Meds: a deadly weapon
Posted by Kim on February 24th, 2009 / 
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Wow.
Three current and former nursing home employees pleaded not guilty Friday in Kern County Superior Court to charges that they forcibly drugged elderly residents for staff convenience, leading to some of the residents’ deaths.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the California Attorney General’s office, former director of nursing Gwen Hughes, former pharmacist Debbi Hayes and current staff physician Dr. Hoshang Pormir forcibly gave psychotropic drugs to 22 residents at Kern Valley Hospital District’s nursing facility in Lake Isabella.
A two-year investigation concluded that Hughes, starting in 2006, allegedly ordered staff to give high doses of the drugs to Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients to make them more tranquil and easier to control. Hughes allegedly ordered the medications be given to patients who argued with her, made noise or were otherwise disruptive.
How many residents do we all know that are on meds designed to help them deal with behaviors? As CNA’s, do we see a marked decline with these residents’ once the medications regimes begin? I think I can say, YES, I have seen it. Do I think it’s a crime? I don’t think I would call it that.
All three defendants have been booked into Kern County Jail. Hughes and Hayes were each charged with elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. Pormir was charged with elder abuse.
Meds are deadly weapons? I don’t know what to make of this. I really don’t.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I think it’s the “forcibly” part that’s at issue here. We can’t force resident’s to take their medications. Demented or not, they have their rights.
On the other hand, it is our job to make sure that the resident’s don’t hurt themselves or anyone else. If we have a resident who is striking out at other residents and staff, we need to take action against this. Sometimes medication is the answer. Especially when you find that redirecting the resident isn’t working. Also, action should never be taken with out the permission from the resident’s guardian.