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Hospital Stands By Nurses in Harassment Trial
The nurses who were at the center of a maternity ward kerfuffle with Douglas Kennedy are just looking for a payday, according to a lawyer for Kennedy, whose trial for physical harassment and child endangerment started Monday.
The son of the late Robert Kennedy was involved in a Jan. 7 confrontation with two nurses at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY. According to media reports, the nurses allege that Kennedy twisted one of their wrists and kicked the other when they tried to stop him from taking his newborn son outside for some "fresh air."
Surveillance camera footage of the incident shows the nurses trying to block Kennedy from leaving via the elevator and then the stairs. It also shows one of the nurses falling to the floor. The nurses said they called code pink, indicating child abduction.
I first wrote about this incident back in February when it became public, and concluded that although it obviously stemmed from a misunderstanding between Mr. Kennedy and hospital staffers, I was baffled as to why it couldn't have been resolved verbally.
Somehow, the misunderstanding turned violent, and instead of simply taking the time to explain himself to the nurses, Mr. Kennedy allegedly resorted to pushing, grabbing, and even kicking.
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Comments are moderated. Please be patient.
Linda (10/30/2012 at 11:26 AM)
I totally agree with the hospital supporting these staffers in this situation. They were clearly following their hospital"s standard for safety. It boggles my mind that anyone would take a newborn infant out the hospital to get some fresh air without checking with the nurse who would check MD orders (although never heard of a MD writing such an order). In addition,never heard of anyone doing such a thing involving an infant. What - he oculdn't wait until the baby was actually dscharged - was a day or two going to make that big of a difference when the infant inhaled "fresh air"? As much pollutants in the environment I think he would have waited to exposed the infant. I feel empathy for the mother & infant if this is any example of his character of being a father. Not here to judge but perhaps he should have thought and asked questions before he acted!
Lance (10/24/2012 at 9:44 AM)
I am VERY happy to see how the administration and attorneys for the hospital are standing by the nurses in this trial. IMO, this is simply another example of a Kennedy family member who, instead of wearing the name of the most famous American family with dignity, is using that name to get whatever he wants, rules be damned.