DD just pricked finger in box of used needles at Drs. office

[Anonymous]

Who would let their child stick their hand in a needle box? Yes, I know it only takes a second for these things to happen, that's why when you go into a place you figure out where all the dangerous things are and keep an eye out for those. Like going to a park by a pond, you are vigiliant not to let toddler wander near the water. In a doctors office, I would put something between DD and needles box if it were within hands reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who would let their child stick their hand in a needle box? Yes, I know it only takes a second for these things to happen, that's why when you go into a place you figure out where all the dangerous things are and keep an eye out for those. Like going to a park by a pond, you are vigiliant not to let toddler wander near the water. In a doctors office, I would put something between DD and needles box if it were within hands reach.

You are unhelpful and unpleasant. Go cluck somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Usually sharps containers are "one way". Needles can go in, but can't be taken back out . Same with a hand. I would think she would have had her hand caught in there. Something isn't right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who would let their child stick their hand in a needle box? Yes, I know it only takes a second for these things to happen, that's why when you go into a place you figure out where all the dangerous things are and keep an eye out for those. Like going to a park by a pond, you are vigiliant not to let toddler wander near the water. In a doctors office, I would put something between DD and needles box if it were within hands reach.

OMG -- go away! OP, or OP's DH, did not let their DD put her hand in the box, DD managed to do so in the blink of an eye...accidents happen, it is not OP's, or her DH's, "fault".

OP, I'm sorry this happened, but the chances something is going to come of it are very, very small. I would follow your Ped's advice re: testing, etc., and take comfort in the fact that the likelihood she was infected is incredibly small. This could happen to anyone, toddlers can move quicker than quick and why would you expect their to be a box w/ accessible needles anywhere w/in reach in a doctor's office (totally not what any reasonable person would expect). Hang in there, I hope all the tests come back fine. Ignore the grouchy perfect pollyana PP, and don't beat yourself up about this, accidents happen!

[Anonymous]

Perhaps this is what OP is looking for?
http://www.dhp.state.va.us/enforcement/complaints.htm

[Anonymous]

My husband works for OSHA, and you are all correct - OSHA is not the right place to lodge this complaint. The medical facility that you were at may have some sort of patient advocate office, and they might be a good place to start. For starters, you shouldn't hot have to pay for ANY Of the testing of your daughter that is related to this accident. You need to make sure to get it in writing that this happened (even if just by e-mail) because god forbid she did contarct something, that hospital is going to be on the hook to cover her long term care.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but it may not be the Dr. Offices' fault either? There is a standard of reasonable care. Most sharps disposal containers have a lid. The floor ones have a reasonably small hole, and she would've really had to reach. That said, did they offer you antiretroviral prophylaxis? I would request it since you have no idea whose dirty needle it was

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who would let their child stick their hand in a needle box? Yes, I know it only takes a second for these things to happen, that's why when you go into a place you figure out where all the dangerous things are and keep an eye out for those. Like going to a park by a pond, you are vigiliant not to let toddler wander near the water. In a doctors office, I would put something between DD and needles box if it were within hands reach.

OMG -- go away! OP, or OP's DH, did not let their DD put her hand in the box, DD managed to do so in the blink of an eye...accidents happen, it is not OP's, or her DH's, "fault".

OP, I'm sorry this happened, but the chances something is going to come of it are very, very small. I would follow your Ped's advice re: testing, etc., and take comfort in the fact that the likelihood she was infected is incredibly small. This could happen to anyone, toddlers can move quicker than quick and why would you expect their to be a box w/ accessible needles anywhere w/in reach in a doctor's office (totally not what any reasonable person would expect). Hang in there, I hope all the tests come back fine. Ignore the grouchy perfect pollyana PP, and don't beat yourself up about this, accidents happen!

Seriously? OP's DH didn't pay attention, and now she wants "options" to get back at doctor's office. Its not the fault of the office that DH did not watch child.

[Anonymous]

Here is an example of a floor sharps disposal container. http://www.csnstores.com/Unimed-Midwest-Inc.-Phlebotomy-Sharps-Container-W-Clear-Lid-1-Qt.-Red-UMISR1Q100900-UWN1061.html A child could possibly get their hand in there, but it is not any sort of violation to dispose of sharps in this way. Once again, it is very upsetting and unfortunate that this happened, but if a lid was on the container, no one was at fault. It is neither the parent nor the office's fault in this case. It is an accident. The physician responded as he/she should have by contacting ID and making sure necessary tests were done. As a parent I would be upset and worried as well because even though it is statistically very unlikely that any disease was spread, it is natural to be voraciously protective and worried about our children. That should not necessarily lead us to place blame where it is not due though.

[Anonymous]

OP, your DH wasn't watching your child. And no, don't try that "it was only for a minute" crap. It took longer that that for her to find it and get her hand stuck in there because those boxes are not meant for someone to stick there hand in.

You should be pissed. At your DH. For begin so freakin careless. A doctor's office is not a playroom and there is no excuse for a 2 yr old to be out of reach or out of sight no matter what the hell he is looking at. T

I doubt the doctor's office legally is at fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example of a floor sharps disposal container. http://www.csnstores.com/Unimed-Midwest-Inc.-Phlebotomy-Sharps-Container-W-Clear-Lid-1-Qt.-Red-UMISR1Q100900-UWN1061.html A child could possibly get their hand in there, but it is not any sort of violation to dispose of sharps in this way. Once again, it is very upsetting and unfortunate that this happened, but if a lid was on the container, no one was at fault. It is neither the parent nor the office's fault in this case. It is an accident. The physician responded as he/she should have by contacting ID and making sure necessary tests were done. As a parent I would be upset and worried as well because even though it is statistically very unlikely that any disease was spread, it is natural to be voraciously protective and worried about our children. That should not necessarily lead us to place blame where it is not due though.

From the webstie "Container is designed to limit accidental or intentional access to used sharp items" meaning the child had plenty of time to figure out how to get their hand into it...

[Anonymous]

For those floor sharps containers, the opening is large enough that I could easily put my hand in it. They have to be big so the medical professional can easily drop things in them. Mainly, its a way of separating sharps from the regular trash so people handling trash don't get stuck. Its not a child-safe item.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it may not be the Dr. Offices' fault either? There is a standard of reasonable care. Most sharps disposal containers have a lid. The floor ones have a reasonably small hole, and she would've really had to reach. That said, did they offer you antiretroviral prophylaxis? I would request it since you have no idea whose dirty needle it was

I agree. Accidents happen. If you're looking for someone to blame, feel free to call the authorities, and then when you're done, make sure you call social services and report your husband's neglect as well.

My only point is, you can chalk this up to a very scary "lesson learned"... or you can run around trying to make trouble for the doctor's office (which seems to be your inclination). If you're looking to blame someone, there is blame to share. Sorry you and your daughter had to go through this.

[Anonymous]

Personally I think that any doctor's office that treats children should not have dangerous items in exam rooms within a child's reach. Our pediatrician's exam rooms are completely child proof. They even have child locks on the cabinets and drawers. The sharps containers are mounted on the wall well out of their reach.

Sometimes you have to wait a bit in the exam rooms and I've always appreciated not having to deal with keeping my kids out of the drawers, etc. while we wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it may not be the Dr. Offices' fault either? There is a standard of reasonable care. Most sharps disposal containers have a lid. The floor ones have a reasonably small hole, and she would've really had to reach. That said, did they offer you antiretroviral prophylaxis? I would request it since you have no idea whose dirty needle it was

I agree. Accidents happen. If you're looking for someone to blame, feel free to call the authorities, and then when you're done, make sure you call social services and report your husband's neglect as well.

My only point is, you can chalk this up to a very scary "lesson learned"... or you can run around trying to make trouble for the doctor's office (which seems to be your inclination). If you're looking to blame someone, there is blame to share. Sorry you and your daughter had to go through this.

It doesn't sound like the OP is "looking for someone to blame" she sounds scared and trying to make sure that everything that should be reported is reported. This is a very scary situation and I will say that I do think a doctor's office that has children as patients should take precautions not to have sharps boxes on the floor of patient rooms...may not be a safety violation, but surely a common sense violation.