I agree with Dr. Newman that "common sense" should prevail, but in a court
of law, I doubt that it would. Those of us who have had any exposure to
incident reports and quality assurance in the hospital know that we must
save and file our old procedures--just in case there is a law suit
sometime--so that we can prove that indeed the hospital personnel *did* go
by the procedure that existed at the time when the problem occurred.
Deviating from the accepted procedure, or from the manufacturer's
recommendations, is one of the #1 no-nos from a legal and/or quality
assurance standpoint.

I can't begin to list the things I've seen go wrong. Issues that are
seemingly MUCH more simple and less controversial than the cut-off syringe
have been problematic in hospitals where I've worked.

I'm not an attorney, but in no case would I feel comfortable using a piece
of equipment for something other than its intended use; especially when
there *is* a piece of equipment designed for the use. (e.g., the Evert-It,
rather than the cut-off syringe.) I'm just not willing to put myself at
risk like that.

As for surgeons using improvised gadgets: I don't know if they do it "all
the time" but then, I don't pay their liability premiums, either.



>This idea that we are in trouble legally if we use something for some other
>purpose is very disturbing.  Like how could using a syringe to pull out a
>nipple be of any concern?  How could using an improvised lactation aid be of
>any concern?  We must do the best for our clients.  If we have gotten to
>this point of medico-legal hysteria, there is no hope.  Surgeons use
>improvised gadgets all the time.  Common sense!!
>
>Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

--
--
Marie Biancuzzo
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
[log in to unmask]
Resources to simplify breastfeeding management are available at
http://www.wmc-worldwide.com

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