Nurse's Ebola lawsuit could be landmark for patient safety

Ebola survivor's suit against Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and parent company Texas Health Resources could be an important case


Dallas nurse Nina Pham's lawsuit against Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and parent company Texas Health Resources could be an important case for patient safety, according to a commentary on the Forbes website.

Pham was infected with the Ebola virus after treating Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian national who died at Texas Health Presbyterian.

Pham’s alleges numerous lapses at the hospital, including the charge that prior to treating Duncan, she was only given basic information about Ebola from a Google search by her boss. 

The case also charges that nurses were not given clear protocols for wearing protective gear around Ebola patients or that they had to come up with a makeshift, dangerous method of disposing of contaminated garments and medical supplies.

"What I really hope comes out of this suit is a promise by Texas Health Resources to implement better processes for assuring patient safety and for holding staff and management alike accountable for their actions," the article said.

Read the article.

 

 



March 12, 2015


Topic Area: Industry News


Recent Posts

What Does Light Daily Cleaning Miss in Patient Rooms?

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they are wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Smart Lighting Overhaul Boosts Efficiency, Diagnostics and Wellness at Bryan Health

Case study: LED upgrade and advanced controls across Bryan Health campuses cut lighting energy use by 57 percent while enhancing patient care and staff productivity.


AdventHealth Opens New Freestanding ER in Florida

The approximately 13,700-square-foot emergency room features 12 patient rooms, respiratory therapy services, diagnostic imaging including CT scans, X-ray and ultrasound.


Dirty Floors: How Pathogens Can Accumulate and Spread Underfoot

Studies show that healthcare floors are covered in bacteria and can quickly spread throughout patient rooms. 


WellSpan Health Opens Its Newberry Hospital in Pennsylvania

This marks the opening of its 10th hospital in the region spanning Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.