Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

THE NURSE who went to the aid of persons injured in the horrific market-truck crash in Dam Bridge, Portland, last December, has been suspended for her action that night.

Rackell Wilson has had her enrolled assistant nursing licence suspended by the Nursing Council of Jamaica for six months.

She has also been sent to do remedial classes on the span and control of an enrolled assistant nurse and nursing ethics. Wilson is also required to attend professional counselling sessions.

The suspension followed a hearing by the council, which found that she had administered medication to one of the crash victims without permission.

The medication was the painkiller, Voltaren, which Nelson gave to Linford Jackson, a passenger on the truck whose leg had been trapped under the overturned vehicle.

Fourteen persons died when the truck carrying mostly market vendors overturned into a ravine. Jackson's leg was pinned under the vehicle and he was in pain when Wilson gave him an injection.

Maintain discipline

Karlene Wan, registrar at the Nursing Council, was unwilling to discuss the case with The Gleaner. However, she said as a regulatory body, the council had a mandate to maintain discipline and that it acted appropriately in Wilson's case.

"That was quite a normal action on our part. There was a disciplinary hearing and the council has taken action," Wan said.

Wan said the council took various things into consideration before ruling. She said the council was guided by the facts in the case, though she refused to disclose them.

The off-duty nurse was among the first to respond to the cries for help of the victims and told The Gleaner that the Port Antonio Hospital was taking a long time to come to the assistance of the victims and she had to act.

Wilson said that on the night of the accident, she had a Voltaren injection in her possession. She said the medication had been prescribed by her doctor and that she could not take Voltaren tablets because it causes severe stomach irritation.

According to Wilson, when she administered the injection, she was in continuous dialogue with the staff in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Port Antonio Hospital.

"I asked for permission to administer the pain medication and it was granted. I was told to do whatever I could to help him," Wilson said.

However, there is no record at the hospital to indicate Wilson had been given permission to administer the medication.

The nursing code prohibits enrolled assistant nurses from administering injections. The Nurses and Midwife Act says enrolled assistant nurses must practise under the supervision of a registered nurse or a registered medical practitioner.

Meanwhile, government minister Daryl Vaz, who coordinated the Portland relief after the tragedy, said he had taken a personal interest in the matter.

"I am going to get a lawyer to appeal the decision for her," Vaz said.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Vaz said the nurse did a most courageous act when she went to the assistance of the persons in need and had hoped that would have been taken into consideration by the council.

Last week, Wilson told The Gleaner that she believed the punishment was unduly harsh but vowed it would not dampen her spirits, which includes a record of community involvement.

"I will continue to be active in my community, no doubt about that, but I can't pretend that this has not really affected me," Wilson said.

"If a situation like what happened that night reoccurred, I really would not risk my life again."