Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney BlogCriminal Defense for Nurses Accused of Crimes in California
Nursing is an honorable yet demanding profession, requiring technical skill and strict adherence to legal and ethical standards. Nurses in California are held to particularly high standards under the law due to the sensitive nature of their work. They must handle vulnerable patients, medications, and sensitive information daily, often in high-stress situations. And unfortunately, these high stakes sometimes mean if a mistake or misunderstanding occurs, it can sometimes lead to criminal charges–especially in situations where controlled substances are mishandled, or patients become victims–requiring the nurse to seek help from a California criminal defense attorney. Let’s take a closer look at some of the applicable California statutes under which a nurse might find themselves facing criminal charges.
Drug-Related Offenses
While most nurses don’t prescribe medications (the exception being nurse practitioners or NPs), they do have responsibilities to handle and administer controlled substances on behalf of patients. Missteps in this area can lead to charges such as the following:
