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HEALTHCARE WHISTLEBLOWERS NEED PROTECTION
Aug 13, 2006
Hi Care2 Activists,
                                 
         A Heartfelt Thank You to each and every one of you for taking the time to Sign this Patient Safety Advocate’s Whistleblower Petition at:
            
 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/938995258   

         I don’t want to bug those of you who have already signed,  but I urgently need you to keep forwarding this Link on to all of the Care2 Friends in your Network.   I am still actively seeking additional comments from Patient Safety Advocates, Medical Professionals and especially Nurses for inclusion on this really vital Patient Safety Petition that highlights the critical need for much stronger universal Whistleblower protections for US Healthcare workers.  

Kim Sanders-Fisher in Surgery; working as a Medical Volunteer in the OR at Cut Nyak Dhien Hospital in Meulaboh, Aceh Indonesia after the Tsunami.


         Most, if not all, of our Care2 members make a conscious choice to care passionately for animals and to protect our fragile environment; I genuinely applaud this extremely valuable contribution.  Over the past three months I have learned that it is a really tough challenge to muster any significant response for a Petition that does not focus on such issues, but instead targets the current Healthcare crisis.  This is deplorable, as we really must recognize that sick and injured Hospital patients are equally vulnerable to abuse and neglect; they too deserve our attention and protection.   

         We might not want to dwell upon our own human frailty or  physical weeknesses, but the fundamental need for access to Safe Medical treatment is an irrefutable fact of life!  This is about the integrity of YOUR Medical system, so please bear in mind that  inevitably we will all require Medical care at some point in the future.  Don’t let deliberate negligent under-staffing become the nightmare scenario that determines the fate of your vulnerable loved ones when they enter a US Healthcare facility.  Join with those of us who are now Petitioning to demand immediate dramatic changes to America’s increasingly dangerous and dysfunctional “Profits over Patients” Medical  system.      

                                  THANKS TO ALL YOUR HELP  
  WE HAVE REACHED A MILESTONE OF SUCCESS: 
  
                SURPASSING  1000  SIGNATURES!                
                                                         
                             MORE THAN  1275  HAVE SIGNED SO FAR     
           BUT THE  3000  SIGNATURE GOAL IS A LONG WAY OFF...         
  I STILL NEED YOUR HELP!      

         Although I am sure Healthcare really is one of your priorities, you still might not have got round to signing this important Patient Safety Petition yet. Few people realize what a critically important role strong Whistleblower protections play in the workplace: no where is this more vital than in our Hospitals!  Ignoring the crisis in US Healthcare now, could potentially have devastating consequences for the delivery of safe Medical care in America in the near future.  

       Unfortunately, so called “Managed Care” in the US equals: “too much costly and grossly inefficient Management for too little basic rudimentary Patient Care!” Healthcare dollars are being needlessly squandered by top heavy Management as powerful CEO’s rake in obscene salaries for implementing drastic workforce reductions among the badly beleaguered ranks of those still valiantly trying to deliver quality care. 

         Deliberate negligent under-staffing is already harmfully impacting Hospital practices and jeopardizing our vigilant adherence to safety regulations in all clinical areas of numerous Medical facilities throughout the United States.   Greedy Corporate power mongers deceptively refer to this as necessary “Downsizing.” In reality it is far from “necessary,” and often downright dangerous, leaving the most vulnerable patients neglected or abandoned by unworkable staffing cut backs.  To find out more about why this Petition matters so much to you and your family visit my Care2 Sharebook.

Read about the specific healthcare dangers I was removed for trying to expose,
GO TO:   http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/99894
Read the letter of appeal that further elaborates on my personal motivations behind filing this Petition,  
GO TO:  http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/91853      
or Visit the TEAM Blogspot:
                             Medic Integrity & T.E.A.M.  
    TRANSPARENCY for EQUAL ACCOUNTABILITY in MEDICINE
                                  Visit the new "Blogspot;" 
GO TO:  http://medicintegrity-team.blogspot.com/   


         Americans must pay dearly for their Medical insurance in order to access quality care touted as the absolute “finest available anywhere in the world.”  When we or one of our loved ones is sick or injured, we really deserve to know that they will receive the very best and safest standard of Medical care.  However, although we might rightfully expect safe Medical treatment and are truly horrified when someone close to us becomes the victim of negligence, abandonment or abuse, Healthcare is being severely compromised and accountability is seriously diminishing.  This disquieting trend is being documented right now by numerous signatories to my Petition who have experienced negligent care or harmful medical errors.  You too can add your comments regarding the sharp decline in the quality of US Healthcare.  

         The fact is that greedy Corporate profiteering in Healthcare is getting steadily worse.   The dangerous "Profits over Patients" agenda has aggressively implemented drastic staff reductions.  This created such intolerable working conditions for Medical professionals that it precipitated a full scale “Nursing Exodus.” Those who are unable to change this unworkable system and have consistently refused to be responsible for the horific consequences of unsafe care have left the Medical field altogether!  

         Abuse and neglect of vulnerable Hospital patients is rampant due to the stress and unreasonable demands on fatigued, overstretched, Medical professionals.  Our inability to cope with the severe limitations of minimal staffing is creating major problems.  Basic safeguards are being ignored or eroded and Medical Errors are on the increase.  It does not have to be this way, but we must demand a reversal of the current negligent "Profits over Patients” Medical system.  

         The really Good News is that the majority of former Nurses still diligently maintain their Nursing licenses.   Many of these highly qualified and experienced professionals are eager to return to direct bedside Nursing.  If and when staffing is safely regulated, and the current unworkable conditions change so that Medical staff can advocate and care for their patients properly once more, they will return to their chosen career.  We can confidently anticipate that increasing the number of tenure Nurses will help make the US Medical system safe again.   

         A few conscientious outspoken Medical practitioners are battling to insure that your Medical care remains safe, despite the current appalling working conditions.  Some have courageously chosen to jeopardize their entire career to vocally advocate for the safety of patients entrusted to their care.  This heroic sacrifice should never be necessary.  However, Whistleblower protections for Healthcare workers are almost non-existent in most States and this situation urgently needs to change.  The Safety of Medical care remains far from guaranteed while Medical staff are still totally helpless to advocate on behalf of their patients without fear of significant reprisal or complete career sabotage. 

To sign this Patient Safety Advocate’s Petition;
GO TO:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/938995258    

         Please take immediate action right now to Demand Safe Patient Care by insisting that conscientious Medical practitioners, who want to advocate on your behalf, are protected from retaliation.   It will be far too late to protest when your ultimate survival or the life of someone close to you hangs in the balance, and is dependant upon the compassion, knowledge and experience of a competent Medical team.  Please do not hesitate to contact my with your questions, comments or to request a “Friends” link connection as I would really appreciate having you on board,    

                                         Thank you, for your critically needed support,   

                                                                Kim L. Sanders-Fisher.   

PS:    Although this Petition is now gaining more signatures than most other submissions in the "Health" section it is still not listed at the top among the "Most Popular Petitions" on the “Health” page.  I have repeatedly appealed to the Petition Site to update their ranking of the ten "Most Popular Health Petitions" which even now still lists one Petition that has been closed to signing for well over a month!  Please help persuade them to revamp their list to reflect recent changing trends in importance and focus.  Urge them to do this so that active Petitions, like mine and others that are still actively seeking public support, can become more visible.   Your Signatures could then put this vital Patient Safety Petition in the “Most Popular Petition” spot at last.
                                                                                               

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Posted: Aug 13, 2006 11:54am
A JULY 4th MOMENT of REFLECTION on HUMANE TREATMENT
Jul 4, 2006
A Happy 4th of July to all my Friends “Across the Pond”
 
 I love my doggie 
  

                           If this was your Puppy 
"Would you leave this, obviously well cared for, Puppy from our Care2 community cooped up in a room for a full 12 hours without any Food  or even a Drink of Water, but expect the poor animal not to pee on the floor?"

No!    Exactly,
   because that would be Cruel and Inhumane.

So why is it OK when Medical Professionals are expected to perform stressful work assignments in Surgery under the same inhumane circumstances, without Food or Water for 12 straight hours?
“Breaks are at the Discretion of the Employer!"  
                                                     
The unconscious Patient undergoing Surgery is vulnerable and defenseless.  However, as Medical Professionals we are duty bound to advocate for their safe treatment while they are in our care in the OR.  
         Please Help us Adhere to this Important Duty.


Does no one ever anticipate that a member of the OR Team might make a mistake during extended periods stranded in Surgery without relief? 
“Breaking Scrub,” to leave the OR before an assigned Scrub relief takes over, risks being charged with: 
        “Patient Abandonment!”     
Wetting the Floor is Unthinkable! 


  The OR at the Detainee Hospital, Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – DoD photo Staff Sgt. Steven Lewald US Arm (Releases)
All members of the OR Surgical Team Must Remain Alert to Perform their Critical Tasks with the Utmost Regard for Patient Safely.  
If your family member was unconscious on the OR Table would you want members of the sterile Surgical team trying to concentrate on the meticulous demands of an operation while feeling sick, dizzy and faint after 10-12hours of extreme deprivation and fatigue due to the thoughtless abandonment of deliberate negligent under-staffing?

Do you need to Eat, Drink or Urinate more frequently than once every 12 Hours?
This deprivation is not permissible for the treatment of working P.O.W.s under the Geneva Convention!
         So, why is it acceptable for Hospital Staff in America?  
     
HUMANS DESERVE HUMANE TREATMENT TOO!

On America’s Birthday:   Make a commitment to demand Humane treatment for Medical Staff that Protects the Safety of vulnerable Surgical Patients in the OR and defends those who courageously advocate on behalf of Patient Safety;
                          GO TO:   
 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/938995258 
                      ADD YOUR COMMENTS TO THE PETITION
    I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!        
 With a 3000 Signature Goal, there is still a very long way to go 

  A BIG        FROM:  Kim Sanders-Fisher
                   Medic Integrity & T.E.A.M. 
TRANSPARENCY for EQUAL ACCOUNTABILITY in MEDICINE
                           Visit the new "Blogspot;" 
GO TO:  http://medicintegrity-team.blogspot.com/    
To read more about the Patient Safety issue that precipitated my dismissal: how deliberate negligent under-staffing leaves OR team members stranded in Surgery for unsafe periods without relief.
Also read my letter of appeal regarding enlisting the support of influential Doctors empowered to introduce regulatory changes to hopefully bring an end to such dangerous occurrences;  
 GO TO:   http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/91853 
Alternatively, please explore the numerous informative Links in this Petition or visit discussion threads that I have either started or contributed to on the  allnurses.com   Website,  
 GO TO:   http://allnurses.com/forums/members/105717.html   
Read my comments posted under the name:   Tsunami Kim. 

PS.:  The Husky looked so like "Drew," the gorgeous puppy I rescued when I was working as a Medical Volunteer after Hurricane Andrew, I have taken the huge liberty of borrowing the picture from another Care2 member.  Well cared for and doted over I am sure by new member Marcie Webb; 
                                                       My Thanks to Marcie.
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Posted: Jul 4, 2006 6:48am

 
 
 
Content and comments expressed here are the opinions of Care2 users and not necessarily that of Care2.com or its affiliates.

Author

Kim Sanders-Fisher
female , divorced
Hastings, AA, United Kingdom
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