Houston hospital fires nurse after posting about measles patient in anti-vaxxer Facebook group
Texas Children’s Hospital has fired a nurse after she posted information about a child testing positive for measles to Facebook. The woman commented about the child’s symptoms in a group dedicated to so-called “anti-vaxxers,” who question the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations.
Houston’s Texas Children’s Hospital released a statement after cutting ties with the woman, who was not named.
"We were made aware that one of our nurses posted protected health information regarding a patient on social media," the hospital said. "We take these matters very seriously as the privacy and well-being of our patients is always a top priority. After an internal investigation, this individual is no longer with the organization."
In the Facebook group, “Proud Parents of Unvaccinated Children — Texas,” the nurse described her first-hand experience with measles, a disease that has been virtually wiped out thanks primarily to the ubiquity of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. The CDC reported only 118 cases in the United States in 2017.
“I think it’s easy for us nonvaxxers to make assumptions, but most of us have never and will never see one of these diseases,” she wrote on Facebook, identifying herself as a nurse. “By no means have I changed my vax stance, and I never will. But I just wanted to share my experience and how much worse it was than I expected.”
Texas Children’s Hospital confirmed it is treating a child for measles. It also announced plans to contact other individuals who have come in contact with the infected toddler.
Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.