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Painkiller nurse scandal /House Bills 1414/1415
I remember when this story broke but hadn't followed it since then. Here's an update about HB's 1414/1415. I wonder they'll have teeth.
http://www.kwgn.com/news/kdvr-hepc-bill-042910,0,3207443.story
Painkiller nurse scandal spurs lawmakers to protect patients
Eli Stokols KDVR Denver
6:32 PM MDT, April 29, 2010
Related links
Judge rejects Kristen Parker's Hep C plea deal
Kristen Parker Photo
DENVER - Two bills, both drawn up to regulate surgical technicians in response to last summer's Kristen Parker scandal at Rose Medical Center, are headed for a vote on the House floor after getting unanimous approval from the House Health and Human Services Committee Thursday afternoon.
Last summer, it was discovered that Parker, while working as a surgical tech at Rose, stole syringes of fetanyl, a powerful painkiller, and injected herself before filling the syringes with saline and placing them back on surgical trays. Nearly 6,000 people were at risk for Hepatitis C because of her actions, and 18 of them actually contracted the disease.
"The event itself raised the bar of safeguards at health facilities, hospitals," said Ned Colange, the state's Chief Medical Officer, who supports the proposals to regulate surgical technicians, who are currently not required to be licensed or regulated by the state.
"This is just smart legislation," Colange said. "The most common question we hear is, why aren't we already doing this? And, honestly, we didn't ever expect something like this to happen."
House Bill 1414, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Benefield, D-Arvada, requires health care facilities to report any drug diversions to the CDPHE along with the name of the techs or patients involved. The companion bill, HB 1415, sponsored by Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, requires all surgical technicians to be registered with the state of Colorado.
"My wish is that criminals like Kristen Parker are found before their heinous acts inflict unnecessary pain and suffering," said Lauren Lollini, one Parker's 18 victims, in a letter to lawmakers.
The two bills could be up for an initial vote in the House as early as Friday
http://www.kwgn.com/news/kdvr-hepc-bill-042910,0,3207443.story
Painkiller nurse scandal spurs lawmakers to protect patients
Eli Stokols KDVR Denver
6:32 PM MDT, April 29, 2010
Related links
Judge rejects Kristen Parker's Hep C plea deal
Kristen Parker Photo
DENVER - Two bills, both drawn up to regulate surgical technicians in response to last summer's Kristen Parker scandal at Rose Medical Center, are headed for a vote on the House floor after getting unanimous approval from the House Health and Human Services Committee Thursday afternoon.
Last summer, it was discovered that Parker, while working as a surgical tech at Rose, stole syringes of fetanyl, a powerful painkiller, and injected herself before filling the syringes with saline and placing them back on surgical trays. Nearly 6,000 people were at risk for Hepatitis C because of her actions, and 18 of them actually contracted the disease.
"The event itself raised the bar of safeguards at health facilities, hospitals," said Ned Colange, the state's Chief Medical Officer, who supports the proposals to regulate surgical technicians, who are currently not required to be licensed or regulated by the state.
"This is just smart legislation," Colange said. "The most common question we hear is, why aren't we already doing this? And, honestly, we didn't ever expect something like this to happen."
House Bill 1414, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Benefield, D-Arvada, requires health care facilities to report any drug diversions to the CDPHE along with the name of the techs or patients involved. The companion bill, HB 1415, sponsored by Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, requires all surgical technicians to be registered with the state of Colorado.
"My wish is that criminals like Kristen Parker are found before their heinous acts inflict unnecessary pain and suffering," said Lauren Lollini, one Parker's 18 victims, in a letter to lawmakers.
The two bills could be up for an initial vote in the House as early as Friday
Opps again,i meant to say"are not" criminals.You will never stop people from doing drugs by throwing people in jails,the jails will just get bigger and bigger ,until we all are locked up,even the law makers themselves do drugs...its all about profits,the banks are the biggest money launderers around
Rocker - did you mean "are not" criminals. I think that is what you were meaning to type. Anyway, I think drug addiction is a disease just like any other addiction. I often wonder if legalization and tight controls are a beginning to an answer.
I myself dont think drug adicts are criminals,even tho "crimes" are commited,if they had laws that regulated and legalized and controlled the drugs,this would not have happened,"the war on drugs' is not workn and never will.The drug problems are caused by the govts refusal to address the problem.
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