Nurse Convicted for Accidentally Injecting A Patient Causing Brain Death

Closeup of vaccine flask and syringe. Shallow depth of field. 3D render.

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Nurses worldwide are closely watching the Vaught Trial where a former nurse could face up to 8 years behind bars for giving an elderly patient the wrong medication. She was convicted of gross neglect of an impaired adult and negligent homicide and will be sentenced in May. Back in 2017 Charlene Murphey was reportedly being treated for a brain injury and although she was improving before being released she was scheduled for an MRI. Instead of giving her a medication she was prescribed to calm her for the procedure, former nurse Vaught injected her with a medication that is known for causing paralysis, which ultimately left the 75 year old patient brain dead. Cases like these are typically held outside of criminal court, so there is talk in the medical field especially among nurses that this could cause fear in honesty and communication when mistakes like these are made, some of which happen daily.


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