Nursing Assistant Reprimanded by RIDOH for Taking Photo of Patient & Texting It

Nursing Assistant Reprimanded by RIDOH for Taking Photo of Patient & Texting It

The Rhode Island Department of Health has reprimanded a licensed nursing assistant after an investigation.

 

According to RIDOH, it “has investigated this complaint #C25-0402 (the "Complaint"), charging Carolyn Natalie LaFrance  ("Respondent") with unprofessional conduct.”

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RIDOH states, “In or about April 7, 2025, without Patient A's consent, Respondent took photos of Patient A's home and Patient A.”

Further, “Respondent sent the aforementioned photos via text message to Respondent's former employer, A Caring Experience Home Health, a health home services agency whose staff were also providing home care services to Patient A. Respondent has stated that she sent said photos to her former employer to communicate her concerns for the health and safety of Patient A and the quality of care and treatment that Patient A was being provided by employees of A Caring Experience.”

 

As a conclusion of law, RIDOH finds “…Consent Order constitutes unprofessional conduct pursuant to the following provisions:

Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 23-17.9-8 (2) ("the nursing assistant has violated ... the rules enacted in accordance with this chapter”)…(“the nursing assistant . . . has, without the patient's consent, taken a photograph . . . of a patient, or has uploaded a photograph ... of a patient to the internet, or who has disseminated a photograph ... of a patient in any manner”).”

 

As a result, RIDOH and LaFrance entered into a consent decree, and she received a reprimand.

This is the fifth disciplinary action taken by RIDOH against a nursing assistant in the past 60 days.