Nurses say Kennedy assault acquittal sends wrong message to public

MOUNT KISCO, NY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — Douglas Kennedy, who was caught on camera kicking and pushing two Northern Westchester Hospital nurses, was acquitted by a Mount Kisco judge Tuesday. Nurses say this decision sends the wrong message to the public.

Under state law, it is a felony in New York State to assault a nurse while on duty– and the video in this case speaks for itself.

The nurses, who were following hospital protocol, tried to stop Kennedy from leaving the maternity unit with his two-day old son when he tried to take the child outside in January. In response, Kennedy can be seen on tape kicking one nurse and pushing the other to the ground.

“Justice was not served,” said Eileen Letzeiser, Nurses Association member and RN at neighboring Westchester Medical Center who has followed the case and has been at each hearing in support of the nurses. “A powerful person who should be going to jail for assaulting nurses who were just trying to do their job, instead walks free without so much as a reprimand. What kind of message does that send?”

The New York State Nurses Association has stood with the two nurse victims since the case went to trial in June and has repeatedly dogged Kennedy with rallies outside the courtroom.

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is New York’s largest professional association and union for registered nurses. The association represents registered nurses, and some all-professional bargaining units, in New York and New Jersey. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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