Ariadne Massa
Nurses' union lifts directive on non-treatment of patient
The nurses' union has lifted its directive prohibiting members from treating a cancer patient at Boffa Hospital following a meeting with the Health Division.
The unscheduled meeting took place on Thursday, the same day an article appeared in The Times quoting Stephen Brincat, chairman of the hospital's Oncology Department, condemning the directive as "totally immoral and outrageous".
The directive was issued after a nurse was transferred to another ward without a hearing following an argument between a patient with advanced cancer and a nurse - the nurse alleged he was verbally and physically abused, while the patient claimed he was threatened.
The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses agreed to lift the directive, which started on Monday and included a blanket boycott on the hospital's medical administrator, once the nurse in question was returned to his ward.
Paul Pace, union president, said there will now be two internal investigations: One to look into the incident between the patient and the nurse, and the other into how the hospital management handled the situation.
"Contrary to what John Cachia (director general health services) said, there have been similar cases where staff were kept in the ward. There are no hard and fast rules on this," he said.
Mr Pace also expressed his annoyance at Prof. Brincat's remarks that the "union was putting nurses in an impossible situation" by ordering the "unethical directive".
"It was the nurses themselves who proposed we take such action. As a union, we don't pressure them. They unanimously voted for such action and it was 100-per-cent followed," he said.
Asked why the union had not issued a press release announcing the directive, Mr Pace defended the move saying they did not publicise the union's actions when the case was low-key.
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DVella
Aug 9th 2008, 13:18
Seeing that the so-called 'Directive' was totally immoral, went against all principles of professional conduct and was also probably illegal, 'lifting' is not the correct term to use in the circumstances. If the Union wants its adherents and members to be considered as professionals (which they obviously expect to be) then the Union should start learning about professional behaviour and what it REALLY means to be a professional. In view of the substance of the 'directive' the Union should be severly censured!!!
Franco Farrugia
Aug 9th 2008, 12:24
In my opinion, a third investigation should take place: viz. the Union administration itself and how it had the stupidity to make the gaffe it did, by issuing that directive.
Even if the nurses themselves agree with the directive - which I find it hard to believe - the Union should have never acquiesced to it and should have calmly and diplomatically come to another solution.
I honestly feel that heads should roll within the Union admin.
Joe Grima
Aug 9th 2008, 11:13
Paul Pace: Dont even try to defend what you did. Just understand that the people of these Islands are no longer ready to just sit there and take it even if they are not directly involved themselves. The public lynching that your Union received in these columns over your inhuman directive is ample proof . This is a new world we are living in. People know their rights and will fight for them. Macho Unions are out for good. We are living in a time where the requisite is for people with brains not brawn.
alfred agius
Aug 9th 2008, 10:40
All`s well that ends well. Perhaps with better communication between nursing staff, unions and hospital administration such directives would`nt have been issued in the first place.
We readers have been under the impression that the patient was a health hazard to staff resulting from his health condition and not from aggressive behaviour.
We must acknowledge the patient`s state of mind in such a precarious terminal heath condition and perhaps nursing care is not the only care that should be available to patients approaching their end of life. Perhaps this episode will serve a purpose and hospital administrators introduce woder pallative care to such patients in distress.
Our prayers to all concerned.