Need Help - What would you do - protect people

[CEM5]

Hi everyone,

I have a dilemma: The medical facility I work for does not follow proper sterilization procedures and I have mentioned this twice now to our manager and nothing has changed. Where I used to work, we had to gown up, wear protective goggles, mask and special gloves to protect ourselves from the toxic chemicals used to sterilize the reusable medical equipment. When I started at this new place, I was told there was no time to do all that: just wear the gloves. I Googled the chemical we use on Saturday night out of curiosity to see if there are any health hazards to inhaling it (as happens when we are using this daily). Well…it says to avoid inhaling, skin contact, etc…as it can cause organ damage to: kidneys, livers, blood, eyes, skin, reproductive organs, etc…

I love the job I do, but I do not like the fact that this company is cutting corners, at the expense of potentially contaminating patients, as well as potentially causing harm to us employees.

So, I have only told my family members and one close friend that I am going to report this to our safety board in our Province/city. (I just have to look it up). I will do this with the expectation of being protected by anonymity. My mother is fearful for me – she is afraid that if any one finds out, (because it has happened in the past unfortunately to others - rare but possible) that my life could be endangered or that of my family/children, and possible damage to my home/vehicle in retaliation.

I am absolutely going to report them regardless, (it is unethical what they are doing and I have brought up the cross contamination twice to them with no changes - they just don’t care!), so I am asking PLEASE for your prayers.

My friend at first told me not to do it, but I said peoples’ safety and possibly lives are at risk if I don’t, and in the end I have to answer to God.

What would you do?

Thank you and God bless,
CEM

 

[Ophelia23]

I would report it, but I would go higher than your management. If your facility has an Ethics hotline, you could call maybe call there. Either way, I’m praying for toge discernment, that you gain wisdom to do whatever is right!

 

[Christy_Beth]

Not only in speaking up,. may God also give you the words to say. I think I would make sure that whoever I was reporting to understood that I was worried about everyone’s safety. It’s one thing to be a “narc,” but something else to care about safety first.

 

[IrishRush]

Here in the US we have an organization called OSHA - they would be the ones I would report this to. If you have anything similar I would recommend that you call them.
Good luck, I hope you’re heard.

 

[CEM5]

Thank you all for your responses and encouragement. I looked up my Province’s College of Surgeons and Physicians and sent an email asking where or who I would report this to. I thank you for your prayers – I need them. (P.S. - the place I work for doesn’t have HR dept and the COO doesn’t listen, that is why I am going this route. This has been going on for years and I only started a few months ago with them and see so many mismanaged and unprofessional occurrences – very disturbing).

God bless you, and thank you,

CEM

 

[mdgspencer]

I see why you believe you should stand up for what is right in this case. I admire you for this. Perhaps though you don’t know what often happens to whistleblowers. Some of them are fired, then blacklisted in their profession. It would be good if you reported this, but you should be very careful that you remain anonymous. Reporting this to any official where you work could mean immediate termination. If you do report it to some agency, you ought to be sure that you remain anonymous. I wouldn’t tell it to more people you know either. There are whistleblowers who become permanently unemployed.

If I were you, I would report this myself, but be sure I remained anonymous.

 

[Christy_Beth]

I believe there is recourse for those who are “terminated” after reporting such stuff. But a quick check into that might be a good idea as well. I think something was put in place some years back. Well, the name “Silkwood” comes to mind.