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Armor Correctional Health Services Crisis Management
Challenge:
• Armor Correctional Health Services was barraged following a highly sensational news story released by the attorneys of an arrested young woman who claimed she was denied a post-rape medication. This controversial news topic skyrocketed to top national news shows such as "Nancy Grace" on CNN and in national newspapers across the country. ECA represented Armor to the media, the community and to both pro-choice and pro-life activists.
• A 21-year-old college student claimed she had been raped as she was leaving the Gasparilla parade near downtown Tampa. She called the police and was taken to a clinic where she was prescribed the "morning-after" pill. She took her first dose of the medication and was then arrested after officers found she had an outstanding warrant related to a grand theft charge from four years prior.
• While in jail, the woman was supposed to have received the second dose of her medication after 12 hours. The nurse on duty failed to give it to her. Originally it was reported that the nurse refused to dispense the medication because it was against her religion. Later, after an extensive and thorough investigation, the Sheriff's office revealed that the nurse had denied the medication because she was never informed to do so, not because of her religious beliefs, as previously reported.
Approach:
• Due to federal health regulations, Armor was restrained from revealing most details regarding the woman's medical status. This made it more challenging for ECA to satisfy the media's insistence on getting Armor's side of the story.
• ECA set up a 24-hour hotline so that local and national media outlets could find out the latest information about the developing case.
• The firm worked closely with Armor to develop a strategy and to prepare a media statement that would clear Armor of this negative controversy.
Results:
• After the Sheriff's office announced that Armor's nurse never refused the medicine due to religious beliefs, the media attention slowly died down. This local story lost all of its controversial national appeal in a matter of three days.
• ECA successfully represented Armor to the media and provided a positive image during this highly disputed news story. Despite the negative and often vehement media reaction, Armor retained its reputation for providing quality health care to correctional facilities across the United States.
Challenge:
• Armor Correctional Health Services was barraged following a highly sensational news story released by the attorneys of an arrested young woman who claimed she was denied a post-rape medication. This controversial news topic skyrocketed to top national news shows such as "Nancy Grace" on CNN and in national newspapers across the country. ECA represented Armor to the media, the community and to both pro-choice and pro-life activists.
• A 21-year-old college student claimed she had been raped as she was leaving the Gasparilla parade near downtown Tampa. She called the police and was taken to a clinic where she was prescribed the "morning-after" pill. She took her first dose of the medication and was then arrested after officers found she had an outstanding warrant related to a grand theft charge from four years prior.
• While in jail, the woman was supposed to have received the second dose of her medication after 12 hours. The nurse on duty failed to give it to her. Originally it was reported that the nurse refused to dispense the medication because it was against her religion. Later, after an extensive and thorough investigation, the Sheriff's office revealed that the nurse had denied the medication because she was never informed to do so, not because of her religious beliefs, as previously reported.
Approach:
• Due to federal health regulations, Armor was restrained from revealing most details regarding the woman's medical status. This made it more challenging for ECA to satisfy the media's insistence on getting Armor's side of the story.
• ECA set up a 24-hour hotline so that local and national media outlets could find out the latest information about the developing case.
• The firm worked closely with Armor to develop a strategy and to prepare a media statement that would clear Armor of this negative controversy.
Results:
• After the Sheriff's office announced that Armor's nurse never refused the medicine due to religious beliefs, the media attention slowly died down. This local story lost all of its controversial national appeal in a matter of three days.
• ECA successfully represented Armor to the media and provided a positive image during this highly disputed news story. Despite the negative and often vehement media reaction, Armor retained its reputation for providing quality health care to correctional facilities across the United States.
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