AHA Statement in Response to the Sentencing of Former Nurse Radonda Vaught

Robyn Begley, DNP, RN
Chief nursing officer of the American Hospital Association & CEO of the
American Organization for Nursing Leadership

May 13, 2022

We are pleased that the judge showed leniency in the sentencing of a health care professional who made a medical error. Tragic incidents that result from medical errors should not be criminalized. When errors happen hospitals and health systems need open lines of communication to identify and understand the series of events so they can update patient safety systems to further prevent errors. Criminal prosecutions will discourage health caregivers from coming forward with their mistakes and will complicate efforts to retain and recruit more people into nursing and other health care professions that are already understaffed.

###

Contact:   Marie Johnson, mjohnson@aha.org
                Colin Milligan, cmilligan@aha.org