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American Morning
Did Nurse Kill Patients in Her Charge?
Aired July 17, 2003 - 07:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Did a nurse kill patients in her charge? A question today in the State of Maryland. A nurse has been suspended for what authorities are calling hastening the death of one or more critically ill patients.
Patty Davis live with the story in Rockville, Maryland with more for us -- Patty, good morning.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, good morning.
Here at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, Maryland, officials say a nurse came to them on July 9th and said that he or she had suspicions about Coleen M. Thompson, a staff nurse in the intensive care unit. The suspicion was that Thompson may have taken action to hasten the death of a critically ill patient.
Now, Thompson had no comment when she was contacted by the news media.
The patient, a 63-year-old woman who was in Thompson's care. Now, her blood pressure was plummeting and Thompson allegedly did not call a doctor nor did she intervene to save that patient until it was too late and that patient passed away.
Now, the Maryland Nursing Board yesterday suspended Thompson's nursing license, saying, "Failure to initiate nursing intervention and contact the physician is evidence of a complete lack of professional responsibility and competency."
Police and the hospital have launched a criminal investigation. They want to know if perhaps there are other cases.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JOHN KING, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND POLICE: We have been and we continue to consult with outside medical experts to determine if the nurse's actions or inactions rose to the level of criminal conduct. At this time, we do not know how many people may have been affected by the nurse's actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: So far, no charges have been brought against Thompson. The hospital is busy meeting with families, it says, trying to comfort them and find out more about what they may know -- Bill.
HEMMER: Patty, thanks. Patty Davis live in Rockville.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 17, 2003 - 07:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Did a nurse kill patients in her charge? A question today in the State of Maryland. A nurse has been suspended for what authorities are calling hastening the death of one or more critically ill patients.
Patty Davis live with the story in Rockville, Maryland with more for us -- Patty, good morning.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, good morning.
Here at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, Maryland, officials say a nurse came to them on July 9th and said that he or she had suspicions about Coleen M. Thompson, a staff nurse in the intensive care unit. The suspicion was that Thompson may have taken action to hasten the death of a critically ill patient.
Now, Thompson had no comment when she was contacted by the news media.
The patient, a 63-year-old woman who was in Thompson's care. Now, her blood pressure was plummeting and Thompson allegedly did not call a doctor nor did she intervene to save that patient until it was too late and that patient passed away.
Now, the Maryland Nursing Board yesterday suspended Thompson's nursing license, saying, "Failure to initiate nursing intervention and contact the physician is evidence of a complete lack of professional responsibility and competency."
Police and the hospital have launched a criminal investigation. They want to know if perhaps there are other cases.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JOHN KING, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND POLICE: We have been and we continue to consult with outside medical experts to determine if the nurse's actions or inactions rose to the level of criminal conduct. At this time, we do not know how many people may have been affected by the nurse's actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: So far, no charges have been brought against Thompson. The hospital is busy meeting with families, it says, trying to comfort them and find out more about what they may know -- Bill.
HEMMER: Patty, thanks. Patty Davis live in Rockville.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
