Becker's Healthcare August 12, 2024
Kentucky is the first and only state to decriminalize medical errors. Kelly Jenkins, MSN, RN, executive director of the Kentucky Board of Nursing, told Becker’s the law will provide more psychological safety to nurses.
The bill, passed in late April, gives healthcare providers legal immunity for any alleged harm or damages from health services. Immunity does not extend to gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Ms. Jenkins said the state’s nursing board and hospitals have already implemented just cultures that place safety issues on structures, not people’s mistakes. But the law can add another layer of comfort, especially among those who fear persecution after RaDonda Vaught, a nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville,...
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