Prognosis

Hospitals Tell Doctors They’ll Be Fired If They Speak Out About Lack of Gear

  • ‘It is outrageous,’ Washington nurses organization says
  • Media guidelines are meant to protect patients’ privacy
Hospitals Tell Staff They Could Be Fired for Exposing Lack of Gear
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Hospitals are threatening to fire health-care workers who publicize their working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic -- and have in some cases followed through.

Ming Lin, an emergency room physician in Washington state, said he was told Friday he was out of a job because he’d given an interview to a newspaper about a Facebook post detailing what he believed to be inadequate protective equipment and testing. In Chicago, a nurse was fired after emailing colleagues that she wanted to wear a more protective mask while on duty. In New York, the NYU Langone Health system has warned employees they could be terminated if they talk to the media without authorization.

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Hospitals Tell Doctors They’ll Be Fired If They Speak Out About Lack of Gear