For reasons beyond comprehension, hospital officials at Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson, Montana decided to rehire Denise Carlson, RN, after she was fired for receiving child pornography. This move has drawn significant criticism from the local community.
(Wondering where Culbertson, Montana is and what it looks like? Check out the video below.)
“Ms. Carlson pleaded guilty to a single charge of receiving child pornography on her computer in June 2009. She also admitted to downloading sexually explicit images and videos of minors for nine years before federal investigators traced her activities on a file-sharing program in 2008, according to the Billings Gazette. She was released from federal prison in 2016 after serving more than six years.”1
This doesn’t appear to be a case of a stolen computer or someone framing her- she admitted to her crimes and did time in a FEDERAL PRISON.
On October 3rd, the medical center held a meeting to discuss Ms. Carlson. At that time, several people vowed to take their children elsewhere for medical care, citing Ms. Carlson’s status as a registered sex offender.2 We don’t blame them.
Hospital CEO Audrey Stromberg defended officials’ decision to rehire Ms. Carlson stating that the nurse had worked at the hospital “for seven years as a ‘casual status employee’ and regularly picked up other nurses’ shifts before her conviction.”3 She went on to say, “[Ms. Carlson] provided good nursing care. None of the charges were directed at activity while she was working here.” And also that, [Recruitment issues are] part of the issue. It’s a definite consideration. But it is not the entire decision.” 4
Recruitment issues or no, you don’t put children in harm’s way. This is directly doing that.
This is such an odd case, for so many reasons. But it’s also odd that the local news didn’t even cover this issue. I cannot imagine anyone taking their children to a hospital knowing one of the nurses had gone to prison for collecting and sharing child pornography. It boggles the mind, actually.
If any more information becomes available, we will update you.
