DON’T TIP THE SCALES! CARE FOR PATIENTS INVOLVED IN A POLICE INVESTIGATION

Authors

  • Joan Porteous

Abstract

Occasionally perioperative nurses are involved in the complex role of caring for medical-legal evidence while also advocating for the patient’s right for privacy. Appropriate management of evidence may be the deciding factor in the outcome of a criminal investigation. Understanding the importance of evidence is the first step in learning how to prevent its unintentional destruction during the surgical procedure.

Author Biography

Joan Porteous

Joan Porteous, RN, BN, CPN(C) is the Clinical Educator, General Hospital OR Department, at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, MB.

References

Morris, J.J. (1991). Canadian nurses and the law. Vancouver: Butterworths.

ORNAC (2005) Recommended standards, guidelines, and position statements perioperative registered practice. ORNAC.

Sergeant Gordon Gold, Winnipeg Police Department (personal communication, October 8, 2003)

Phillips, N. (2004). Berry and Kohn’s operating room technique (10th ed.). Toronto: Mosby.

Evans, M.M. & Stagner, P.A. (2003).

Maintaining the chain of custody: handling in forensics cases. AORN Journal, 78(4), 563-567.

Wick, J.M. (2000). Don’t destroy the evidence! AORN Journal, 72(5), 807-834.

AORN (2004). Clinical issues: chain of custody. AORN Journal, 80(4), 745.

Rothrock, J.C. (2003). Alexander’s care of the patient in surgery (12th ed.). Toronto: Mosby.

Hawkins, P.J. & Tolton, C. (2002). Police investigations and fatality inquiries in Manitoba: Balancing confidentiality and cooperation. Unpublished manuscript.

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Published

2005-09-01

How to Cite

Porteous, J. (2005). DON’T TIP THE SCALES! CARE FOR PATIENTS INVOLVED IN A POLICE INVESTIGATION. Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada Journal, 23(3). Retrieved from https://ornacjournal.ca/index.php/ornac/article/view/12521