Douglas Kennedy, RFK's Son, Fights With Nurses In Maternity Ward

NEW YORK — A son of Robert F. Kennedy is facing misdemeanor charges after he struggled with nurses who tried to stop him from carrying his newborn son out of the maternity ward at a hospital near New York City.

Douglas Kennedy said he was trying to take the baby out of Northern Westchester Hospital for a quick walk when a group of nurses who thought the infant should remain indoors tried to stop him.

Security video obtained by WNBC-TV shows that the nurses stopped Kennedy from using an elevator, then tried to block him from using a stairwell.

The two sides disagree about what happened during the struggle. Kennedy said one of the nurses tried to snatch the child from his arms. The nurse, Cari Maleman Luciano, told police she was only trying to steady the "violent shaking" of the baby.

One nurse said Kennedy twisted her arm. Another said he kicked her in the pelvis. The security video shows a woman falling to the floor. Kennedy was eventually stopped from leaving the hospital by security officers.

The altercation happened Jan. 7. Mount Kisco police arrested Kennedy on Thursday. He was charged with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors.

Kennedy and his wife, Molly, said in a statement released through a publicist that the charges were "absurd."

"It is sickening to think that our simple desire to take our son outside for fresh air has been warped into a charge of child endangerment," they said. "The nurse had no right to attempt to grab our child out of his father's arms."

The couple said they hoped Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore would conclude that she had made "a grave error in making a crime out of a father protecting his baby."

An emergency room doctor at the hospital who was accompanying Kennedy when the altercation happened said in a statement that the nurses were "the only aggressors."

"Then and now I felt that Douglas would not be putting his healthy child at risk or danger by taking him for a quick walk outside," said Dr. Timonthy Haydock, who said he has been a friend of the Kennedys for decades. "To charge Mr. Kennedy with a crime is simply incomprehensible to me."

Kennedy is a reporter for Fox News and the 10th child of Robert F. and Ethel Kennedy.

___

Information from: WNBC-TV, http://www.wnbc.com

Comments

[journeyis1]

09:21 AM on 04/04/2012

I am back on this page because of the fact that the local govt agency stated that Mr. Kennedy never put the child in danger. Darn right.

Facts:
1 It is his kid
2 Had mom not had a c-section the child would have been home by then
3 The child was perfectly healthy
4 It was his kid
5 Mom was with him when this happened
6 Nurses on the floor already gave him permission
7 Did I mention it is his kid?
8 He tried to go down the elevator and the nurses blocked the door - then they claimed that they feared for the child's safety when he went for the stairs. Got news for you, I have take 3 kids up and down stairs thousands of times. If these nurses were so concerned about the safety, they should have let him go down the elevator and called security - THAT is protocol
9 A great deal of people - myself included - feel that fresh air is substantially better for a child than germ filled hospital air
10 As a parent you have the right to ALL of your child's medical decisions. The supreme court has ruled on this many times. He was perfectly within his rights and the child's rights to remove the child from the hospital

[CouponSal]

11:20 PM on 04/12/2012

BRavo! And the nurse reached for the baby’s head with both hands, and did not expect the father to defend the child against a perceived threat? Not good judgement on her part, to be sure.

[zc91377]

11:09 PM on 03/24/2012

i had a great experiance at west valley community hospital when my child was born. the nurses were very attentive and went out of their way to ensure my experiance was great. thanks to the nurses at west valley, im glad they were as patient and understanding as they were. they even saved me from having to change the first few nasty daipers. you all were great.

[Nunyabizness1234]

02:28 AM on 03/09/2012

Hospital policy - created to limit liability from being sued (policy not law). Parental rights to "control the destiny of their children" - Actual law that is Constitutionally protected. Stated in several hundred court cases. Hospital policy IS NOT CREATED FOR PATIENT SAFETY. Hospital policy is created to limit liability for being sued. Charges will be dismissed (not as publicly as he was charged) nurses will be sued, hospital will settle out of court (also will not be public). I work in a hospital, nurses think parents are a nuisance. It's about time someone set them right. Parents, not nurses or doctors are in charge of their childrens safety and destiny. You want proof, when a procedure has to be done to a child, who do you have to ask permission to perform the procedure? A) doctors B) nurses C) Parents? Any other arguement is a moot point and holds no bearing in reality. They violated his rights and put that baby in danger under the pretence of safety, though the real reason was to not get the hospital sued. End of story.

[journeyis1]

09:11 AM on 04/04/2012

Bravo.

[Pamela Williams Martin]

07:37 PM on 02/29/2012

Who takes a newborn infant out for fresh air without the infant being discharged properly from the hospital? Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture? I'm a nurse who worked on the delivery ward. I didn't let anyone take a casual stroll OUTSIDE with a newborn, mother, grandmother, father etc. Until the infant is legally discharged. TOO MANY BROKEN FAMILIES! Someone may steal the baby, Then who would be at fault!

[Fahira]

08:13 AM on 03/01/2012

You are right. What a spoiled bore he is. A baby or any patient for that matter leaves the hospital when they are discharged. Period. The baby will get fresh air soon enough.
My hearts go out to the nurses who were just trying to do their job, and although being supported by many, are being vilified in the press by some of Kennedy's also boorish friends. Stop throwing your weight around and your name. Do the right thing. Not only for yourself but for the baby. This is the kind of attitude that is so prevalent today. And it's nauseating. Great post Pamela. I like common sense.

[journeyis1]

09:25 AM on 04/04/2012

1) Mom was with him
2) Father has just as much right as the mother
3) There are a LOT of hospitals where patients are allowed to walk outside
4) They were given permission - not that they needed it

[Terbo Pinguin]

01:00 PM on 02/28/2012

What is wrong with everyone - did you miss the part where it says "An emergency room doctor at the hospital who was accompanying Kennedy when the altercation happened"

Am I the ONLY one who read that? If the Dr (Who is more qualified to make these decisions then a nurse is) said it was okay and that they were trying to accompany him to make the small trip for some non-stagnate air that it would be okay! Those nurses were in the wrong!

[BBLOND]

01:11 PM on 02/28/2012

you obvious don't know hospital policy. That Doc had NO authority over those nurses because he wasn't in charge of the maternity ward. There are very strict policies for the maternity dept.Those RN's were right and I hope they sue Kennedy.

[Karen1]

10:35 PM on 02/28/2012

Those RNs had no right to put their hands on the father. If they really thought he was a kidnapper they never would have instigated a physical altercation. They were angry that he broke the rules more than anything else. This wasn't about protecting the baby because you don't physically fight with a man holding a newborn. DMV society...ugh

[CouponSal]

11:24 PM on 04/12/2012

Those RNs were out of control. Physically blocking a doorway? Worse, grabbing at a baby in his parent’s arms? Get over it, nurses, you are no more god than the doctors are.

[Fahira]

08:15 AM on 03/01/2012

No-never happens. This is not Grey's Anatomy. And I think there was a doc friend of his on staff. But Phooey! Next thing you know every patient is going to want to go for a stroll.
You do for one. You do for all. Just follow proper procedure and leave your entitlements at the door.

[CouponSal]

11:25 PM on 04/12/2012

Oops, no not favorite at all; yes, he certainly should have asked permission, and I am not sure whether he did or not. Bu they had no right to try to grab the child away.

[Venee]

01:00 PM on 02/28/2012

To add to my post,Kennedy's behavior was suspect. What he wanted to do made no sense. That, more than anything probably made the nurses take action. You can give a hypothetical situation where the Dad could have taken the baby and they could have never seen or heard from him again. Everyone would be asking why the nurses didn't stop him. My biggest concern when I had my babies in the hospital besides the medical aspect WAS the security. I'm glad these nurses take their job seriously.

[journeyis1]

09:28 AM on 04/04/2012

Mom was with him
Father's have just as much rights as mothers. The hypothetical situation you describe would not be kidnapping any more than a mother leaving her husband with the child.
Taking a child to fresh clean air vs leaving the child in a hospital where there are millions of bacteria and germs makes no sense?

[CouponSal]

11:28 PM on 04/12/2012

Why would a Dad on good terms with a Mom abscond with a baby? Hypothetically, yes it could happen, but they were dealing with a single, real situation, not an academic exercise in what dangers might occur. The seem to have had no common sense. How about, “Mr. Kennedy, if you want to take the baby outside, let me check with your wife and could you please send this release?” I would find even that somewhat offensive, but at least an understandable CYA response. This? No way.

[Venee]

12:52 PM on 02/28/2012

What a strange story. I've had 3 hospital births. For all 3 the rules were the same. If the baby was not in the room with the mother it HAD to be in the isolate. You could not walk around with the baby in your arms in the hall and you couldn't, under any circumstances, take said baby off the maternity ward floor. The baby had a band on it's leg that would sound should you even get near the exits. When you checked out a nurse removed the band and the baby was placed in a car seat and they helped you to your car. You couldn't even carry the baby to your car in your arms. I'm on the nurses side. If the Kennedys wanted to do as they wished they should have had a home birth!

[journeyis1]

09:14 AM on 04/04/2012

You perfectly described hospital policy to minimize their risk of being sued.

[jl13]

03:34 AM on 04/08/2012

It was the same for me. To be honest, if the nurses had said jump I would have asked how high.

[richh0501]

09:57 AM on 02/28/2012

the most obvious thing to do in this situation, is what 99% of us would have done.........go the nurses station and ask is it OK to take the baby outside for a brief walk, we all know what the answer would have been, but to normal people this would be acceptable...............

[Karen1]

10:41 PM on 02/28/2012

Supposedly the nurse assigned to his wife's room said it was OK, as did an ER doctor. If his wife's doctor wasn't around, I don't see why the ER doctor couldn't have approved it. It's not like he didn't get any permission from anyone at all. Anyway, it's HIS baby!!

[Fahira]

08:20 AM on 03/01/2012

It is his baby. But it's the hospital's responsibility until the child leaves the hospital.
What if the baby for some reason choked on some regurgitated milk still in its
tummy. Oh I know. "My baby is choking-sue-sue" Where was the baby when this happened? "Oh outside" Hmmm?

[Keisha Gamman]

09:32 AM on 02/28/2012

a foolish man will see every attempt to help as nothing more than a comment on his shortcomings.

[tploomis]

12:59 AM on 02/28/2012

Nurses and doctors in a maternity ward are in the best position to say whether or not a newborn baby should be going outside. Kennedy subjected his newborn baby to potential injury by insisting on taking his baby outside against medical advice. Further, he engaged in a loud verbal altercation. That certainly cannot be good for the baby. Kennedy is not thinking about his baby's best interest. It raises serious questions in my mind about his fitness to be a father. He was rightly arrested and Child Protective Services should be looking at whether he is fit to be a parent. Maybe his behavior in this situation was an anomaly, but if he has a pattern of acting out inappropriately when angry and placing his needs before the child, he should not have custody of his child.

[CouponSal]

11:38 PM on 04/12/2012

Really? When the outing was approved by the Mom’s doctor, and there was an ER doctor with them? What are you thinking?

[Bkobsies]

04:49 PM on 02/27/2012

This entire story is very strange. When does a parent decide to take a newborn, or any patient, from a hospital, without asking permission from the newborn's doctor? Wouldn't it have to be a Dr's order to remove a patient from a hospital for any reason? Did Mr. Kennedy ask any involved personnel if he would be able to do this, or did he decide on his own to do this? It is very bizarre if he just decided to take this newborn for fresh air, and felt he didn't have to ask permission or inform staff of his actions. Did the nurses approach him when he was leaving with the newborn to ask where he was going with the newborn because they didn't know what was going on? Did they then inform him that he wasn't allowed to leave and give him the reason why..ie..policy and procedure..why wasn't security called immediately, and when were they called? Confused as to what led up to this point of Nurses blocking areas, and Kennedy's strange violent reaction...don't believe it should have ever got to that point..Ever! I would not want any of my family on that maternity unit and feel badly for ones that were hospitalized on that unit as this was totally unprofessional and may have put others in danger seems thoughtless, unprofessional and got way out of control before any rational thinking kicked in to resolve it!

[Catsinthecradle]

05:38 PM on 02/27/2012

The whole thing is strange, I agree. But I think way too much is being made of it. It's like they post these stories to push people's hot buttons. Of course, many here as you probably know, have a HUGE problem with anyone they see as an authority figure (i.e., the nurses). I have had some posters reply to me angrily, saying that the nurses were idiots and they had no right to detain him and that he was justified in attacking them. Then they make up further scenarios to support these warped views. If the Kennedy's sought to have care at this hospital (have the cesarean, etc.) then they should be expected to abide by the rules and regulations of such. The Kennedy's have always felt they were above the common folk, though. I wonder if drugs or alcohol may have played a role here with regard to Kennedy himself. It is such strange behavior on his part. Very strange.

[CouponSal]

11:39 PM on 04/12/2012

I think you are seeing strangeness on the wrong side of the altercation.

[mgm1]

12:03 AM on 02/28/2012

All hospital are very strict on the Maternity floor. The are very careful with newborns and protecting newborns. They were also probably on high alert because a "Kennedy" was born.
They don't allow any babies to be carried around the hospital like a sandwich with one arm. They ALWAYS have to be transporter in the bassinets. The nurses always check and double check the ID bracelets. I also read that Kennedy removed the security bracelet from the baby so the alarm would not be set off. He has to follow the rules of the hospital he chooses. His behavier is very strange.

[Jerry Troutman]

03:56 PM on 02/27/2012

Raise his knee to response of nurse attack??? Men holding something in arms turn away,pulling baby up to chest.If you raise a knee,possibility of being knocked off balance to floor with baby.Besides how would knee send a person flying? If Kennedy and doctor that was with him were adults,they have should gone to nurses station to request to talk to supervisor,administrator if necessary,not put baby in possible danger.Of course,if you are used to getting your way,Then nurses viciously attack this man and his baby,just because he wanted to leave floor and get some fresh air for the baby.This baby has already been exposed to controversy.Way toi go Dad

[almedoz]

11:14 AM on 02/27/2012

At the hospital where I had my daughter, there were umpteen security measures in place on the maternity floor, including the alarm system surrounding the floor perimeter, elevators, staircases, etc. Every baby had two ID bracelets (one on the wrist, one on the ankle) that corresponded with the mother's ID bracelet, that would sound an alarm if anybody tried to leave the floor with the infant before officially discharged. It sounds to me as if Mr. Kennedy felt he was above the rules regarding security, and the nurses were merely trying to enforce such rules.

[Karen1]

03:04 PM on 02/27/2012

He had a doctor with him who said it was OK. They had no right to put their hands on him or to try to take his baby out of his arms. Because of them he fell down with the baby. Watch the documentary The Business of Being Born and see how hospitals really work.

[Jilliebean01]

03:23 PM on 02/27/2012

Of course the Doctor is going to say that he said it was ok. It states that he has been a family friend for years. What else did you expect him to say. Kudos to the nurses for trying to follow the rules!!

[almedoz]

03:41 PM on 02/27/2012

"A friend of the Kennedys for decades". Says it all, really. Also, he was an ER doctor--who was he to be giving permission for anything on the maternity floor?

I know how hospitals work, thank you very much. After her birth, my daughter was on the maternity floor while I was on the cardiac floor, and we had to get special permission for her to be wheeled up in an isolette to visit me. The nurses and other hospital personnel went above and beyond to help us, but at no time did anybody attempt to take her off the ward to come see me without going through the proper channels.

[Catsinthecradle]

05:39 PM on 02/27/2012

Don't bother arguing with Karen 1. I think she may have a problem with ANY authority and has been arguing this day and night. She is right in her mind and everyone else who does not agree is WRONG.

[Karen1]

07:42 PM on 02/27/2012

I don't have a problem with authority. I can just tell the difference between somebody who has a right to detain you, like the police, and someone who has no such right, like a nurse.

Do you think it's hospital policy for nurses to physically grab a possible kidnapper who is holding a newborn? Not likely. That means they KNEW he was the father. And their actions caused hm to fall down with he baby. He should sue them.

[CouponSal]

11:41 PM on 04/12/2012

It is you we should not be bothering with. You seem to have a problem with anyone who thinks for perself.

[fesambay]

10:23 AM on 02/27/2012

The doc was with him. It is all to apparent that the doc had no problems with what Doug was doing. Nurese in wrong here because they where not following the orders of doc. That is my take on this. By the way ever been in hospital with overbaring nurse. I have is not fun. Takes doc giving the orders for them to do things right. Nures 2 to 4 years ed. Doc 6 years and the more before they are doc for real.

[Julie Johns]

02:56 PM on 02/27/2012

If you look at the video, you'll see that the doctor didn't walk up to the situation till after the nurses were trying to stop him. You'll also see one nurse fly backwards several feet which I can only assume means she was pushed or as she said kicked in the pelvis.

[CouponSal]

11:45 PM on 04/12/2012

Why would the doctor have gotten involved before the nurses got physical? He knew that Dad was taking Baby for a walk; he had no reason to expect an altercation.

[am10]

05:18 PM on 02/27/2012

Only that doc was not an employee of that ward nor is he a pediatrician or OBGYN. So he has absolutely no say in what is done. BTW, nurses follow the orders of hospital policy, not necessarily doctors. This doctor had no authority over these nurses or the baby.

BTW, many nurses have Master's and Doctorate degrees. Not saying they are better than doctors, but both positions are different and necessary. Stop with the status crap.

[joelj]

09:17 AM on 02/27/2012

Such rules are in place largely for the protection of the newborn infant. Far too many cases of child snatching have occured. If this was a normal vaginal delivery, it is safe to assume that the mother and child would be released from the hospital within 48 hours of the delivery. The arrogance displayed by Mr. Kennedy betrays both his sense of "royalty" based upon his ancestry and his sense of entitlement based upon this. By the way, parents are FULLY informed of the rules prior to admission to the hospital for the delivery!

[Karen1]

10:51 PM on 02/28/2012

I don't think you are lokig at this clearly. All you think is "Kenendy." That has nothing to do with it.