Megan Haines: Difference between revisions

{{Quote|Her conduct was deliberate and calculating. It was a gross breach of trust and a flagrant abuse of her power|Justice Peter Garling<ref name=ABCsentence>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/megan-haines-sentenced-for-murder-of-two-elderly-women/8126418 Megan Haines: Ex-nurse sentenced to 36 years in jail for murder of elderly women by insulin overdose] - Lucy Carter for ABC, December 2016</ref>}}

'''Megan Jean<ref name=SMHHistory>[http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/drugs-theft-allegations-insulin-injections-and-misconduct-troubling-history-of-nurse-megan-haines-revealed-20161104-gsiakr.html Drugs, theft allegations, insulin injections: nurse Megan Haines' history revealed] by Ava Benny-Morrison and Nino Bucci writing for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', November 2016</ref> Haines''' is a South African-born<ref name=SMHknew>[http://www.portnews.com.au/story/4257890/nurse-megan-haines-knew-more-than-she-had-been-told-after-ballina-nursing-home-deaths-court-told/?cs=7 Nurse Megan Haines knew more than she had been told after Ballina nursing home deaths, court told] - Ava Benny-Morrison for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished in ''Port News'', October 2016</ref> former nurse who murdered two residents at an Australian nursing home in May 9th, 2014.

Other investigations included a claim she failed to care for a patient whilst nursing at  Box Hill Hospital in 2007.<ref name=SMHHistory/> That year the Nursing Board of Victoria described that as "unprofessional conduct of a serious nature" and mandated ethics training.<ref name=investigated/> She was also accused of shoving or slapping a patient at Caulfield Medical Centre the same year.<ref name=SMHHistory/> Finally, and also in 2007, an allegation was made Haines sent text messages threatening to illicitly access confidential records of patients at Maroondah Hospital.<ref name=NewHerald/> This case was substantiated by the Nursing Board of Victoria after four years.<ref name=investigated/>

In April 2014 she began work at the St Andrews Village nursing home in Ballina, on the North Coast of New South Wales.<ref name=SMHknew/> The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has records of Haines registered as a nurse in Ballina since February 10, 2012.<ref name=StarAppears/>

Wendy Turner told the court details of the complaints against Haines.<ref name=ABCsentence/> Haines had unfettered access to locked medication stores and insulin prescribed to another patient was found missing.<ref name=ABCbail/> The victims had been in apparently good health prior to their deaths.<ref name=ABCbail/> However, both had advanced care directives in place indicating they were not to be resuscitated.<ref name=SCDLismore/>

Campbell said the evidence showed an attempt to "eliminate the cause" of complaints that jeapordised her reinstated, restricted nursing licence but Edwards claimed had this been the case Patterson would also be dead and pointed out other staff had access to insulin.<ref name=GuardianGuilty/> Campbell however said only Haines had access at the time.<ref name=NewHerald>[https://www.theherald.com.au/story/4224868/nsw-nurse-megan-jean-haines-the-centre-of-misconduct-investigations-before-allegedly-killing-two-residents/?cs=12 NSW nurse Megan Jean Haines the centre of misconduct investigations before allegedly killing two residents ] by Ava Benny-Morrison republished in ''The Newcastle Herald'' following an initial publication in ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', October 2016</ref> The court heard evidence she was subject to complaints in Victoria<ref name=NewHerald/> but did not hear of the previous suspicion of poisoning and robbery.<ref name=SMHHistory/>

==Aftermath==

Haines is the subject of harassment at her home in Silverwater prison and has spent time in and out of protective custody as a result. In one July 2016 inmate request form she wrote "I fear for my safety because yesterday a girl said that I must go back to protection, that it was a dog act to kill old ladies... When I was arrested I shut down and felt like I was in a small box, but it was closed. At the moment, I'm not feeling anything." Fellow inmates regard her as a "granny killer", a form of criminal despised by other offenders. <ref name=GrannyKiller>[http://www.liverpoolchampion.com.au/story/4342747/in-fear-of-her-life-granny-killer-nurse-megan-haines-taunted-by-silverwater-jail-inmates/?cs=12 In fear of her life, 'Granny killer' nurse Megan Haines taunted by Silverwater jail inmates] - Stephanie Gardiner writing for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished by ''The Liverpool Champion'', December 2016</ref><!---This paragraph all comes from the "granny killer" article-->

==References==

[[Category:Living Villains]]

[[Category:Modern Villains]]

[[Category:Murderer]]

[[Category:Mentally Ill]]