Former Tennessee nurse RaDonda Vaught found guilty in woman's death On March 25, 2022, a jury found RaDonda Vaught guilty of criminally negligent homicide and gross neglect of an impaired adult. I wish the TN BON had done their job right the first time. What did RaDonda Vaught do? Former nurse found guilty of criminally 14 Best Stethoscopes for Nurses (Plus 7 Best Accessories), Pediatric Nurse: Job Description, Salary, and How to Become One. Even under the conditions of the person I quoted which is many a shift I work, that's still not an excuse for making medication errors. "We are deeply distressed by this verdict and the harmful ramifications of criminalizing the honest reporting of mistakes. They have even taken to TikTok to make her name and story go viral. I would have been okay with her nursing license forever taken away. RaDonda Vaught homicide case - Wikipedia Former Tennessee nurse RaDonda Vaught convicted in death of patient She thought she was giving the patient Versed, a . The system is set up to make it easy for us to make a mistake like this.". A board certified practicing urological surgeon, he is also a professor of urology at the University of Virginia. Dismiss. This timeline will help, Vaught speaks out: 'Zero regrets about telling the truth': Ex-nurse RaDonda Vaught speaks out ahead of guilty verdict. "It is heart-wrenching to know that Ms. Murphey and her family were so horrifically let down. Murphey was supposed to receive a dose of Versed, a sedative, but was instead injected with vecuronium, which left her unable to breathe, prosecutors have said. Charging nurse Vaught with a crime may cause future errors to go unreported, so we may lose the opportunity to identify system failures and address them appropriately. She was charged with criminally negligent homicide. Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg. Vaught's sentencing also completely disregards the state of health care we face today. Nope, she was only working on her unit which, after 2 years, one would think she was comfortable working. Vanderbilt University Medical Center negotiated a settlement with Murphey's family, and according to an investigation lead by The Tennessean newspaper, the hospital failed to report the medication error to state or federal officials, as required by law. . The incident took place at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2017. It will prompt some from our current workforce to abandon their jobs altogether. RaDonda Vaught, a former Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse charged with in the death of a patient, listens to the opening statements during her trial at Justice A.A. Birch Building in. Vaught's defense argues that although Murphey's death is tragic and irreversible, the outsize consequence does not make Vaught's mistake a conscious, criminal act of homicide. Should RaDonda Vaught Have Her Nursing License Reinstated? It is completely unrealistic to think otherwise," according to the ANA's statement. Vaught was sentenced last Friday to three years of probation. They work nights, weekends, and holidays, caring for the sickest people, even at risk to their own health. On March 25, RaDonda Vaught, a former nurse in Nashville, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of a patient at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on December 27,. ", Championing restrictions:Meet the women working to overturn Roe v. Wade and tighten abortion rules, The mistake didn't just cost Vaught her job and her license. That threatensour ability to make sound, safe decisions. The moment nurse RaDonda Vaught realized she had given a patient the wrong medication, she rushed to the doctors working to revive 75-year-old Charlene Murphey and told them what she had done. Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life). RaDonda Vaught, a former nurse in Tennessee who was convicted on felony charges for fatally injecting a patient with an incorrect drug, was sentenced to probation Friday in a case that became a. They all make mistakes. The Davidson County District Attorney's Office said in a statement, "This case was, and always has been about the gross neglect by RaDonda Vaught that caused the death of Charlene Murphey. Former nurse RaDonda Vaught was sentenced to three years' supervised probation Friday in a Tennessee court. As for her probation, I mean, she really isn't a threat to anyone, is she? The conviction of RaDonda Vaught in an accidental injection death has sparked fear and outrage among many nurses, who have been faced with long hours, mounting responsibilites and staffing shortages. Tools The RaDonda Vaught homicide case was an American legal trial in which former Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse RaDonda Vaught was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and impaired adult abuse after she mistakenly administered the wrong medication that killed a patient in 2017. Former ICU nurse whose patient died from drug mixup speaks out in Has 17 years experience. Almost every nurse has had a medication error of some sort, or multiple throughout their career. But what about the sentence - 3 years supervised probation with the opportunity for Judicial Diversion upon the successful completion of the 3-year probationary period. Fifth, by . Criminally negligent homicide is thelesser included charge of reckless homicide, with which Vaught was originally charged, under state law. I keep hearing all this misinformation and it's making me nuts. RaDonda Vaught was a registered nurse in the neurointensive care unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Guilty verdict for former nurse in death of woman accidentally given 6 Articles; Can we leave her well alone now that the justice system has pronounced its sentence? Beyond the impacton the emotional wellbeing of our health care workers, this case threatens our ability to learn from mistakes. Vanderbilt is responsible for what they failed to do.". I can say from my experience that nurses are not only uniformly smart, hard-working, and kind, but also some of the most decent people I have ever met. In the wake of Murphey's death, Vaught was fired from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and stripped of her nursing licenses. Nurses around the country have rightly argued that this type of conviction would have broad and terrible ramifications. They are our angels on Earth. A year later, an anonymous tip alerted state and federal health officials to the unreported medication error. Nope, she was an extra nurse on her very own unit. The diversion option allows first-time offenders to have charges dropped and their records expunged once they successfully complete probation. Following the guilty verdict, the American Nurse Association made a public statement in support of Vaught. Although the activists will say otherwise, I don't see any evidence that Officer Potter's response held any racial bias. Question: do you think there should be criminal charges for whomever allowed the 14-year-old boy on the amusement park ride in Orlando, from which he fell to his death? Also, I REALLY hate that she has become the poster-child for nurses. A state judge imposed the sentence on RaDonda Vaught after she apologized to relatives of the victim, Charlene Murphey, and said she'll be forever haunted by her mistake. RaDonda Vaught, Tenn. nurse who killed patient with wrong drug Yes, Vaught's actions were negligent. 5,918 Posts. It was a mistake that cost Vaught her career and her patient's life. RaDonda Vaught, a former nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, had been found guilty in March of two charges, criminally negligent homicide and abuse of an impaired adult, after a. I do not think that a criminal charge was warranted or the best application of justice. Choosing a specialty can be a daunting task and we made it easier. I do think the hospital failed her, and I would like to hear that someone is being held accountable for the failure to tell the truth to the ME, the failure to report the death/sentinal event. Neither the medical center nor anyone else involved in Murphey's death faced punishment. "She wasn't familiar with Versed". While working as a nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2017, RaDonda Vaught made a mistake. Again, no excuses for what she did but I would like to highlight what Ms. Vinsant said in the video and these are facts: "We'll spend an entire 12 hour shift not going to the bathroom, not eating, not drinking enough wateryou get to the end of the day and you're just mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. Please complete the survey. Has 21 years experience. Who is nurse RaDonda Vaught? | The US Sun RaDonda Vaught sentenced to three years probation on a diverted Criminalizing human error in the medical field makes patients less safe. "They are the patient and the family that will live with me the most.". The victim's family told the court that Murphey wouldnt want Vaught to face any jail time and that she was a forgiving person., "I will never be the same person," Vaught said. A 56-page federal investigative report written by the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services also found deficiencies at the hospital. I Feel Stuck - Like My Options Are Limited, South Carolina LPNs Arrested For Not Changing Wound Dressings, Georgia law prohibits DNPs from using the term "doctor". allnurses, LLC, 175 Pearl St Ste 355, Brooklyn NY 11201 Murphey was claustrophobic, so in preparation for a PET scan, she was ordered a sedative, intravenous Versed. The nursing crisis found a scapegoat in the criminal trial of RaDonda RaDonda Vaught - What is she doing now? The RaDonda Vaught trial has been a major issue for the nursing community. Stephanie Amador/AP/Shutterstock Update: On May 13, 2022, RaDonda Vaught was sentenced to three years supervised probation with judicial diversion. We stand with them always. RaDonda Vaught - Prosecuting nurses won't make health care safer 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. RaDonda Vaught apologizes to the family of Charlene Murphey during her sentencing in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 13. Nope, she states she had given it in the last 24 hours. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? We hear a lot about "wrong site" surgeries. Specializes in Med/Surg. This is a gross miscarriage of justice and should immediately be reversed whether through judicial review or pardon. She also did not recognize that Versed is a liquid but . "I think the whole world feels like I was a scapegoat," Vaught said. Why nurses are raging and quitting after the RaDonda Vaught verdict - NPR RaDonda Vaught apologizes to the family of Charlene Murphey during her sentencing in Nashville, Tenn., May 13, 2022. Vaught, 38, was indicted in 2019 on two charges, reckless homicide and impaired adult abuse, in the death of Charlene Murphey at Vanderbilt University Medical Center just after Christmas 2017.. A criminal prosecution should be reserved for those extremely rare bad actors who knowingly and purposefully cause a patient harm. All rights reserved. Vanderbilt nurse RaDonda Vaught's guilty verdict and 'Just Culture' Get the weekly newsletter for powerful and critical thinking columns. RaDonda Vaught was working as a nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center when, on Dec. 26, 2017, she made a mistake that resulted in the death of her patient, Charlene Murphey. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A six-month supervised probationary period would have been much more reasonable. RaDonda Vaught - What is she doing now? - General Nursing Talk - allnurses Vaught was found guilty . Vaught then overlooked or bypassed at least five warnings or pop-ups saying she was withdrawing a paralyzing medication, documents state. Analyzing Abuse of Prosecutorial Discretion in the RaDonda Vaught What are your thoughts about the trial, the conviction, and the sentencing? No way, no how is there any excuse other than negligence for what Ms. Vaught did, but a criminal charge of murder and jail time doesn't sit right with me. Let her enjoy the little breakfrom hospital drudgery so many of us resent and yet are loathe to leave. The conviction is in connection with the 2017 death of 75-year-old. RaDonda Vaught verdict: Vanderbilt ex-nurse found guilty on 2 charges Was it possible Vaught was stretched too thin and asked to take care of too many patients at once? Vaught at the time was a nurse in Vanderbilt University Medical Center's intensive care unit. Vaught intended to give a sedative called Versed, but administered a powerful vecuronium, an anesthetic used to keep a patient still during surgery. She should start a Youtube channel. This nurse should not have been criminally charged and should not have lost her license. Her prosecution, in addition to the sobering struggles our health care workers have experienced during the COVID-19pandemic, threatens the publics view of a career in health care. Published May 23, 2022. That could be any one of us. Vaught's attorneys argued that the former nurse's mistake was made by "systemic errors" at the hospital's pharmacy that allows nurses to override the safeguards. Doing so deters health care workers from reporting every mistake and near-mistake, causing us to lose critical opportunities for learning and addressing underlying issues in our treatment or care. Nashville Tennessean 0:00 1:35 RaDonda Vaught, a former Vanderbilt nurse criminally indicted for accidentally killing a patient with a medication error in 2017, was stripped of her license by. Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns. RaDonda Vaught case: where do things stand? - American Nurse Journal Vaught was caring for a 75-year-old patient when she accidentally administered the wrong drug and did not monitor the patient. She could still be alive, with her family. Should hospital imaging facilities, when using strong sedatives that can cause breathing to stop, routinely use monitoring of vital signs and oxygenation, which would have immediately detected the error here and allowed for resuscitation? "Anytime you have additional responsibility, that responsibility can be distracting." The judge will determine the sentences, which could each run concurrently or consecutively, based on statutory guidelines. In 2018, the hospital filed a 300-page plan of correction with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to address the cited deficiencies outlined in the previous report, which included enhancing safety measures when administering paralytic drugs. 4,120 Posts, She's living the good life, feeding the sheep and enjoying the country life. RaDonda Vaught sentencing: 5 things to know - The Tennessean Poor choice of words. The jury found Vaught, a former nurse, guilty of . Nurses all over the world should know how much doctors appreciate them. Hear more Tennessee Voices:Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns. In court documents, the local prosecutors claimed Vaught made 10 mistakes, including pushing the override setting on the electronic medicine cabinet when she couldn't find the sedative Versed. I do think that it's an important message for the public to hear though. ", 4 Articles; How RaDonda Vaught's Medication Error Affects Nurse - GoodRx When is a mistake criminal? "I allowed myself to split my focus into two different things at once.". RaDonda Vaught Sentenced to Three Years Probation After Injecting Patient with Wrong Drug. They certainly have expressed those fears here at Inova. This offered her access to more powerful drugs, including the paralytic agent vecuronium. Since 1997, allnurses is trusted by nurses around the globe. Tennessee Nurse RaDonda Vaught - Legal Perspectives of Fatal Medication Error. No criminal charges. 1-917-426-3524, By using the site you agree to our Privacy, Cookies, and Terms of Service Policies. RaDonda Vaught's trial has ended. This timeline of the case explains Watch the video below to see what Radonda Vaught is doing now. "She was floating and in an unfamiliar unit". I predict a book deal in her future. Medical errors, including ones that cause serious injury or death, occur all the time. Who is RaDonda Vaught, and what did she do? Murphey had been admitted to the neurological ICU at Vanderbilt two days earlier and was prescribed the medication Versed, a sedative for her claustrophobia-related . But human errors like this occur in our field. The District Attorney's office confirmed a conviction of criminally negligent homicide can carry 1-2 years of incarceration, the gross neglect charge could stretch from 3-6 years. Has 12 years experience. The RaDonda Vaught Case: Implications on Health Care and the Law This timeline will help, 'Zero regrets about telling the truth': Ex-nurse RaDonda Vaught speaks out ahead of guilty verdict, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The system is set up to make it easy for us to make a mistake like this. The case highlighted issues with medicalerrors and the concern of health care professionals nationwide over the unusual step to handle the case in criminal court. Why would anybody want to be a nurse now? They also claimed that Vaught ignored four warnings about the medication, including the label, "Warning: paralyzing agent.". What hospitals can learn from the RaDonda Vaught case - KevinMD.com At nurse RaDonda Vaught's trial, testimony points to Vanderbilt's - NPR Vaught admitted in interviews with investigators that she was distracted that day because she was training a new nurse at the time.