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3 Nursing Home Employees Arrested For Forcibly Administrating Psychotropic Drugs
AP
February 19, 2009
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Three employees of a Kern County nursing home are in police custody, accused of forcibly administrating psychotropic drugs to patients to make them easier for staff to control.
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the arrests Wednesday of Gwen Hughes, Debbi Hayes and Dr. Hoshang Pormir. All three worked at the Kern Valley Healthcare District’s nursing facility in Lake Isabella.
Authorities say Hughes, the former director of nursing, ordered that dementia patients be given high doses of the mood-altering drugs not as part of their therapy, but to make them more tranquil.
In all, officials say 22 patients were affected.
They say three patients may have died from complications caused by the drugs and another may have been injured.
© YellowBrix 2009
honeyrose92
about 4 years ago
28 comments
I agree there is more to this story? Did they prove the three clients died due to drugs. There must be stricter guidelines on use of these medications in the elderly, they need to be monitored.
shericecooley
about 4 years ago
16 comments
there is not enough to go on in this story.But i do have one question what is wrong in california?
Sykepleier
about 4 years ago
68 comments
These is just an example, i think, of the desperate need for more nurse. I don't agree with what they did but I understand that they are overwhelmed.
7OaksRNs
about 4 years ago
2 comments
Would you believed that I've worked with Ms. Gwen Hughes at one of the hospitals in downtown Bakersfield at least 45 minutes away from where she lives at Lake Isabella. if I'm not mistaken this is after the incidence at nursing facility . Only this time she's working in the Operating Room. We don't have any idea where she came from, there's something weird about this woman from the start. Well ,to make a long story short they let him go eventually because of her controlling attitude that leads to a lot of complains from the staff and surgeons. The most scary part of these she has all the access to our drugs like our anesthetic agents ,narcotics and so on. I'm so surprised why she got hired again with out background check. This means that these hospital in downtown Bakersfield who hires her are so desperate in need of Nurses. I'm not surprise coz I've seen the worst from regulars to nurse travelers .
h3ll0kittie
about 4 years ago
18 comments
this gives nurses a bad name.
Account Removed
about 4 years ago
Ridiculous!
pennyfarnese
about 4 years ago
6 comments
this is a terrible situation for these residence that depend on the nurses to do what is right here in Ohio the facility where I work you have to have a lot of documentation in order to give the smallest dose of medication.
Griffster
about 4 years ago
6 comments
As a mental health nurse, I cannot stress the importance of monthly summaries for psychotropic medications. We are advocates for the residents! While it may be convenient for staff to keep dementia and alzheimers residents "snowed" it is by no means appropriate. We are working to keep up the quality of life, not send it into a near vegetative state.
carolegill
about 4 years ago
4 comments
i work in texas and before we administer any psychoactive medications we have to have the consent of the patient or family. it wouldn't be eassy to medicate them the way that happened in the article. doesnt california have laws to protect these patients? and if not, shame on them!!
Account Removed
about 4 years ago
The patients had the right not to be medicated. This is a terrible crime and is all to prevelent.
Tolulope
about 4 years ago
186 comments
It's nauseating and irritating
godloves
about 4 years ago
4 comments
That's sucked
saltyscalop
about 4 years ago
42 comments
Dirty.
lpn7455
about 4 years ago
4 comments
Unfortunate to say the least nut all nurses have the right toquestion any order and if it's not written in the MAR--why is it being done? And who would risk their license for another nurse's bad judgement?
TheNipper
about 4 years ago
14 comments
Here is a link to a lengthy story about this situation, including the investigators report. It appears that staff LVN's complained to the state dept of public health about the chemical restraints being used. At this point, the directors of nursing (an RN?), the director of pharmacy, and a physician, are in trouble. http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/694429.html