Man warned to control his anger

court2Kurt Jno Baptiste of St. Joseph has been warned by a Roseau magistrate to “control his anger” after he pleaded guilty to battery on a female a nurse.

Court reports indicate that he slammed a door on the nurse’s finger after he believed his girlfriend, who was ill, was not getting medical attention at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Jno Baptiste had accompanied his girlfriend to the Accident & Emergency Department (A&E) after she complained of feeling unwell.

On arrival an argument ensued between Jno Baptiste and the nurse on duty, since he believed another patient was being given priority.

He was asked to leave the area and upon departing he “forcefully slammed the door” which struck the nurse, injuring her right hand and causing her to seek medical attention.

The police were called and Jno Baptiste admitted to the offense. He apologized but said he was “vex.”

“Your behaviour is unacceptable … the conditions at the PMH are can be horrible but what you did is not acceptable, nurses should not be fearful for their lives at work,” the magistrate stated.

He was fined $2,000.00 to be paid by March 31, 2013 or spend 3 months in jail if he defaults.

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46 Comments

  1. February 15, 2013

    Not Dominica only, they are everywhere, maybe the one i met at Juan Luis must be Dominican? Doctors, teachers, policemen,etc, are looking for jobs that can bring in an income, they do not care for the people they are suppose to care for.

  2. February 15, 2013

    I can only say good thing about the ER of Roseau. Took a family member to the ER, couple years, when the orderly saw his condition, he was admitted immediately, and tests done, and was admitted to the appropriate ward. So a thumbs up for the nurses of the ER.
    VISITOR

  3. PMH
    February 15, 2013

    I say set up a video camera at the Emergency Department and let us all see how the relations are between the nurses and the patients in the lobby…

    I have heard countless reports of people, who went to the Emergency room and who felt like others were given preferential treatment for one reason or the other…

    Nurses should be prudent, loving, caring and treat every case respectfully.

    Nurses should also ethically report poor nurses.

    I am sorry for this particular nurse who got her finger injured.

    I strongly feel that nurses should be held accountable!

  4. Something to Smile A
    February 15, 2013

    We should all realize that nurses these days don’t take the job for love or care for people. They are in a bind for a cash and this opportunity presents itself so why not.
    They don’t realize that this is a career that can be taken to the highest level out of Dominica. Dominican nurses or Caribbean nurses are in high demand overseas. Once you make a name for yourself no one can take it away. Making a bad name for yourself also stays with you.

    It does not hurt to show basic care for someone.

  5. Justice and Truth
    February 14, 2013

    That man did not give the nurse a chance to give medical attention to his girlfriend. Some people do have bad tempers. What he did was despicable. He could get angry and talk but not to harm the nurse. This was wrong. He could have broken her finger.
    As the saying: “Temper is such a good thing that we should not lose it.” It will cost him $2,000 or jail time. The money or some of it should be given to the nurse.

  6. V/CASE/NY
    February 14, 2013

    Her finger go hurt thats bad maybe the nurse spoke to him not in a professional manner thats why he slammed the door on the face. You can’t take chances with people who are in car accident because many times they suffering with internal bleeding, we have to be very careful

    • vwayyy
      February 15, 2013

      Did they say that his GF as in an accident? So you trying to justify him for slamming the door man? I really wish all you would go do nursing wi! Dominicans are a set of impatient people! They want everything NOWW!!! But time will certainly tell!!!

  7. KiKi
    February 14, 2013

    A&E Accident and Emergency… Those who fall within that category will be given priority over those who come in with a headache or the flu.
    The Dr. has to give the nurse orders before she can give the patient any medication whether is paracetamol or Advil.
    Some Dominican make it difficult for nurses too much, yes u’re in pain so is everyone else who are waiting just try to be patient.

    Dominica is not the only place u will go and u feel your needs falls in the category of emergency and is left to sit and wait for hrs. I’ve taken my son to the ER on St. Thomas for asthma and had to wait 3hrs before he could see the Dr.

  8. Rock and hard place
    February 14, 2013

    Some nurse are really provocative and uncaring. I dont know why they chose that profession. Maybe this one was polite but most times, at casualty, they are not.

    • Anna
      February 15, 2013

      I dont understand why some women go into nursing either, I have not met a nice nurse or one who is able to communicate well with patients, this should be natural for them. This is what winds people up I,am a nurse and believe that good communication skills are vital in the role. Its no wonder people get vexed as to the way they are treated. RN ps give some people a uniform and it goes to theie heads :cry:

  9. Anonymous
    February 14, 2013

    He had no right to do this. I agree though that the standards are sickening but that is because noone wants to sue. I remember bringing my baby in there screaming screaming from an ear infection – a baby who cannot talk and say wha tis wrong and the nurses tell me he has to sit don and wait his turn because other people were there first. Other people who wer enot there for an emergency. Heartless people and they have non sense SOME of them. Also remember a time I went there with another family member and the nurse said the Dr who was “on call’ was home sleeping and when the Dr was called he said he is not coming in for that. It was a serious issue with the family member and the Dr. was being paid to be on call. Can you beleive ?

    • Justice and Truth
      February 14, 2013

      Doctors and nurses who do not adhere to their code of ethics, their job, they should be reprimanded, re-trained and even demoted, dismissed or fired. They seem to forget that one day they will get sick if they do not die suddenly. That is the problem with some people. It is a world that some people do not care as they used to be even though they are paid to do a job and exorbitantly paid. They are heartless. Even though they may be underpaid they are still obligated to exercise their duties in an appropriate manner.
      One day, everyone will answer to God, as He sees, for their negligence. They will not escape. Earth is a preparation for eternity, in words and deeds. We choose the path and where we will spend eternity.

    • Diamond
      February 15, 2013

      smh

  10. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    February 14, 2013

    I was at the casualty department in PMH ;ast week about 5:45am, when a nurse on duty was fast asleep. A baby 3months old was brough there , having difficulty breathing. The Nurse mouth full of barvay. The nurse was asked to see the doctor on duty , and the Nurse responded” the doctor is sleeping, come back at 8:00am”. I guess this was not an emergency-stabbing, gunshot wound, etc. A baby having difficulty breathing. A father hearing that an behaving ignorant, would he be wrong? This was an emergency? The doctor on call is sleeping at 5:45am? Maddness.

    • Malatete
      February 14, 2013

      The man’s behavior may be understandable but that does not make it acceptable. Your version of the event may be true, we just don’t know, but it is hearsay and in any case does not justify the accused’s action, perhaps mitigate it at best.
      Obviously he was aware of that and apologised. Case closed.

      • Something to Smile A
        February 15, 2013

        YOu are just adding insult to injury. No Doctor in an Emergency room should be alseep, PERIOD!!!!! in any developed country he would be history in the system and you all know that. The things we accept in Dominica is unreal.

    • Justice and Truth
      February 14, 2013

      This is so sad to read. Sleeping on the job. Night shift is no easy matter. She was tired and sleepy but she should have done her utmost to take care of the baby.

    • angelic
      February 15, 2013

      sometimes what the public see as an emergency the doctors and nurses may not see it as that ..i am not saying that some nurses dont have attitude but we sometimes need to differentiate between emergency and non-emergency and at the casualty its worst come first serve …..

    • Anna
      February 15, 2013

      Shocking, sack them, bring in good staff from UK or USA ???? oh no that would be an outcry (You taking my job )

      • Tut-Tut
        February 15, 2013

        Really bring in what nurses from UK and USA. You mean the Dominican nurses who have migrated? I don’t condone what is going on, however don’t you see the news of what goes on in most major hospitals in the USA? why do you think there are so many lawsuits. A lot more should be done, and Doctors, nurses, caregivers need to do their job, free of hostility. The governmnet needs to revamp the entire health care sector, but generally Dominican nurses, who have taken the sacred oath to protect and care for patients do an outstanding job amid adverse conditions and slim salaries.

      • justina
        February 15, 2013

        Dominicans need to be charge $50.00 for casualty fee. They bypassing the health centers and they stressing the nurses up in casualty. Priority is for those who are an emergency. Casualty don’t do clinic.

    • PMH
      February 15, 2013

      A: Airway
      B: Breathing
      C: Circulation

      Every nurse knows what constitues an emergeny. If the problem has to do with:

      A: Airway

      B: Breahting

      C: Circulation

      She did not have to wait for the doctor to act. She should have already began her nursing protocol:
      (checking the baby’s vitals,
      gett he child’s Oxygen saturation,
      providing the baby with oxygen via nasal cannula,
      getting the baby’s medical history,
      examine the child,
      listening to the lungs
      Get an order for chest x ray if applicable)
      Call the doctor with the information and get his/her orders…

      If doctors are supposed to be on call and do not want to be disturbed. Nurses REPORT them!

      That is what really angers me and I can see why parents get angry.

      No accountability!

  11. lovely Nature Lover
    February 14, 2013

    Have u heard of the icident in Portsmouth Hospital where a woman went there for the whole week and was sent back. that faithful Saturday she went back to the hospital she was given 2 paracetamol and sent home again, and was told if she feel worst come back. Well she did not even reach at her home she fell and died by the road. She was brought back to the hospital to be pronounced dead, and for an autopsy to be done. How do you diagnoise an emergency? Is it a car accident, a stabbing, etc. One can come to the emergency dept. suffering from a pain and it is an emergency, you cannot see what or the extent and seriousness of the pain. Stop predicting God.A nurse cannot watch me an say i not in pain som people eat the pain.

  12. truth
    February 14, 2013

    Who gets the 2000 dollars. Does the nurse get half?

    • Anna
      February 15, 2013

      Eh who gets money, is patient care not the priority ?????????????????//

  13. Love to help
    February 14, 2013

    I am sorry this nurse got hurt, and the young man acted that, but when u or your love one is in pain and has no relief or help, your mind and heart get into a temporary insanity and you act or react in not so normal matter.

    Even Jesus on the cross, moaned and groaned in pain when they crucified him. Some people in the medical field are caring, but I too work in the field and have heard other workers saying, they are just getting pay, it is the Doctors job to make people get well, and they are going with the flow. Money is the root of a lot of people with no conscience, and love for other human beings.

    But these same people, I hope they or their family will not be old or in pain. We in the medical field cannot save everyone, but we have to try to make they as comfortable as possible, and to have empathy for people in our care. Do unto others as u would like them do u, and we must love one another more. Please Government, please help the patients and the workers in the medical fields. We need each other, and we are each others keepers.

    • February 15, 2013

      you are very correct it happens everywhere in the curropt government service. I had an instance where my mother who is 89years old home bond blind,high blood pressure.etc… and she ran out of medication on friday before carnival having spoken to the phacmacist,she indicated that she not doing the doctor work her,therefore i would have to wait untill thursday after carnival when the doctor comes and is doing her home visited my mom will get the medication. i had no choice that go to phamacy and purchase some of the medication to last till the home visit.while on the home visit the doctor blame the phamacist for not issuing the medication in her absence,while phamacist is saying is the doctor job to authorise her to issue the medication.What health service we have here I guess the have shares in Gentle Rest or North Eastern.

  14. lilyboo02
    February 14, 2013

    well sometimes i shall say it suppose to happen this way for some of the nurses to put their act together and do their work,cause i’ve been to that sam casualty in very much pain and them nurses just dere walkina around all over the place plus that new system they put there just not working. I was in soo much pain i almost fell and is when my husband started cursing they reacted after one of the sisters asked how comes no nurse did not look after me but story short some of them is only when it hve emergency and when their people come they want to work and this is not right. As they say the most of the nurses are doing their work for the money and not for the love of it.

  15. :HYT
    February 14, 2013

    As the name says “Accident & Emergency”. Priority will be given to cases which actually fall under that bracket. Persons leave their health centers in their community and come with a “bobo” they’ve had for days festering.
    Service sucks everywhere. The persons who say that the nurses deserve it are probably the very same store attendants who hardly give attention to the customers. Somebody should probably slam the cash register down on one of ur fingers.
    The conditons at the hospital are no fault of the people who work there. This is a third world country, hell probably fourth world even (if thatt exists). Improvement of the hospital condition is a responsibilty of the government, not of the staff.

    • February 14, 2013

      I disagree with your point of view. While responsibilities for infrastructural and systematic improvement do lie with the Government Administration, it does not excuse healthcare professionals from carrying out their duties. Nursing in the old days was not an easy profession because there was scarcity of resources as well. However, these nurses worked hard and tried their best in spite of limitations. I’m a Dominican-born nurse in the U.S and I know what I’m saying.If I ever take that kind of attitude to work or give that crappy excuse to my Supervisor, I would be disciplined. Like the Magistrate admitted that “the conditions at the PMH can be horrible” he or she does not and should not condone Jno. Baptiste’s actions. It was not the best way to solve the problem. Nurses, please try to follow that positive work ethic that you agreed to and that it to provide professional nursing service to your patients.

    • MIA
      February 14, 2013

      even though the health condition at the hospital impoves and the medical professionals don’t change their attitudes the situation will defintely remains the same.what should motivate anyone to enter the medical field is love and concern for people.however for the most part those who do so,do so mainly for a salary.

  16. humm
    February 14, 2013

    am not saying what he did was right, but some nurses really push you over the edge..we are not asking them to kiss ppl behinds, but the least some can do is show some courtesy….you come in pain and they sometimes just ignore you or turn their backs..not all ppl coming are extreme emergencies, but listen to what the person problem is, before you brush them off or assume the person situation is not an emergency….time like that these there are lot off ppl caustly, so come on, change how you staff nurses…all the young nurse training those who already have 3 yrs give them some pocket change to try to assist pratice for them.. do something different to move this country forward….

  17. Jennifer
    February 14, 2013

    I am not condoning what he did, the worst place for someone to go to when sick is at the emergency ward at the PMH

    Some of the nurses working there are very rude, aggressive, disrespectfully to families accompanying their sick families to the hospital, some of them will walk by seeing a very very sick person waiting to be assist and care less, they are heartless

    I witness a nurse a few years ago letting someone who arrived their seconds in, while others waiting for hours outside

    Specials services have to be given to children and seniors as they do in other countries, sadly to see they are the ones waiting longer to be seen by a doctor at the emergency ward

    Many of the nurses in Dominica are not dedicated to their job, some lack communication skills and are not client friendly, they are in it just for the pay

    • :HYT
      February 14, 2013

      Special ttention has to be given to a thirty year old on the verge of cardiac arrest, not to a three year old who needs a prescription for Benadryl.

  18. Shameless
    February 14, 2013

    He should have been fined and confined with immediate effect. Dem man there need to be taught a very serious lesson. If that nurse was my wife, girlfriend, sister, nenen, aunty or otherwise Mr.Kurt would see who really bad. He think is by Astaphan they selling badness but his luck will soon run out when he run into man that badder than him. What a damn disgrace!

    Assertive, NOT Agressive!

    • Anonymous
      February 14, 2013

      Oh please…stupesss!

    • Anna
      February 15, 2013

      If my relation was a nurse and treated people the way this one has which seems to be the norm in Dominica re RUDE id be ashamed to say I was related

  19. February 14, 2013

    The setting of the Emergency and Accident Department is certainly not sick friendly and very much frustrating. The nurse (not all but majority) at times just talk among themselves and have you there waiting in pain. You know not the level of pain the person is in or can tolerate so attend to them within a reasonable time frame. You work calls for 0% play and 100% service but you are human you can crack a joke. Then again people are venturing into the nursing field not for the love of it but for the money, which should not be.

    • budman
      February 14, 2013

      there is money in nursing? since when?

      • Anonymous
        February 14, 2013

        anything for a salary, that is the point

  20. itassi4us
    February 14, 2013

    well, as much as i condenm this type of behavior, some of the deserve what they get. They really lack in attending to people most of the time and make u feel like they on their own time so just sit and be quiet.
    sorry that this nurse got it……. it shouldn’t be her but some deserve it.

    • budman
      February 14, 2013

      some deserve to have their hands slammed in a door?? wow.

  21. catto
    February 14, 2013

    Why are conditions horrible?

    • mamaguy
      February 14, 2013

      have you ever been to casualty or visited the hospital during the week?????

      Horrible ..no —deplorable!!

    • its amazing
      February 14, 2013

      where do you live?under a rock?

    • :HYT
      February 14, 2013

      That’s a question for the government

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