Another Needless Death

During last weeks national meeting of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), we learned of yet another death from propofol. This time it wasn't a famous entertainer. It was an anesthesia provider. No one will read this person's story, and only family and friends will mourn their death. In fact, I even heard one comment by a member of the profession that actually celebrated the death. "One less "F - ing" addict out there!"

Amazing. Someone's parent/child/spouse/friend/colleague dies from a treatable disease, and someone is happy it happened.

I guess it only matters when it's a celebrity.

What in the world is wrong with our society?

Addictions grow deep
http://www.kcnursingnews.com/news/

An interview I had with the Kansas City Nursing News last month.

LaTonia Wright; nurse, attorney, advocate

Nurses in the Greater Cincinnati/Tristate area (Kentucky-Ohio-Indiana) have a real gem in their midst. I'm talking about LaTonia Wright, CEO of the Law Offic of LaTonia Denise Wright, LLC. She's a registered nurse in Ohio, and an attorney licensed to practice law in K-O-I. She specializes in license defense for nurses, but also provides workplace consultations and other services to nurses (in her own words...Representing, Counseling, and Advising Nurses).

What makes her special, at least to this graying, recovering nurse anesthetist, is how she "gets it" when it comes to the disease of chemical dependence. While a majority of our society, including health care providers, believe someone with active addiction is "choosing" to continue using drugs (including alcohol), LaTonia understands they are ill and require effective, evidence based treatment. She also understands the public must be protected from nurses who are not practicing safe nursing, for whatver reason. She wants to be sure the public is protected while assuring the rights of the nurse impaired by this disease are also protected.

In other words, she does her best to assure a win-win situation takes place...the public continues to receive the best care from competent nursing professionals, while the nurse with a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disease receives the care needed to save their life and possibly their career.

Thank you, LaTonia, for treating nurses struggling with this disease with respect and compassion. And for advocating for their rights...to life (in recovery), liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...which can only happen when the disease is in remission.