Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
RFK's Son Vs. Maternity Nurses: Hospital Backs Nurses, Roger Ailes Backs Kennedy
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 27, 2012
Modified Feb 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 27, 2012
Modified Feb 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The fight between Douglas Kennedy and the maternity ward nurses at Northern Westchester Hospital continues, though without the apparent physical confrontation. Kennedy, the youngest son of Robert F. and Ethel Kennedy, claims that he had permission to take his two-day-old baby for a walk outside the hospital (the newborn was not yet discharged) but the nurses claim that no supervising nurse signed off on the jaunt. And now the hospital is supporting the nurses.
On January 7, maternity ward nurses stopped Kennedy and physically blocked him from leaving. He allegedly twisted the wrist of one nurse, Anna Lane, and when another nurse, Cari Luciano, moved forward to "stabilize the baby's head," Kennedy allegedly kicked Luciano in the pelvis. Video shows Luciano falling backwards, and Kennedy himself fell backwards (the newborn was okay). Kennedy was charged with harassment and child endangerment last week, but he and his wife Molly issued a statement, "We are sickened by the fact that our simple desire to take our healthy baby son out for a walk has been warped into child endangerment. Nobody should try grab a baby from a parent’s arms, as these nurses tried to do."
Rules in maternity wards are generally very strict and, today, Northern Westchester Hospital issued a statement explaining, "Patient safety is our priority and we completely support the actions of our nursing staff in this case as they were clearly acting out of concern for the safety of a newborn baby." The lawyer for the nurses claim that Kennedy's actions prompted them to issue a "code pink," which is when it seems like someone is trying to abscond with a baby.
On the other hand, Roger Ailes, president of Fox News (which employs Kennedy as a reporter), is trying to bolster Kennedy's character. The Journal News reports that Ailes offered a statement, "[Kennedy] tells the truth and his calm and gentle demeanor always impressed me. He is the definition of a great father and it is a role he cherishes over all others. I support Douglas as do the independent eyewitness accounts of the event. It is unfortunate that what appears to be a father’s defensive maneuver to protect his newborn baby has been twisted because of his famous name. In my view, the real moral of this story should be don’t try to grab a baby from the arms of a loving father." FWIW, nurse Cari Luciano claims she was reaching towards the newborn to "stabilize the baby's head."
Regarding the independent witness accounts: The one that has been mentioned is from ER doctor Dr. Timothy Haydock, who has been friends with the Kennedys for decades. Haydock called the nurses "aggressors" and said there was nothing wrong with taking the baby outside. But Luciano's husband says, "I don’t think that anybody, even a Kennedy, should go around kicking hospital personnel and believe there are no ramifications."
Tagged
code pink
douglas kennedy
dr. timothy haydock
maternity ward
northern westchester hospital
robert f kennedy
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .