Naomi Derrick: Nurse Accused Of Repeatedly Stabbing Autistic Boy With Hypodermic Needle As Punishment
New Jersey nurse Naomi Derrick has been suspended after being accused of repeatedly stabbing a 10-year-old boy with autism with a hypodermic needle as a form of punishment.
According to ABC News, Derrick, who was a registered nurse (RN), willingly agreed to surrender her license during an investigation after she was accused of gross negligence, professional misconduct, and incompetence while treating the young boy, who is a patient at AtlantiCare Regional Health Care’s psychiatric unit in Atlantic City. She reportedly surrendered her license “without making admissions” of guilt or innocence. An investigation is also being conducted by the Atlantic County prosecutor’s office.
Acting Attorney General Christopher Porrino, who filed the complaint against Derrick with the state Board of Nursing, said Derrick’s actions were caught on video and/or witnessed by another employee working in the psychiatric unit.
“A developmentally disabled child, confined to a psychiatric ward under the supervision of nurses, is as vulnerable a patient as you can find,” Porrino said.
Nurse Surrenders License for Repeatedly Stabbing Boy With #Autism With Needle: https://t.co/55Dkt8QbAn Naomi Derrick
— anne hillebrand (@annehillebrand2) July 26, 2016
“Instead of caring for this boy and protecting him from harm, as was her duty, Naomi Derrick allegedly used her position of authority to bully and assault him,” Porrino continued. “There is no place in the healthcare profession for this kind of barbaric behavior.”
Warning: the following details may be upsetting to some readers.
According to the documents filed with the nursing board, Naomi was the boy’s nurse during the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift at the hospital on May 15, the day the abuse took place. Derrick reportedly “brandished the syringe in a menacing manner” and threatened the child by saying she would “give him the needle” if he did not behave.
On at least six occasions throughout the day, Naomi used the unsheathed hypodermic needle to stab the boy, “sometimes repeatedly.” Not only did she prick his fingers, she also stabbed him in the upper arm, thigh, kneecaps, foot, and hand, “each time drawing droplets of blood.”
Along with stabbing the child with the hypodermic needles, Naomi was also seen “punishing him” by bending back his fingers until they cracked, stepping on his bare foot with her shoe, and intentionally causing him to fall to the ground by pushing away a chair he was using to stabilize himself, NJ.com reports.
SOUTH JERSEY NURSE REPEATEDLY STABS AUTISTIC BOY WITH HYPODERMIC NEEDLE https://t.co/ODSzFXjQBi
— John Greally (@johngreally) July 27, 2016
“Her alleged actions demonstrate a shocking departure from the most basic standards of care, let alone the standard of care one would expect for a child with special needs,” said Steve Lee, the director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “If Nurse Derrick had not agreed to voluntarily surrender her license, the Board was prepared to take action to suspend it.”
Lee added, “Naomi Derrick will have no access to patients – child or adult– while these appalling allegations against her are pending.”
Following the accusations against Derrick, the hospital released a statement to People Magazine condemning Naomi’s actions and explaining they could not comment further because the investigation was ongoing.
“We are appalled and deeply saddened that this occurred,” the statement reads. “As soon as we became aware of this situation we notified the child’s family as well as law enforcement and regulatory authorities. We suspended and terminated the nurse involved, who worked full time at a state psychiatric hospital and was a pool employee at AtlantiCare. Because this is now a criminal investigation, it is not appropriate for us to comment further.”
What kind of punishment do you think Naomi Derrick should receive for abusing the autistic patient? Leave your comments below.
[Image via Shutterstock]
