KEY POINTS:
A row over whether an elderly man's nappies should be changed has resulted in a nurse being censured, fined and suspended by the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
But the nurse's name will remain permanently suppressed after the tribunal considered a statement from her psychiatrist that the effect of publication of her name may lead her to harm herself.
The case concerned the conduct of Ms S, who was employed as a registered nurse, during an incident at an unnamed private hospital in October 2005. After an altercation in a patient's room, Ms S is said to have restrained the patient, Mr N, with some force by holding his arm. She then pushed him in his wheelchair clad only in a nappy, and draped with his trousers, to the nursing officer.
It was alleged she took the action because she wanted the nurse manager to sort out the issue of whether Mr N's nappy ought to be changed or not.
Mr N was then 89, partially paralysed and confined to a wheelchair. As a result Ms S's employment at the hospital ended.
The tribunal found Ms S guilty of professional misconduct after a hearing in August. Yesterday, it issued its decision on penalty which included that she be censured, suspended from practice for six months, pay a fine of $500 and pay 30 per cent of the costs of the tribunal.
- NZPA
