Nurse arrested in blood draw dispute, testified in support of legislative bill
Jan 31, 2018, 7:39 PM
University Hospital nurse Alex Wubbels, right, testifies in favor of HB43, which outlines the circumstances under which an officer may obtain a blood draw, during a Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee meeting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. The committee unanimously sent the bill to the Senate floor for consideration.
SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah Hospital nurse who was arrested for refusing to let a police officer draw blood from her patient last summer, took the stand today to testify about a new bill that would require police officers to get a warrant before collecting blood in the future.
Nurse Alex Wubbel’s arrest, last summer, prompted an apology from Salt Lake City and consequences for the two officers involved. Today, Wubbels took the stand to support a bill that she hopes will protect nurses and keep officers from repeating the mistake.
“We are here to protect our citizens,” Wubbels told Senators today,”This legislation will speak to nurses and providers within our state.”
University Hospital nurse Alex Wubbels raises her hand to acknowledge that she would like to testify in favor of HB43, which outlines the circumstances under which an officer may obtain a blood draw, during a Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee meeting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. The committee unanimously sent the bill to the Senate floor for consideration.
Bill sponsor, Representative Craig Hall, said are there cases where an officer needs to draw blood for an investigation.
“But this takes that decision out of the police officer’s hands,” he said, adding that electronic warrants only take about 10 minutes to obtain, so there’s really no reason not to get one.
Learn more here: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900009097/u-nurse-alex-wubbels-testifies-for-bill-requiring-police-to-get-warrant-for-blood-draw.html
