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American Morning

Nurse Suspended in Patient's Death

Aired July 17, 2003 - 09:11   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: Maryland's nursing board calls her a "danger to the public health, safety and welfare." Now, a nurse has been suspended in one patient's death and police are investigating others.
Patty Davis back with us live in Rockville, Maryland to fill in the pieces of what we know at this point, anyway -- Patty, good morning.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Bill.

Good morning.

Coleen Thompson, a nurse in the intensive care unit here at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville has been suspended from nursing. Now, police have also launched a criminal investigation into whether Thompson hastened the death of a critically ill patient or patients.

Now, one patient in question, a 63-year-old woman who was in the ICU under Thompson's care on July 6th. Her blood pressure was plummeting and Thompson allegedly failed to call a doctor or intervene. And that woman had indicated that she wanted every means available to be used to resuscitate her, if it was necessary.

Now, in suspending her nursing license, Maryland's nursing board said that Thompson's nursing practice represents "a danger to public health, safety and welfare and requires emergency action." They suspended her license yesterday.

Now, the question here is was a crime committed? Was there criminal intent?

No charges, though, Bill, have been filed at this point -- back to you.

HEMMER: 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 - 09:11   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Maryland's nursing board calls her a "danger to the public health, safety and welfare." Now, a nurse has been suspended in one patient's death and police are investigating others.
Patty Davis back with us live in Rockville, Maryland to fill in the pieces of what we know at this point, anyway -- Patty, good morning.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Bill.

Good morning.

Coleen Thompson, a nurse in the intensive care unit here at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville has been suspended from nursing. Now, police have also launched a criminal investigation into whether Thompson hastened the death of a critically ill patient or patients.

Now, one patient in question, a 63-year-old woman who was in the ICU under Thompson's care on July 6th. Her blood pressure was plummeting and Thompson allegedly failed to call a doctor or intervene. And that woman had indicated that she wanted every means available to be used to resuscitate her, if it was necessary.

Now, in suspending her nursing license, Maryland's nursing board said that Thompson's nursing practice represents "a danger to public health, safety and welfare and requires emergency action." They suspended her license yesterday.

Now, the question here is was a crime committed? Was there criminal intent?

No charges, though, Bill, have been filed at this point -- back to you.

HEMMER: 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