75-year-old Edward Bowman is pushing legislators to create a law, “Clara’s Law”, to be named after his late wife Clara Mae, that would ban sexual predators (not sure whether the term “predator” is used to distinguish the different classification or if it’s used by him synonymously with “offender”) from nursing homes, hospitals and medical facilities all over the country.
In 2006, Edward’s late wife was sexually assaulted by a male nurse and he has been on a crusade since to get a law passed in her memory. This year, he is going to walk 237 miles from Mount Dora to Tallahassee, to meet with Florida lawmakers.
While Mr. Bowman has a sad and compelling story, he’s missing the mark on some facts.
Firstly, the nurse who assaulted his wife was not on the registry. Therefore, “Clara’s Law”, had a version been in effect back then, would have done nothing to protect Clara.
Secondly, the overwhelming majority of sexual assaults are committed by first time offenders. If another patient is assaulted by a healthcare worker, there’s a 97% base chance that it would be by someone not on the registry, further reduced by the fact that it’s unlikely that a hospital worker with such a criminal history would be working in a capacity where they could assault a patient, making the odds negligible.
Third, the unintended negative consequences of a law that would ban registrants from hospitals, would be that they would be prevented from visiting with loved ones, including their own children (see: https://floridaactioncommittee.org/wi-registrant-father-wins-right-to-visit-sick-son-in-hospital/, https://floridaactioncommittee.org/registrant-denied-access-to-hospital-for-sons-surgery/, https://floridaactioncommittee.org/sex-offenders-banned-from-florida-hospital/).
Bowman has been pushing for a “Clara’s Law”, in one form or another, for over a decade. Prior versions would have required healthcare facilities to report incidents of sexual misconduct (not convictions, but reports) to the state Health Department and potentially a national clearinghouse, but those measures failed.
We can understand Mr. Bowman’s desire to memorialize his wife, but banning an entire class of former offenders from hospitals – the effect of which could be to prevent children facing scary medical procedures from the comfort of their parent – is not going to do Clara any justice.
Surprisingly, in my hometown of Bay City, Michigan, even though the local hospital is right next door to a high school, parole officers have enough common sense to NOT ban sex offenders from using the facility or visiting patients in that hospital. However, if there was a specific ban for hospitals and nursing homes, there would be no common sense discretion. How do you explain to a sick child in a hospital that daddy can’t come and visit you? How do you explain to a woman in a nursing home that her husband of 60 years can’t come and visit her? Hopefully this misguided crusade will NOT gain traction.
Totally concur!!
Missing the point he wants a ban, so how will we be get treatment or operations, sorry for what happen, but again, he missing some very important points and has been miss guided.
A hospital CANNOT DENY you service because of your inability to pay.
BUT, they can deny you service because of something that happened 25+ years ago???
Simply: Just when does it end!!
When we die or leave this state!
Sadly, you’re probably right. They want us gone, dead and they’ve finally found the means to achieve their goal.
What is being done to stop him?
I went to a hospital down here (Ft Laud) with problems breathing, coughing up blood, a heart arrhythmia and Syncope with collapse (passing out while coughing).
I should have been a “direct admit into the Cardiac ICU”. But, when the triage Nurse looked at my license, with the identifier on it, she told me to wait in the waiting room.
I couldnt stop coughing and spitting up blood. She came out, disgusted, and gave me a mask and told me “I dont want you spreading germs around in MY hospital!!!”
I had respiratory distress, a heart arrhythmia and spitting up blood and passing out— ALL DIRECT ADMITS !!!!!!
They gave me a chest x-ray, a breathing treatment and told me to go home; it was nothing serious.
I tried complaining, to no avail….. they just came up with some BS reason WHY I wasnt a “Direct Admit”.
ALL because of this damned “badge” I have to have on my license.
Here is an old man with no purpose in life since the death of his wife he’s lonely and has nothing but idle time on his hands. He’s not interested in stopping any future crimes only in satisfying his own insecurities and lack of purpose. What a looser.
We should feel sorry for him.
As the article points out, Mr. Bowman’s wife was NOT assaulted by a registered sex offender. If he was pursuing a logical course, he would be pushing for a ban on male nurses. Unfortunately, that would be illegal discrimination. Better to go after the group that society has declared a legal target for any form of discrimination.
I am speechless, and for anyone who knows me that in itself is a miracle.
Another point missing is that, by banning offenders from hospitals and other medical facilities would put the entire country at risk, not to speak of the offender him or herself. If I’m sick and need medical car but denied based on this “potential” threat law then I could be a medical threat to my family, friends, neighborhood and community. The writer of the FAC piece is correct, it won’t stop a potential future attack since 98% or more are first time offenders.
Surely, Lauren and Ron Book will meet Mr. Bowman at the border with extended hand and fresh squeezed Florida Orange Juice.
It’ll pass, Claras Law, not one desenting vote.
It’s not even a bill.
He’s been at this for years and it’s never made it close to the finish line.
I am willing to bet if he talks with a certain blonde legislative equivalent of the village idiot, he will get it at least seriously considered.
@ Derek
Speaking of the village idiot:
https://www.billtrack50.com/BillDetail/995286
Plumbing issues?
Well, the Books are full of crap, so I’m sure they’ll benefit directly from FL S0060
We must remember that liberals are very generous people…with other people’s money.
Don’t say that too loudly, you’ll give “them” ideas.
IF it gets to vote, yes it will!! So no seeing your babies being born, grandbabies. Shit they could arrest you after treating you for a heart attack or wreck if they word the statute properly.
This is what I’ve been saying. With identifier in your license you cannot tell me we get the same care. Obviously a lot of people are too nice to this gentlemen to point out he’s waisting his time or taking him for a ride he’s funding or a lot of people are behind this meaning not only are we discriminated every other aspect of life in America but we are also somewhat denied health care even though I have insurance. This law will go nowhere not worth commenting on any farther. Up in Lakeland the honerable Sherriff Judd was met with resistance from the public after banning offenders from shelters during hurricane which he retracted. If I became terminally ill and was denied care I wouldn’t be so friendly a lion.
I’m not sure all are aware, but if you need acute care, nursing home care and even hospice: as a Registrant you will not be able to find a location that will accept you, not even the VA if you are not rehabilitative.
This is already in place!
Also in Polk County, you may go to an emergency room but not stay at a hospital that has a pediatric ward.
Hmm, not sure that’s true, unless its a brand new ordnance, been in LRMC as a patient and as a visitor, never had a problem . Can you post information confirming this ?
When did that happen, I know the last time Polk county had a major storm. The sherriff department came out and told me that I’m not allowed at any public shelter and I must seek a private shelter, basically with family. I live in Polk city in a trailer surrounded by woods and swamps. Then my comment to the officer was well i guess this could be my death sentence staying here since I cant register any families addresses. Yea the discrimination that is done to us is crazy, but majority of the world is happy about it.
it seems the rage is getting a law named after some one, GAIL why don’t you start GAIL’S LAW? reform the S.O.R
Yes that is great idea anthony. Gails’ Law helping to over turn silly laws imposed on us my crazy lawmakers trying to stay in office by destroying families and creating homeless and unemployment! Gail There should be a law named after you..
I noticed the rage to “name” things when they started naming snowstorms…it’s got something to do with the day and age if our times.
Just another person who wants to jump on sex offender bandwagon. Really he going to walk that distance to meet with law makers.My personal opinion none of them are worth the trip. Their behavior is worse then mine. He wants to do something to remind himself of his wife donate monies or build school, public libraries something people can look at and use everyday! Not a law being used to hate others. I would never used my wives name( If I had a wife) as tool to hate others. I would want others to know of her love and other things she has done, even if my wife were attack. He is using his wife to make himself feel better
Mr. Bowman is a one topic fanatic.
I hope NO ONE with any authority gives his idea any validity.
HE just wants to feel good…and screw others to do it.
Mr. Bowman’s efforts are a classic example of public ignorance of the subject. I hope he doesn’t get attacked by a bear on the way to Tallahassee or maybe he would have to shift his effort to a “bear registry” which would of course be just as silly.
I do not think ignorance is the correct word,, I think he is just trying to make a name for himself,, get his name in the spot light similar to the tuff on sex offender politician’s,
Has anyone from FAC officially reached out to him to provide this evidence to him to help himself get over his delusional self-ignorance.
If it goes too far, what about the ACLU?
When are these people going to realize accountability goes to the businesses in question (here being the hospital) and not the entire world, just in case. I’m tired of hearing these ignorant people. I understand his pain, personally, trust me, but good lord, no humanitarianism. They simply can’t look beyond their pain. Isaiah 29:13 says it all. Thanks for always providing us with the facts, and a place to voice.
This is a good analysis, FAC, but you’re making it too complicated.
Statistically, what is the number of sexual assaults committed by VISITORS to a health care facility?
Answer: it is 0.
Is there any precedent for a registered sex offender engaging in sexual misconduct while visiting a health care facility?
No. No precedent exists.
So this proposal is not even about risk. It’s not that there’s low risk. It’s that there’s none at all.
Now, what might have prevented his loved one’s sexual assault? Perhaps background checks on nurse candidates. But they already do that, without a new law.
We don’t have to oversimplify the argument, in order to make it simple enough that even a state legislator can understand.
What can we do here, FAC? I am a complete novice.
No law will stop a single person from committing a crime should that be their intent.
No restraining orders
No backgrounds checks
No ankle monitor
No curfew
No marked license
No marked passport
Etc, etc, etc…
just as ill conceived as megans law and the adam walsh law..both of which would have done nothing to protect the victims they were named after as well..
the problem is not that we have stupid people.. we have always had stupid people.. the problem is we have politicians and news media that sensationalize and capitalize on the stupid people at the cost of neglecting all else..
Is it a bad idea? of course it is? is it stupid? yup..of course it is…
Will some stupid politician who is trying to cover his own crimes and score a few votes push for it? sure as sugar is sweet…
home of the free..hahahaha.. not as long as stupid people and politicians have the loudest voices..