of serious offences but addiction-related issues are handled privately.

But if an addicted nurse admits to the problem, is removed from the 
workplace and ordered to get treatment in order to keep a job, how is 
the public's safety in jeopardy?

"What's to be gained by humiliating these nurses and naming them in 
public?" asks Sandi Mowat, the union president. Mowat makes a very 
valid point. There's nothing to be gained except further hurt to the 
individual.

Oswald should soften her stance on this one. Perhaps the way to 
proceed is to mirror what is done in British Columbia. If a nurse 
admits to an addiction, his or her identity is kept confidential.

Public embarrassment works for some wrongdoings. Nurses who admit 
their addictions and treat them, should not have their privacy violated.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom