NEW YORK NURSE: January 2013
Douglas Kennedy, who was caught on camera kicking and pushing two Northern Westchester Hospital nurses in January 2012, was acquitted by a Mount Kisco judge Nov. 20.
Under state law, it is a felony in New York to assault a nurse while on duty – and the video in this case speaks for itself.
NYSNA has been very visible – and vocal – throughout this case. Members repeatedly dogged Kennedy with rallies outside the courtroom at each of the three hearings, as well as the final trial.
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, NYSNA board member and RN at neighboring Westchester Medical Center, who has closely followed the case at each hearing.
“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?”