Ogden Standard Examiner       Opinion
               

            RNs should share blame in patients' deaths
                  Wed, Sep 12, 2001 

            It is sad that these loved ones died. However, I, for one, don't 
            feel that Dr. Weitzel should be held responsible for their deaths.
            It is the responsibility of the RNs who are on duty to assess their 
            patients, and they should know if enough medicine has been given 
            during the allowed period in between dosages. The RNs see the 
            patients most, not the doctor. If a doctor orders a medication and 
            the RN feels that it shouldn't be given, it is she who can and must 
            make that decision.
            Sounds to me that these RNs also should have some "blame" on this 
            issue, for they can refuse to give a medication if they feel after 
            assessing the patient that it is not safe to give the medicine. It 
            seems these RNs were not familiar with the interaction of the drugs 
            being administered; they were the ones who gave the drug freely 
            without observing their patient. I am a former RN, and there were 
            times when I had to override an order for the safety of the patient.

            Hennie Sharp
            Ogden UT

      Copyright ©2001, Ogden Publishing Corporation 

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