The CEO of an Indiana hospital is facing reaction against a statement about the death of black doctor Susan Moore, who died of COVID-19 at the facility after filming a viral video about her treatment, reports ABC News.
Moore shared a video a few weeks before her death, in which she claimed to have been abused by hospital staff because of the color of her skin. She says she was pressured to leave the hospital, although she still has symptoms.
“That’s how black people are killed,” said Moore in the video. “When you send them home and they don’t know how to fight for themselves.”
“I worked hard and I think that if I were white I wouldn’t have to go through this,” he added.
Indiana University Hospital President and CEO Dennis M. Murphy released a press release on December 24 in response to Moore’s death, writing that he was “deeply saddened” by what happened and “even more saddened by the experience she had described in the video. “
Despite his expressed solidarity and the call for an outside investigation, some activists are accusing Murphy of “blaming the victim”, according to ABC News.
In the statement, Murphy wrote that the team was working hard to treat a “complex patient in the midst of a pandemic crisis” and that “he may have been intimidated by an experienced patient who was using social media to voice his concerns and criticize the service they were delivering. “
Dr. Theresa Chapple, a black doctor and public health advocate, accessed Twitter to express her concern about the statement, writing that left her with a “low fire” feeling.
I didn’t tweet about Dr. Moore’s death, but honestly, I’m still mourning Dr. Wallace’s death.
But after reading the hospital’s statement, I feel lit.
Nurses “may have been intimidated by an experienced patient who was using social media to express her concerns and criticisms– Dr. Theresa Chapple (@Theresa_Chapple) December 27, 2020
Christie VanHorne, a New York-based public health advocate, echoed Chapple’s feelings.
“Honestly, it’s a shame for the medical profession to blame the victim and the nursing staff,” she told ABC News. “To say that the nurses were intimidated by the patient, is absolutely ridiculous when she was just trying to advocate for herself.”
Indiana University Hospital CEO Dennis Murphy said in a statement to The Hill that the comments in the press release “were intended to reaffirm our community about IU Health’s commitment to taking their concerns seriously and investigating them fairly, consistently with our values of compassion, excellence and purpose. Since then, I have come to recognize that the words I chose did not reflect my intention, which is to prevent something like this from happening again. “
Murphy said that in addition to an internal investigation, the hospital would also conduct a third-party review of its patient care protocols and procedures.
“Whatever the findings, we will assume the results and take all necessary steps to maintain our commitment to equity and racial justice for our patients. And we will sincerely and humbly seek continuous feedback from our patients, staff, partners and local communities on our progress, “said Murphy.