A nurse filmed the abuse of patients at the Abrantes Hospital. Nurses order investigates

The Nurses’ Order (OE) has referred the case of a nurse accused of abusing patients at the Abrantes Hospital to its Jurisdictional Council and will forward the information it has to the competent judicial authorities, it was announced on Friday.

In a statement, the Order said it received a report on Wednesday of ill-treatment and illegal filming allegedly carried out by a nurse of patients at the Abrantes Hospital.

In the note, OE President Luis Filipe Barreira indicates that the application “has been forwarded to the competent disciplinary body” of the OE, “the Jurisdictional Council, to determine the appropriate legal consequences, and is currently under consideration.”

He adds that he will “refer the facts known to him to the competent judicial authorities to assess possible criminal liability on the part of the nurse in question.”

The Board of Directors (CA) of the local health department of the Medio Tejo (ULS) announced on Thursday evening the suspension and criminal prosecution of a nurse at the Abrantes Hospital (Santarem) for “filming without consent of particularly vulnerable patients” with “abuse associated”.

In a statement, ULS Médio Tejo said it received “an anonymous email complaint on Tuesday containing several files containing illegal video footage without the consent or knowledge of users who are unaware that they are being filmed.”

These films “involve completely reprehensible acts against particularly vulnerable patients that call into question the respect and dignity of the human person and the deontology inherent in the noble mission of providing health care.”

In this sense, the CA stated that the priority is to identify the author of the images, order disciplinary proceedings and suspension, and entrust the entire criminal process to the Office of the Prosecutor (MP).

After a “careful review” of the images, the CA determined that they were taken at least three years ago, at various workplaces and hospitals in the Abrantes Hospital unit.

According to the same note, “the review of the resulting images together with the heads of the institution also made it possible to identify at least one nurse from the Abrantes ULS Médio Tejo unit involved in these criminal acts.”

The CA further stated that “as soon as these anonymous complaints were received, an emergency meeting was held at approximately 9:16 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, that same night” and measures were taken, including “the immediate suspension of the professional identified in the shooting.” film.”

In addition to the suspension of the employee, it was decided to “initiate disciplinary proceedings (…) for the purpose of dismissal, informing the Order of Nurses about the opening of this procedure”, “delivery of all received materials to the Prosecutor’s Office” and “registering a complaint with the competent judicial authorities”, ensuring “full cooperation with the authorities in the investigation” of the case, the ULS SA reported then.

However, OE reports that “contrary to what has been reported, a purely declaratory letter was received only this afternoon” from the medical unit, noting the facts and initiating disciplinary proceedings against the member concerned, but without attaching any documentary support.

The professional order also states that it is “particularly attentive and vigilant” to all situations that may jeopardize the rights and quality of health care of recipients of nursing services, especially the most vulnerable groups.

The department adds that it will not provide “any statement in this regard until the completion of the normal procedural process and the final decision of the Jurisdictional Council.”