A Georgia woman was sentenced after federal prosecutors say she shoved a pregnant nurse and shoved another woman into a wall, according to a press release for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
“While family members and patients will occasionally disagree on standards of care in medical facilities, it is inexcusable to physically attack and disrupt the work of health care professionals,” said Jill Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “This sentence of incarceration makes clear that violent and abusive behavior will not be tolerated.”
Prosecutors say Christie Oxedine, 35, took her child to the Winn Army Community Hospital in Fort Steward for treatment, and despite not being a medical professional, she ordered medical staff to complete specific procedures that were not medically recommended.
In fact, they say the treatment was not part of her standard of care and was potentially more dangerous for her child.
When they refused, prosecutors say Oxendine then started to be verbally and physically abusive.
Oxendine then unhooked her child from the medical equipment, forcibly removing her from the hospital, but staff members attempted to prevent her from exiting, the press release said.
That's when prosecutors say Oxedine shoved a pregnant nurse and pushed another nurse into the wall while yelling at them and using profane language.
Eventually, military police officers removed the child from Oxendine's car and took her back to the hospital for continued treatment, the release said.
After a two-day trial, they say Oxendine was convicted on all counts, which included obstructing and hindering emergency professionals along with charges of simple battery and disorderly conduct
Prosecutors say she was sentenced to just over a year in federal prison — 16 months in total.
