FIRST LETTER - No Reply
Canada
10 August 2009
California Board of Registered Nursing
P.O. Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100
Fax: (916) 574-7693
Dear Madam or Sir:
I am a Canadian Nurse with and interest in human rights. Recently I presented a paper regarding a gap in regulation related to incompetence surrounding torture and\or cruel inhumane punishment at the American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto Canada this month. (Agar-Newman)
I have since learned that a motion has been discussed at the California Senate level
that reports that “that California-licensed physicians, psychologists, and nurses have participated in torture or its cover up against detainees in United States custody.” (California Senate. January 2008. 3rd Whereas)
In light of this, I understand that the California Board of Registered Nursing has the authority and duty to investigate violations by nurses. May I please learn what follow-up the Board of Registered Nursing is initiating as a result of California nurses involvement in torture and inhuman and degrading treatment?
Thank you for any assistance you can give me.
With best wishes,
Ken Agar-Newman
References
Agar-Newman, Ken. 7 August 2009. Protectors and Perpetrators. International Health Professionals Ethics Oversight Committee Session at the American Psychological Association. Accessed 14 August 2009.
http://forms.apa.org/convention/viewabstract.cfm?id=100128
California Senate Joint Resolution introduced by Senator Ridley-Thomas
7 January 2008. Bill number SJR No. 19—Relative to health professionals. Accessed 12 August 2009.
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sjr_19_bill_20080107_introduced.html
cc: The Canadian Nurses Association, The Danish Nurses Association, The American Nurses Association, The International Council of Nurses, The American Psychologists for Social Responsibility.
SECOND LETTER - no reply
Canada
11 December 2009
California Board of Registered Nursing
P.O. Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100
Fax: (916) 574-7693
Dear Madam or Sir:
I am a Canadian Nurse with an interest in human rights who wrote your agency August 10 2009. I am requesting information as to the the follow-up the California Board of Registered Nursing is initiating as a result of California nurses involvement in torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. Recently I presented a paper about a gap in regulation related to incompetence surrounding torture and\or cruel inhumane punishment at the American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto Canada during August. (Agar-Newman) I also maintain a blog on the topic titled Nurses for Human Rights;
http://amnestynurses.blogspot.com
My inquiry stems from a motion discussed at the California Senate level that reports “that California-licensed physicians, psychologists, and nurses have participated in torture and or its cover up against detainees in United States custody.” (California Senate. January 2008. 3rd Whereas)
I understand that the California Board of Registered Nursing has the authority and duty to investigate violations by nurses. May I please learn about your agency's efforts to follow-up regarding this information about California nurses' involvement in torture and inhuman and degrading treatment?
Thank you for any assistance you can give me.
With best wishes,
Ken Agar-Newman
References
Agar-Newman, Ken. 7 August 2009. Protectors and Perpetrators. International Health Professionals Ethics Oversight Committee Session at the American Psychological Association. Accessed 11 December 2009.
http://forms.apa.org/convention/viewabstract.cfm?id=100128
California Senate Joint Resolution introduced by Senator Ridley-Thomas
7 January 2008. Bill number SJR No. 19—Relative to health professionals. Accessed 11 December 2009.
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sjr_19_bill_20080107_introduced.html
cc: The Canadian Nurses Association, The Danish Nurses Association, The American Nurses Association, The International Council of Nurses, The American Psychologists for Social Responsibility.
THIRD LETTER
Canada
June 11, 2010
California Board of Registered Nursing
P.O. Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100
Fax: (916) 574-7693
Dear Madam or Sir:
I am a Canadian Nurse with an interest in human rights who wrote your agency August 10 2009 and December 11 2009. I am still waiting for your reply. The question is about the follow-up the California Board of Registered Nursing initiated as a result of allegations that California nurses have been involved in torture and inhuman and degrading treatment?
My inquiry stems from a motion discussed in the California Senate; “that California-licensed physicians, psychologists, and nurses have participated in torture and or its cover up against detainees in United States custody.” (California Senate. January 2008. 3rd Whereas)
Last year I presented a paper about a gap in regulation related to incompetence surrounding torture and\or cruel inhumane punishment at the American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto Canada during August. (Agar-Newman) I also maintain a blog on the topic titled Nurses for Human Rights;
http://amnestynurses.blogspot.com
In July of this year I will be part of a panel discussion titled; “New Directions for The anti-torture movement” at the American Psychologists for Social Responsibility 2010 in Boston. I plan to highlight the same topic and it would be helpful to talk about the initiatives your organization has achieved in the response to this difficult multi-faceted problem.
I understand that the California Board of Registered Nursing has the authority and duty to investigate violations by nurses. May I please learn about your agency's efforts to protect the public related to California nurses' involvement in torture and inhuman and degrading treatment?
Thank you for any assistance you can give me. I will not give up with trying to contact you because of the importance of the issue.
With best wishes,
Ken Agar-Newman
References
Agar-Newman, Ken. 7 August 2009. Protectors and Perpetrators. International Health Professionals Ethics Oversight Committee Session at the American Psychological Association. Accessed 11 December 2009;
http://forms.apa.org/convention/viewabstract.cfm?id=100128
California Senate Joint Resolution introduced by Senator Ridley-Thomas
7 January 2008. Bill number SJR No. 19—Relative to health professionals. Accessed 11 December 2009;
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sjr_19_bill_20080107_introduced.html
cc: The Canadian Nurses Association, The Danish Nurses Association, The American Nurses Association, The International Council of Nurses, American Psychologists for Social Responsibility.
REPLY FROM THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING
From: Kathy Hodge <Kathy.Hodge@dca.ca.gov>
Date: Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 4:37 PM
Subject: Response to Inquiry Dated June 11, 2010
To: "ken.agarnew@gmail.com" <ken.agarnew@gmail.com>
Mr. Agar-Newman,
The 2009/2010 year has been extremely challenging for the California Board of Registered Nursing. We ask for your understanding and acceptance of our apology for not responding to your earlier inquires regarding allegations of California nurses committing human rights violations.
Nurses that work in Federal facilities or in a military capacity are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Government. If a registered nurse with a California license is subject to disciplinary or criminal action while working in these forums, and we are notified of such, we review the circumstances of the incident(s) and make a decision whether or not to take disciplinary action on their California license.
In the case of human rights/torture issue, if the allegations are substantiated and action is taken by way of court martial, civil action, or criminal convictions, the discipline warranted would be immediate suspension of license and administrative proceedings to revoke the license.
Should these types of serious allegations occur in a civilian setting in California, we would also seek to suspend the nurse’s license while the investigation and/or criminal proceedings are completed. If the allegations are substantiated, we would continue with administrative proceedings to revoke the license.
Please be advised that, to date, we have not received any civilian, Federal, or military complaints of this nature.
Sincerely,
Kathy Hodge, RN
Enforcement Program Manager
Board of Registered Nursing
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