The CEO of an Indiana hospital is facing setbacks over a statement about the death of black doctor Susan Moore, who died at COVID-19 in the facility after filming a viral video about her treatment, reports ABC News.
Moore shared a video a few weeks before her death in which she claimed that the hospital staff abused her because of the color of her skin. She says she was pressured to leave the hospital despite still experiencing symptoms.
“This is how black people are killed,” Moore said in the video. “If you send them home and they do not know how to fight for themselves.”
“I suggest it and persist if I were white, I would not have to go through it,” she added.
Indiana University Hospital President and CEO Dennis M. Murphy issued a press release on December 24 in response to Moore’s death, writing that he was’ deeply saddened ‘by what had happened, and’ even more saddened by the experience she described in the video. “
Despite his outspoken compassion and call for an external inquiry, some activists accuse Murphy of ‘victim guilt’, according to ABC News.
In the statement, Murphy writes that staff work hard to treat a “complicated patient in the midst of a pandemic crisis” and that they “could be intimidated by a knowledgeable patient who used social media to voice her concerns and criticize “they were delivering.”
Dr Theresa Chapple, a black doctor and public health advocate, spoke to her on Twitter about the statement and wrote that it made her feel ‘gaslight’.
I have not yet tweeted about dr. Moore’s death, honestly, I still mourn the death of dr. Wallace.
But after reading the hospital statement, I feel hospitable.
Nurses “may have been intimidated by a knowledgeable patient who used social media to voice her concerns and criticisms– Dr. Theresa Chapple (@Theresa_Chapple) 27 December 2020
Christie VanHorne, a New York public health advocate, paid tribute to Chapple’s sentiments.
“It is honestly a disgrace to the medical profession that they would blame the victim and the nursing team,” she told ABC News. “To say that the nurses were intimidated by the patient is absolutely ridiculous when she’s just trying to plead for herself.”
Dennis Murphy, chief executive of Indiana University Hospital, said in a statement to The Hill that the comments in the press release ‘are intended to reassure our community of the commitment of IU Health to take its concerns seriously and fairly. to examine, in accordance with our values of compassion, excellence and purpose. . Since then, I have realized that the words I have chosen do not reflect my intention, it is to prevent something like this from happening again. ‘
Murphy said the hospital, in addition to an internal investigation, will also do a third-party of its patient care protocols and procedures.
Regardless of the findings, we will possess the results and take the necessary steps to maintain our commitment to equitable and racial justice for our patients. And we will sincerely and humbly seek ongoing feedback from our patients, staff, partners and local communities on our progress, ”Murphy said.