Story Archive

Paging Dr. Dunning

After reviewing 29 charges against a nurse at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, England, a disciplinary panel ruled that Denise Joyce Reed suffered from “lack of competence” and that “even whilst under supervision, she had placed patients at risk of harm.” Like what? Reed saw a patient with a bloody mouth, and concluded the dripping red was jam. Colleagues told the panel Reed was “dismissive towards the concerns of patients” and “failed to appreciate the seriousness of her failings.” Reed appealed her dismissal, but the panel found her so incompetent that it ruled that her license should be suspended for a year, and that her competence be reviewed again when the year is up. But the head nurse at Great Western Hospital said that no matter all the complaints and evidence, “We can confirm that no harm came to any patients.” (RC/BBC) ...Because they were all harmed by someone else before Reed could get to them.
Author’s Note: For an earlier story that talks about Dr. Dunning’s work, see https://thisistrue.com/incomp in my blog.
Original Publication Date: 15 September 2013
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 20.

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I believe humanity is held back by the lack of thinking. I provoke thought with examples of what happens when we don’t think, and when we do. This is True is my primary method: stories like this come out every week by email, and basic subscriptions are free. Click here for a subscribe form.


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