Iowa Nurse Reporter - June 2022

Page 16 • Iowa Nurse Reporter June, July, August 2022
Nurse RaDonda Vaught continued from page 15
16. Prosecutorial Discovery Documents, page 5 of 51 pages at:
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6785652-
RaDonda-Vaught-DA-Discovery.html
17. Prosecutorial Discovery Documents, page 6 of 51 at: https://
www.documentcloud.org/documents/6785652-RaDonda-
Vaught-DA-Discovery.html
18. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 9 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
19. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 10 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
20. Id.
21. Id.
22. Id.
23. Id.
24. Id.
25. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 11 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
26. Id.
27. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 12 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
28. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 11 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
29. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 25 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
30. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 33 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
31. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, page 35 of 105 pages
at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
32. Corrective Action Plan by Vanderbilt, pages 1 – 105 at:
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6535181-
Vanderbilt-Corrective-Plan.html
33. Licensing Charges Filed by the Board of Nursing at: https://
www.documentcloud.org/documents/6483588-Vaught-
RaDonda-NOC-9-27-19.html
34. xxxiv Id.
35. Kelman, Brett; Ex-Vanderbilt nurse RaDonda Vaught loses
Nursing License for fatal drug error; Nashville Tennessean;
July 23, 2021; https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/
health/2021/07/23/ex-vanderbilt-nurse-radonda-vaughtloses-license-fatal-error/8069185002/
36. Id.
37. Id.
38. Fruen, Lauren; Inside the trial of ex-nurse RaDonda Vaught
who ‘killed a patient by giving her the wrong drug; March
24, 2022; https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18055626/nurseradonda-vaught-trial-killed-patient/
39. Id.
40. Sutton, Caroline, West, Emily, Davis, Chris; Trial of RaDonda
Vaught: Jury to deliberate case starting Friday; March 25,
2022; https://www.newschannel5.com/news/trial-ofradonda-vaught-former-vanderbilt-medical-center-nursecontinues-into-third-day
41. Kelman, Brett; In nurse’s trial, witness says hospital bears
‘heavy’ responsibility for patient death; Kaiser Health
News; March 24, 2022; https://health.wusf.usf.edu/nprhealth/2022-03-24/in-nurses-trial-witness-says-hospitalbears-heavy-responsibility-for-patient-death.
Now for The Rest of the Story:
The Sentencing of RaDonda Vaught
On May 13th RaDonda Vaught, a former ICU nurse
at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was sentenced
after being convicted of criminally negligent homicide
and gross neglect of an impaired adult. Ms. Vaught
lost her nursing license and was criminally prosecuted
after she mistakenly administered the wrong medication
to 75-year-old patient Charlene Murphey, resulting in
her death. Ms. Vaught mistakenly gave Ms. Murphey
vecuronium, a paralytic agent, instead of the ordered
Versed, a sedative. Since the Vaught case has been the
subject of discussion by nurses and nursing associations
it is important that her sentencing be reported now.
Hundreds of nurses from around the country were
present in the courtroom, along with an overflow
crowd outside the courthouse where they listened to
the sentencing hearing over a public address system.
Nurses came to Tennessee and gathered in support of
Ms. Vaught and wore “Nurse Strong,” #IAmRaDonda,”
and “Seeking Justice for Nurses and Patients in a
BROKEN system” T-shirts to show their support.
Before Judge Jennifer Smith handed down the
sentence the prosecution and defense made sentencing
arguments to the Judge. Ms. Vaught and the relatives
of Charlene Murphey also addressed the court. The
prosecution sought a prison term of three to six years,
which was less than the eight years Ms. Vaught was
facing. Ms. Vaught’s attorney argued that probation,
not jail time, was called for.
Ms. Charlene Murphey’s son spoke of the toll his
mother’s death has had on the family. He and his wife
also said Charlene Murphey was a forgiving person and
she wouldn’t have wanted jail time for Ms. Vaught.
They told the judge that they personally “didn’t want
jail time, we just wanted to make sure she didn’t do
this to anyone else.” It is reported that Ms. Murphey’s
husband wanted the maximum sentence possible.
When Ms. Vaught was given an opportunity to
speak before being sentenced, she spoke directly to the
family. She told them “Saying I’m sorry doesn’t seem
like enough but you deserve to hear that and know
that I am very sorry for what happened.” “When Ms.
Murphey died, a part of me died with her.”
Before announcing the sentence, Judge Smith
addressed the family, telling them, “My hope that
changes in the practices and protocols in the medical
setting that have arisen since this event may at least be
some positive aspect that has arisen. I recognize however,
that will never be enough to heal your wounds.”
In announcing the sentence Judge Smith
acknowledged that the criminal charges warranted
three years of prison, but then went on to say RaDonda
Vaught wouldn’t face jail time. Judge Smith sentenced
Vaught to three years supervised probation and
then diverted that sentence which would allow her
record to be expunged after successfully completing
the terms of her probation. Prosecutors had argued
against diversion, although they were not opposed
to probation. In weighing whether to grant Vaught
judicial diversion, Judge Smith cited Vaught’s remorse,
this being her first criminal offense, as well as her
honesty about her medication error.
Donna J. Craig, RN, JD is legal counsel to the ANA-
Michigan Chapter and the Michigan Council of Nurse
Practitioners. She practiced as a cardiac care nurse
for several years before a chance opportunity to
audit a graduate course in health care law and ethics
changed her career path. That course propelled her
to earn her law degree. After law school Ms. Craig
joined a medical malpractice defense law firm before
transitioning her focus to health care corporate
and administrative law matters. For over 20 years
she has maintained her private health law practice,
representing health care providers and facilities in
business, licensure and compliance matters. For her
expertise and accomplishments, Detroit’s dbusiness
Magazine awarded Ms. Craig its Top Lawyer in Health
Care Law award on three occasions. Ms. Craig has the
distinction and is proud of being a bar member of the
Supreme Court of the United States of America. For
more information about The Health Law Center, go to
www.healthlawcenterplc.com.
1. Timms, Mariah, et al; RaDonda Vaught Sentenced to
Three Years’ Probation on a Diverted Sentence, Could
See Record Wiped; Nashville Tennessean; May 13,
2022; https://finance.yahoo.com/news/radonda-vaughtsentenced-three-years-194115731.html?fr=sycsrp_
catchall
2. Loller, Travis; Ex-Nurse Sentenced to Probation in Patient
Medication Death; Associated Press; May 13, 2022;
https://apnews.com/article/health-homicide-tennesseenashville-1e196d4e4358a20141385494426cdbe7
3. Timms, Mariah, et al; RaDonda Vaught Sentenced to
Three Years’ Probation on a Diverted Sentence, Could
See Record Wiped; Nashville Tennessean; May 13,
2022; https://finance.yahoo.com/news/radonda-vaughtsentenced-three-years-194115731.html?fr=sycsrp_
catchall
4. RaDonda Vaught Receives Three Years’ Probation on
Diverted Sentence; USA Today, May 13, 2022; https://
www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2022/05/13/
radonda-vaught-vanderbilt-nurse-sentencing-liveupdates/9717397002/
5. Former Nurse RaDonda Vaught, Whose Medical Error
Killed a Patient, Sentenced to Probation in Controversial
Case; CBS News, May 13, 2022; https://www.cbsnews.
com/news/radonda-vaught-sentencing-nurse-whosemedical-error-killed-a-patient-sentenced-to-probationin-controversial-case/
6. Id.
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