Featured blog post: Infection = felony?
Hospitalist Leadership Connection, March 29, 2011
An article in The Journal News highlights an interesting thought concerning healthcare associated infections (HAI). The article references a New York State bill before the assembly that would make “reckless infection of a patient with a communicable disease by a healthcare provider” a felony. The article sites cases of wanton disregard for patient safety leading to potentially life threatening infections. We all know the drill concerning HAI – poorer outcomes, increased length of stay, increased costs, etc. My hospitals are once again launching a hand hygiene campaign to reduce HAI – which of course is a good thing. But it is obvious that healthcare workers still are not doing enough. Some hospitals are starting to fine physicians and employees for failing to wash their hands. So do you think not washing your hands should result a criminal record? Okay, I admit the intent of the bill is to punish egregious negligence, but where do you draw the line? What would stop a patient with an HAI from claiming the infection was due to recklessness? Is our failure to police ourselves once again going to come back to haunt us? What do you think? . . .You can voice your opinion on the MedicalStaffLeader.com blog in the comment section.
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