Families Agonize Over California Nursing Home Drugging Deaths
Dr. Hoshang Pormir, staff physician
Betty Dennison's mother in law, Beulah Dennison, died on January 21, 2007. She was only at Kern Valley Healthcare District's skilled nursing facility for less than three months. Several days before her death, Mrs. Dennison was told by a nurse that her mother-in-law was drugged to keep her quiet and cooperative.
Norma Lee Cudahey entered Kern Valley's skilled nursing facility in March 2006 for a knee surgery recovery. She died in November 2006 from a stroke. Her daughter, Patti McGarvey, does not know if her mother was given unprescribed drugs but worries that it could have happened. Ms. McGarvey said, "My mom had knee surgery and was supposed to come home. She had a sound mind. The next thing I know, she's practically in a coma."
Families with loved ones at Kern Valley's skilled nursing facility are agonizing over whether or not their loved ones were mistreated at the hands of trusted facility staff members. The druggings allegedly occurred between August 2006 and January 2007 and was done to residents who were argumentative, loud, or otherwise disruptive.
The California Attorney General's Office has filed a complaint alleging that three facility staff members: Gwen Hughes - Director of Nursing, Debbi Hayes - Pharmacist, and Dr. Hoshang Pormir - staff physician, drugged at least 22 patients, resulting in three deaths. Other family members have contacted the Attorney General's Office with their concerns over loved ones and if more complaints are substantiated, they will be added to the pending case.
Tish Orr was a registered nurse at the Kern Valley facility for 25 years and suffered a mental breakdown over what happened to the residents. Orr said, "I went to (Hughes) about people being lethargic because of the medications they were given and her response to me was, 'This conversation is at an end. You may leave now.' " Orr went higher with her concerns, only to be brushed off or, if the complaint got back to Hughes, threatened with termination or license revocation.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us at 1 (888) 317-2525 or visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com
