Whistleblowing

Re: Whistleblowing

Louise B — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:09:01 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]I would also say watch out for the friends and colleagues who promise to back you up/ egg you on if you go down this route as these are often the first people to deny all knowledge and leave you to take the drop alone when the brown stuff starts flying. I am not saying that people should never report , I am saying they should be very clear about what they are reporting and why and who they are reporting to AND be very mindful of the consequences for themselves[/quote]

This is sooooo true! One of the key people to egg me on to blow the whistle, pursue the complaint, etc was the very person who then ended up in cahoots with the people I had made allegations about and started doing the very things that they had agreed with me were completely unacceptable (and doing so was "advantageous to their career"). In my experience, NEVER ever rely on anyone else to back you when the chips are down and their interests compromised - generally self-interest will almost always outweigh anything else.

Re: Whistleblowing

Kate Lomas — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:08:28 GMT

What a depressing situation, your responses aren't at all surprising to me though! Any suggestions on how the process could be improved? Could it be possible to be a whistleblower and remain anonymous? Or would this open doors for people to report other people for the wrong reasons - out of spite/revenge for example?

Luckily I've never been in this situation!

Re: Whistleblowing

Sal the 1st — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 18:53:57 GMT

[quote user="Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth"]

I think there is always a fear that a whistle blower will do it to you too. Nobody and no organisation is perfect - there are just degrees of imperfection. Once a person whistle blows, you are always left not knowing how quickly they would whistle blow (i.e. how many degrees away from perfect is necessary before the individual describes something as un-acceptable and whistleblows?).

[/quote]

definitely, and also agree with OP in that being the whistle blower can effectively end your career when word gets around. The veterinary industry is a relatively small and very incestuous community in this country

I would also say watch out for the friends and colleagues who promise to back you up/ egg you on if you go down this route as these are often the first people to deny all knowledge and leave you to take the drop alone when the brown stuff starts flying. I am not saying that people should never report , I am saying they should be very clear about what they are reporting and why and who they are reporting to AND be very mindful of the consequences for themselves

Re: Whistleblowing

Louise B — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 16:15:48 GMT

I once whistle blew (not veterinary industry). It took 2 years for the case to be heard and during that time I was under so much stress, lost friends who felt they had to take sides, there was lots of closing of ranks and I was generally put through hell. After all that, the case was lost anyway and I had lost the will to push for further review of the evidence. I would think twice about doing it again even if keeping quiet was unethical. I think my own health and welfare needs to be factored in more strongly then I have done in the past. That said, I cannot say what I might actually doing when faced with a similar wrong situation!

Re: Whistleblowing

chris beasley — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 16:03:11 GMT

Have been recently listening to the carer who was involved in this. Her main reason for not working for two years is that no one would hire her . They were all scared she would do it to them! Also the pressure from the company concerned led her to becomes depressed. Puts you off I would have thought.

Re: Whistleblowing

Elerrina — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 23:59:07 GMT

A family friend lost her son due to hospital malpractice(bristol heart scandal). The anaesthetist that blew the whistle ended up having to leave the country to find work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Bolsin

Its so backwards, these people bring bad care and malpractice to peoples attention and then get penalised for it