Health Care Legislation
Health Policy Legislation: Nursing Within the American Health Care System
December 6, 2010
Description of HB 450 Over the last few years, states have begun to develop legislation to protect healthcare workers from assault. Ohio is no different. House Bill 450 (HB 450) is a piece of legislation introduced by State Representatives Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) and Linda S. Bolon (D-Columbiana) that is aimed at making the crime of assaulting a registered nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) while performing their duties in the workplace a forth degree felony. HB 450 is technically not considered a new law in Ohio. Similar legislation currently exists and HB 450 would be considered an amendment to existing legislation which protects the rights of firefighters, emergency medical service (EMS) workers, teachers, and law enforcement personnel among others listed in the bill. Section 2903.13 adheres to all other pre-established guidelines that the current law affords other individuals who work in services directed at public welfare. Despite the omission of healthcare providers from existing legislation, other “first responders” are covered by its protections. Upon analysis, healthcare providers seem to be a logical addition to upcoming legislation. The bill currently sits in the Criminal Justice Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives and seems to have stalled. It was introduced on February 2nd, 2010 and appears to have lacked enough momentum to make it to the floor for a formalized vote. It does not appear that the bill will not be moving forward anytime soon. In November, of the bills biggest proponents, only Representative Driehaus survived re-election. In addition, Ohio State Senator Sue Moreno RN was also defeated. Moreno, a registered nurse, would have had the understanding of a healthcare professional and skill of a politician to provide powerful support to such an initiative. Among Representatives Driehaus’ supporters, the
December 6, 2010
Description of HB 450 Over the last few years, states have begun to develop legislation to protect healthcare workers from assault. Ohio is no different. House Bill 450 (HB 450) is a piece of legislation introduced by State Representatives Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) and Linda S. Bolon (D-Columbiana) that is aimed at making the crime of assaulting a registered nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) while performing their duties in the workplace a forth degree felony. HB 450 is technically not considered a new law in Ohio. Similar legislation currently exists and HB 450 would be considered an amendment to existing legislation which protects the rights of firefighters, emergency medical service (EMS) workers, teachers, and law enforcement personnel among others listed in the bill. Section 2903.13 adheres to all other pre-established guidelines that the current law affords other individuals who work in services directed at public welfare. Despite the omission of healthcare providers from existing legislation, other “first responders” are covered by its protections. Upon analysis, healthcare providers seem to be a logical addition to upcoming legislation. The bill currently sits in the Criminal Justice Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives and seems to have stalled. It was introduced on February 2nd, 2010 and appears to have lacked enough momentum to make it to the floor for a formalized vote. It does not appear that the bill will not be moving forward anytime soon. In November, of the bills biggest proponents, only Representative Driehaus survived re-election. In addition, Ohio State Senator Sue Moreno RN was also defeated. Moreno, a registered nurse, would have had the understanding of a healthcare professional and skill of a politician to provide powerful support to such an initiative. Among Representatives Driehaus’ supporters, the
References: 128th General Assembly. (2010). http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/ Arnetz, J Apressyan, R. (2009). The ethics of force: against aggression and violence. Diogenes. 56(2-3), 95-109. Commins, J. (2010). Ohio Bill Would Stiffen Penalties for Violence Against Nurses. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from http://www.healthleadersmedia.com Emergency Nurses Association website Emergency Nurses Association website. (2008). http://members.ena.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Position%20Statements/Violence_in_the_Emergency_Care_Setting_-_ENA_PS.pdf Feldstein, P GP Magazine (2007). Independent Nurse. April 6. P.36 Jackson, D., Clare, J., & Mannix, J Pich, J., Hazelton, M., Sundin, D., and Kable, A. (2010). Patient Related Violence Against Emergency Department Nurses. Nursing & Health Sciences, 12. 268-274.