I have been involved with a number of nurses and lactation consultants who
have sought my help in trying to stem the unethical withholding of information
and care from patients. I usually give the following list for where to turn to
register complaints or seek help. There are legal implications for what the
hospital and management allows or does not allow:

Patient's Bill of Rights
JCAHO
Ethics Committee
Risk Management Committee
Corporate Compliance Department
Quality Improvement Department
Legal Department
Scope of Practice Statements
State Licensing Regulations
Nurse Practice Act
CEO
President
Board of Directors
Hospital's mission statement
Hospital's marketing promises
Medicaid regulations
State Department of Public Health/Dept of Health Care Quality
State Board of Registration in Medicine or Nursing
Human Resources
Hospital Practice Committees

While none of these will necessarily fix the situation, at least they are out
there. Patients have the right to know that either the hospital or their
physician or nurse will not provide evidence-based care.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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