It was "not about the money," said one of the nurses who sent an anonymous letter alerting officials to the questionable practices of a doctor. The doctor went to his sheriff friend to investigate who sent the letter, and county charged the nurses with felony misuse of information. The whistleblowing nurses sued the county for the vindictive prosecution. Today, the county approved a settlement.
The Oregon nurses I've represented have been among the most caring and ethical professionals I've known. Nurses seem to learn fast that they will never have the biggest ego in the hospital, but rarely do nurses take second place when it comes to caring for patients.
And it is not just in hospitals. Nurses and staff in assisted living facilities work their tails off because, typically, the facilities do not employ enough staff to meet all of the promises made by the nursing homes. Too often, when staff becomes a "squeaky wheel" or report to officials, they find themselves in trouble, written up, and fired. Fortunately, Oregon law protects whistleblowers in assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other places.
Jeff Merrick, Oregon Trial Attorney
Injury & Employment Law
503-665-4234
