'Somebody Help Me!' Nurse Arrested After Refusing to Draw Blood

Time Magazine ^ | 9/1/2018 | AP

[varyouga]

(SALT LAKE CITY) — A Utah police officer's body camera video shows a hospital nurse being handcuffed after refusing to draw blood on an unconscious patient.

The video taken at University Hospital in Salt Lake City shows nurse Alex Wubbels calmly explaining to Salt Lake detective Jeff Payne that she couldn't draw blood on a patient who had been injured in a car accident. She told the officer a patient was required to give consent for a blood sample or be under arrest. Otherwise, she said police needed a warrant.

The dispute ended with Payne telling the nurse she was under arrest and physically moving her out of the hospital while she screamed.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports Wubbels was not charged. Police have started an internal investigation, but Payne remains on duty.

[af_vet_rr]

I don’t understand why the cop would want William Gray’s blood, unless he wants to pin fault for the accident on Gray instead of the perp that was being chased.

Some other FReepers think that's the case, and I'm inclined to agree.

I think he didn't have a warrant either because he didn't bother applying for a warrant, knowing the judge would probably turn him down, since we are talking about taking blood from the victim.

Or he tried and the judge turned him down. Either way, he sure as hell was desperate to get that blood.

And another Freeper pointed out that severe burns will affect your blood anyways, rendering such tests moot.

[Teacher317]

I wonder if he would have arrested a judge for refusing to give him the warrant that would have made his illegal actions legal and proper.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

She told the officer a patient was required to give consent for a blood sample or be under arrest.

All this falderal over nothing.

All the cop had to do was arrest the unconscious patient.

[af_vet_rr]

What a complete nutcase.


Ahh..but the question is, who is the bigger nutcase - the cop who admits both in his report and on video in public, to the nurse and other hospital staff, as well as two other police officers, that he doesn't have a warrant and doesn't have the authority to take the blood, and yet is still trying to take the blood.

Or the two police officers who stood by and did absolutely nothing after he admitted he didn't have a warrant and the authority to take the blood.

You're probably right, the arresting cop is complete nutcase - that man was desperate for that blood sample, and he's damned stupid for arresting the nurse for calling him out on not having the authority to take the sample. On top of that, the cop told other cops in the parking lot that since he works for an ambulance company, he will steer transients to that hospital and the "good" patients to other hospitals.

I'm guessing he won't have that ambulance job much longer.

[af_vet_rr]

All this falderal over nothing.

All the cop had to do was arrest the unconscious patient.


Since the comatose patient was the victim in the crash, why would he arrest him?

Or is that sarcasm directed at the boot lickers ;-)

[af_vet_rr]

She’s resisting arrest and interfering in police duty.


He had no warrant and no authority, and he admits that he has no warrant and authority, and therefore he has no police duty being there.

It’s the crazy left that thinks one can ignore or fight police if they think police are wrong.


The policeman was wrong. He admitted it on video and in his report that he had no warrant and authority. The policeman was openly breaking the law.

I get that in Russia, you would be scared to cross the police if you know they are doing something wrong, but we are in the United States of America, and Americans should not be afraid to call the police out when the police are breaking the law. You should have left your notions of what police are behind when you left Russia.

Hell, I wish there were more people like this woman willing to stand up to the police when the police blatantly disregard the laws of their state and of the United States of America.

[af_vet_1981]

I don’t understand why the cop would want William Gray’s blood, ...

The patient is also a reserve police officer in a different county.

The following is a news release from Rigby Police Chief Sam Tower. Photo shows Officer William Gray and April Gray from a GoFundMe page.

RIGBY — On July 26 of this year, one of our reserve officers, William Gray, was the victim in a horrific accident in northern Utah while working his full-time job as a truck driver.

The suspect in this incident was fleeing from Utah State Highway Patrol, when he crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head on with Gray’s truck, severely injuring Gray and killing himself. Officer Gray was flown to the University of Utah’s burn unit where he remains under their watchful, professional, and competent care.

Within the first hours of Officer Gray being admitted into the burn unit, an incident occurred between hospital staff and an officer from an agency in Utah who was assisting with the investigation.

The Rigby Police Department was not aware of this incident until Aug. 31, 2017.

The Rigby Police Department would like to thank the nurse involved and hospital staff for standing firm and protecting Officer Gray’s rights as a patient and victim. Protecting the rights of others is truly a heroic act.

The Rigby Police Department would also like to acknowledge the hard work of the involved agencies, and trusts that this unfortunate incident will be investigated thoroughly and appropriate action will be taken.

It is important to remember that Officer Gray is the victim in this horrible event, and that at no time was he under any suspicion of wrongdoing.

As he continues to heal, we would ask that his family be given privacy, respect, and prayers for continued recovery and peace.

[TianaHighrider]

“To Protect and to Serve”

I remember that old motto the police ‘used’ to have. I say ‘used to’ as I remember their training ‘target pictures’ a few years ago they went to. You remember, the ones with ordinary looking citizens holding guns - very old people, kids, 9-month looking pregnant women. It was called something like ‘no-hesitation’ targets.

I also remember going to ‘stun guns’ as a less lethal way to control citizens that were ‘threats’. Didn’t turn out that way. Stun-guns became something to prod citizens who didn’t act fast enough to commands. Shootings of citizens appeared to increase.

I totally respect and commend the GOOD officers we have. I wish there were more of them.

I blame the breakdown on our society breakdown, including police training and militarization of the police department. The ‘protect and serve’ has become an army of the certain powers mentality. ESPECIALLY since they are standing by and allow mobs to attack citizens now. That is just insane. I get it.

It is no secret there have been/are corruption in all government departments, including police departments.
Which is all the more reason, we as citizens, need to ensure our involvement in policing all government departments. We trusted for too long. We need to ensure those good police can come forward and be protected as whistle blowers - and ensure JUSTICE.

We also need to be involved in ensuring our own rights as citizens be respected and honored. Too many of us, me too, has not got involved either because of personal reasons or not knowing what to do.

Bringing change is one of the hardest things to do. But we know change is coming. So we need to make sure it is all the right changes. God help us.

[morphing libertarian]

The charge nurse provides legal cover for the nurse and represents management of the hospital.

[Vendome]

LOL

Live it up baby. No one gets off this rock alive...

[Balding_Eagle]

I may not be understanding you.

The original poster objected to the police, apparently wrongly, arresting the nurse who, it appears, was following hospital protocol.

How does that make someone a cop hater?

Or maybe it was something else?

Or you may be making your own joke?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Yes.

Sir, if you do not understand your rights, raise your right hand......Very well, you are under arrest.

[polishprince]

ifinnigan
you wrote “She’s resisting arrest and interfering in police duty.

When placed under arrest a professional who knows she is right cooperates and goes with the police knowing she is in the right.”

Truth be told if that was me I would have decked the guy cop or noit. What he did was unlawful and the way he was acting was unhinged. I would have feared for my safety if I had let that cop handcuff me.
If i was prosecuted for hitting a police officer so be it...BUT i would still stand up for my rights

You also mentioned she was arrested for interfering in police duty...she did not, and hence the basis for the false arrest. She was well within her rights and the law for refusing the officer..just because one has a badge on doesnt mean one is God and we bow down to them. If they are wrong they need to be stood up to. In a polite way at first if possible.
A case in point for me happened last week. I was driving into a parking lot in a driving lane and a police cruiser was coming at me perpendicular BUT NOT driving in a lane but rather thru empty parking spots using them as his “lane”. He cut across several lanes of traffic (no oncoming traffic for him to worry about and he wasnt speeding). He never stopped as he crossed those lanes. I saw him and figured he would stop when he saw me driving in. He didnt. I braked hard gave him the horn, gave him a what the hell were thinking stare, shook my head and drove on. I parked my car. He followed me to my space, turned his lights on was getting snippy with me and accused ME of reckless driving. I told him he was not driving in any lane since he was driving thru parking spaces, that he didnt have the right away and that I did. He was going to give me a ticket till i mentioned I had a dash cam that I would gladly show to his supervisor documenting HIS driving if he made an issue of it and wasted more of my time. I also mentioned I had already uploaded it after I parked and saw him follow me. He quickly dropped the issue and gave me a “verbal warning”. Sometimes you have to deal with stupidity!!!!

[polishprince]

She has zero authority to act as an officer of the law under such circumstances.

She was not even going to draw the blood, the phlebotomist policeman was going to. She had zero authority to stop him from doing it. He respected her enough to not do it over her unlawful obstruction and acted in a civilized manner in arresting her so that the issue could be resolved in a civilized legal manner.

Yes she does have the authority if it interferes with the care of the patient...if the staff deems it a risk to the pt the law loses....the pt was a burn pt and thus has a HIGH RISK of infection since the natural skin barrier to infection is compromised. The police officer had NO LEGAL standing to either her OR HIMSELF drawing the blood. PERIOD

[Ken H]

First and foremost, abolish cop unions.

Everything will be easier after that.

[Oztrich Boy]

I wish that was sarcasm.

But I'll ask what crime? (and disrespect of a badge isn't actually a crime)

[Oztrich Boy]

The Victim was injured during a police pursuit. If they can establish he “contributed” to his injuries by being under the influence of certain substances, fewer questions will be asked.

[wgmalabama]

Personally I don’t like cops. They are, by a large percentage, ignorant violent and aggressive. I can defend myself against a violent, aggression idiot except in blue uniforms.

Militants cops aka swat teams are rarely needed but used too often. People die, cops get bonuses. It might not make me popular here but with BLM vs Cops - I don’t care. Harsh but honest.

[Oztrich Boy]

If he was only obeying orders, was it necessary to enjoy it so much?

[moovova]

Thank you for that. The part that nails it for me...

“The Rigby Police Department would like to thank the nurse involved and hospital staff for standing firm and protecting Officer Gray’s rights as a patient and victim. Protecting the rights of others is truly a heroic act.”

Odd the Rigby police chief didn’t mention any wrongdoing on the part of the nurse. I hope the bootlickers noticed...