How do I defend myself against a very upset patient making a false accusation against me and my supervisor threatening to fire me over it?

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How do I defend myself against a very upset patient making a false accusation against me and my supervisor threatening to fire me over it?

I work at a hospital, I did a study on a upset, agitated patient who wanted to know what was wrong with her. I am legally not allowed to diagnose, only a Doctor can – and I repeatedly told her this nicely. I did tell her what she was getting the test for, which is legal. Later, I get called into my supervisor’s office with them telling me I am possibly going to get fired because the patient told her nurse I had diagnosed her with ____. I 100% did not diagnose her and have a clear record of never “diagnosing” anyone.

Asked on October 3, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Arizona

Answers:

MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

You need to immediately consult with your school if this is through a school, or through an attorney who handles such matters. You need to protect yourself as best you can and make sure you note everything that occurred with this patient and exactly what you remember stating. Make sure you document all interactions with staff.


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