Utah nurse claims police assault after she refused patient blood sample

[rooster59]

Utah nurse claims police assault after she refused patient blood sample

 

Nurse Alex Wubbels is shown during an incident at University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., in this still photo taken from police body-worn camera video taken July 26, 2017 and provided September 1, 2017. Salt Lake City Police Department/Handout via REUTERS

 

(Reuters) - A nurse at a Utah hospital was assaulted by a police officer last month after declining to allow him to obtain a sample of an unconscious patient's blood because he had neither a warrant nor the patient's consent, media reported.

 

Prosecutors in Utah will consider criminal charges against the officer, an official said on Friday.

 

Video of the July 26 incident from Salt Lake City police officers' body-worn cameras showed Alex Wubbels, dressed in blue medical scrubs, consulting with colleagues before showing the waiting officers a printout of the University of Utah Hospital's policy on providing blood samples to test for alcohol or drugs.

 

The patient was a truck driver who was comatose when he was brought to the hospital burns unit after a crash with a vehicle being driven by someone fleeing police, the Deseret News reported.

 

Wubbels explained to the officers that under the policy, which she said was agreed to by the police department, she would need a warrant, the patient's consent or the patient would need to be under arrest.

 

"I'm just trying to do what I'm supposed to do, that's all," Wubbels told the officers, noting that they did not meet any of those criteria.

 

One officer, identified in media reports as Detective Jeff Payne, appeared angered and grabbed at Wubbels before gripping her around her torso. "We're done," Payne said. "You're under arrest."

 

He then dragged Wubbels outside as she screamed.

 

"Somebody help me!" Wubbels cried as Payne pushed her against a wall and handcuffed her. "You're assaulting me! Stop! I've done nothing wrong."

 

Karra Porter, Wubbels' lawyer, said at a news conference on Thursday where the video was shown that the nurse followed the law and the police were wrong, according to the Deseret News. Wubbels said her first duty was to her patients.

 

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill agreed with police that a criminal investigation of the officer is warranted, chief deputy district attorney Jeff Hall said in a telephone interview. He declined to say what charges may be filed.

 

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said in a statement on Friday that he was "alarmed" by the video and that the department had apologized. Payne was suspended from blood-collecting duties while an internal investigation was being conducted, Brown said.

 

Payne was not immediately available for comment.

 

In a separate statement, Mayor Jackie Biskupski called the incident "completely unacceptable" and extended an apology to Wubbels for her ordeal.

 

A protest was planned for Saturday by Utah Against Police Brutality, according to a local Fox affiliate reporter, citing a statement from the group.

 

"Payne is clearly incapable of even basic moral reasoning, and he must be fired," the statement posted on Twitter said.

 

The University of Utah said in a statement on Thursday that it supported Wubbels "and her decision to focus first and foremost on the care and well-being of her patient."

 

The hospital said it had created a new policy with police that would preclude officers from arriving in person to seek blood samples.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-02

[Credo]

He certainly isn't doing anything to improve the image of the police.   

 

It's pretty sad when a nurse doing her duty and tending to a comatose patient gets handcuffed.   

[trogers]

A blood sample from the police officer is warranted.

[Dagnabbit]

41 minutes ago, trogers said:

A blood sample from the police officer is warranted.

 

No - he was not legally entitled to one apparently.

 

He obviously thought he was but he didn't have a warrant or the patients consent, so the nurse was right.

 

Plus - it's her job to care for patients, not to carry out tasks for law enforcement officers. 

[trogers]

15 minutes ago, Dagnabbit said:

 

No - he was not legally entitled to one apparently.

 

He obviously thought he was but he didn't have a warrant or the patients consent, so the nurse was right.

 

Plus - it's her job to care for patients, not to carry out tasks for law enforcement officers. 

I was saying, the unusual behaviour of this officer warrants his blood be tested...

[mauGR1]

I wonder , what's happening to the people nowadays ?

[Briggsy]

1 minute ago, mauGR1 said:

I wonder , what's happening to the people nowadays ?

It has been discussed over and over. Sections of the U.S. police, a highly diverse body, have become militarised. They see everybody as an enemy and default to extreme actions / force inappropriately and unnecessarily. An 'us and them' mentality has taken hold rather than the police as an integral part of society. There needs to be cultural change from the top.

 

I am not anti-police. I understand they have a difficult job. This is another instance of the officer losing control and acting wrongly. His further employment as an officer needs to be reviewed.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

This is an example of a guy clearly in the wrong job... His ego is empowered by a uniform, he is a bully and an impatient pr£$k, he had no right to use force he is an embarrassment to a force which clearly needs to look at itself.

 

US Police come across as the Gestapo, they have a tough job to do, but they need to be 'better' than those for whom they are keeping the peace.

 

In instances such as this it is clear that the 'them vs us' mentality (as mentioned in a post above) is prevalent and the supportive element is missing... no wonder some call the Police such derogatory names when they behave like this. 

 

Force is a part of the Job, it should continue to be allowed to be part of the job, but fools such as this most definitely should be held accountable for their inhumanity and failure to act professionally. 

[Blue Muton]

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

It has been discussed over and over. Sections of the U.S. police, a highly diverse body, have become militarised. They see everybody as an enemy and default to extreme actions / force inappropriately and unnecessarily. An 'us and them' mentality has taken hold rather than the police as an integral part of society. There needs to be cultural change from the top.

 

I am not anti-police. I understand they have a difficult job. This is another instance of the officer losing control and acting wrongly. His further employment as an officer needs to be reviewed.

 

 

No chance of a cultural change from the top. The top has just taken action to reinforce the militarization that you mention, sadly but true to form.

[Boon Mee]

3 hours ago, trogers said:

A blood sample from the police officer is warranted.

Not when he is unconscious 

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed. 

 

7. Please do not post off-topic responses in an attempt to hijack the thread. Such posts will be deleted. 

[sirineou]

if she had agreed to provide the sample she would have being liable also.

Now she  is a hero and I am sure will be a pretty wealthy woman.

[Thongkorn]

6 hours ago, Dagnabbit said:

 

No - he was not legally entitled to one apparently.

 

He obviously thought he was but he didn't have a warrant or the patients consent, so the nurse was right.

 

Plus - it's her job to care for patients, not to carry out tasks for law enforcement officers. 

Think you missed the point the police officer should have given Blood  from his nose after a punch in the  mouth.

[Foozool]

This happenes when a psycho is part of the force. 

Other cops even don't want to get involve with his psychotic action. 

[gk10002000]

Clarification.  She wasn't "arrested and detained" because she wouldn't draw the blood.  The cop pulled her aside because she would not let him draw the blood and she got in his way.  Just saying there is a big distinction.  The cop was tired of her not doing it, so he grabbed the stuff and was going to draw it himself.

[sirineou]

3 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

Clarification.  She wasn't "arrested and detained" because she wouldn't draw the blood.  The cop pulled her aside because she would not let him draw the blood and she got in his way.  Just saying there is a big distinction.  The cop was tired of her not doing it, so he grabbed the stuff and was going to draw it himself.

are cops allowed to enter hospitals and perform medical procedures?

[gk10002000]

Just now, sirineou said:

are cops allowed to enter hospitals and perform medical procedures?

in general no.  They, as well as anybody else can be denied access to the property.   They have no authority to take, use, modify or touch anything. 

[Mrjlh]

The unconscious patient was a Reserve Police Officer who was a full time truck driver. He was involved in an accident caused by a motorist running away from the police. Not his fault. The Detective wanted a blood sample to prove the patient was not driving under drugs or alcohol to protect the patient or fellow officer.  While trying to do a good thing the Detective went about it the wrong way entirely. He totally blew it. Most likely outcome he will eventually be fired depending on his past work history.  He had talked to his Lieutenant who agreed but who knows what the Detective told his boss to get his OK. All this according to the Salt Lake News.  I hope she sues.

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, gk10002000 said:

in general no.  They, as well as anybody else can be denied access to the property.   They have no authority to take, use, modify or touch anything. 

 I think she would wave being negligent if she did not stop the cop

I also think the Nurse will be receiving a large sum settlement from the police department and the cop will be looking for a job

[gk10002000]

23 minutes ago, sirineou said:

 I think she would wave being negligent if she did not stop the cop

I also think the Nurse will be receiving a large sum settlement from the police department and the cop will be looking for a job

She should be applauded for trying to tell the cop what the hospital policy is.  But the cop didn't care and when she would not help, and then she got in his way and tried to stop HIM from drawing the blood, he pushed her out of the way.  I don't think there is any doubt that she did right, and the cop did wrong.  I am just saying what it appears to me why the cop did what he did.

[Credo]

10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

This is an example of a guy clearly in the wrong job...

<snipped> 

.....Or he could just be in the wrong country.   

[Ulic]

I can only hope she gets a million dollar settlement paid

out of the police budget. The police officer is a bully and a

thug and should be dismissed. He is clearly in the wrong

profession.

He should most certainly be charged with assault.

[tryasimight]

4 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

in general no.  They, as well as anybody else can be denied access to the property.   They have no authority to take, use, modify or touch anything. 

in general no......you know the law in all countries? .

Or are you assuming everyone is under US law?

[Scott]

20 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

in general no......you know the law in all countries? .

Or are you assuming everyone is under US law?

It's always a good idea to read the OP.   The situation happened in the US state of Utah and anybody in that state would be under those laws.  

[katana]

Awful cop. Seems to have been sparked by being corrected on the law and not being able to get his way.

 

 

[Credo]

I sure wouldn't want to be the one that screwed that officer's order up at the local donut shop.   

[impulse]

6 hours ago, Ulic said:

I can only hope she gets a million dollar settlement paid

out of the police budget. The police officer is a bully and a

thug and should be dismissed. He is clearly in the wrong

profession.

He should most certainly be charged with assault.

 

Why should the taxpayers be out $$ millions? 

 

[sletraveler]

Cops are thugs. Nothing more.

[Andaman Al]

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Why should the taxpayers be out $$ millions? 

 

Why should a woman doing her job in accordance with the law and the agreed protocols of the police department and the hospital be arrested?  By fining the tax payer millions it helps ensure that the tax payer does not employ bozo's like the police man in question. Just like we fine corporations for errors they make, in this case the tax payer is the 'shareholder' that pays the penalty for the errors of those it employs.

[impulse]

9 hours ago, Mrjlh said:

The unconscious patient was a Reserve Police Officer who was a full time truck driver. He was involved in an accident caused by a motorist running away from the police. Not his fault. The Detective wanted a blood sample to prove the patient was not driving under drugs or alcohol to protect the patient or fellow officer.  While trying to do a good thing the Detective went about it the wrong way entirely. He totally blew it. Most likely outcome he will eventually be fired depending on his past work history.  He had talked to his Lieutenant who agreed but who knows what the Detective told his boss to get his OK. All this according to the Salt Lake News.  I hope she sues.

 

He may have been trying to protect a fellow officer, but it could also go the other way if the patient had anything in his system.  He wouldn't be the first trucker (or cop) in the country to have some amphetamines or alcohol in his blood.  That's why consent is a good idea.