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U.S. NEWS Friday 12 July 2019

Hospital fires 23 workers in case of excessive doses, deaths

By KANTELE FRANKO Asso- he had ordered potentially ordered. The hospital sys-
ciated Press fatal doses for 29 patients tem has resolved some of
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — who died over the past few the related wrongful death
The Ohio hospital system years, including five who lawsuits, reaching nearly
where excessive painkiller might have received the $4.5 million in settlements
doses were given to doz- drugs when there still was a so far.
ens of patients who died chance of improving their “We are deeply sorry for
fired 23 nurses, pharma- conditions with treatment. the additional grief and
cists and managers Thurs- The hospital system said six frustration this has caused
day and said it is changing more patients got doses and are working to provide
leadership, a sign that pro- that were excessive but reasonable settlements
fessional fallout from the likely not the cause of their with affected families,”
scandal has expanded far deaths. Lamb said in the statement
beyond the intensive care His lawyer in the criminal Thursday.
doctor accused of order- In this Jan. 15, 2019 file photo, the main entrance to Mount case has said Husel was Twenty-two lawsuits remain
ing the drugs. Carmel West Hospital is shown in Columbus, Ohio. providing comfort care to pending.
The announcement by Associated Press dying patients, not trying to In new filings this week, Hu-
the Columbus-area Mount other 18 fired were among Authorities have said the kill them. sel’s lawyer in the civil cases
Carmel Health System the nurses and pharmacists nurses and pharmacists in- Husel, 43, was charged with again argued they should
comes five weeks after who had been on adminis- volved aren’t being pros- murder only in cases involv- be put on hold because of
that doctor, William Hu- trative leave during its inter- ecuted, though dozens ing 500 to 2000 micrograms the criminal case.
sel, pleaded not guilty to nal review. have been reported to of the powerful painkiller A court magistrate previ-
murder charges in 25 of One employee remains their respective profession- fentanyl, amounts far larg- ously declined to halt the
the deaths, marking one on administrative leave, al boards for review and er than typical doses. lawsuits but did block the
of the biggest cases of its and 11 are being given the potential disciplinary ac- Mount Carmel has tight- plaintiffs’ lawyers from pur-
kind against an American chance to return to work if tion. ened its drug policies and suing a sworn statement
health care professional. they complete additional Lamb also said that he is re- access and publicly apolo- from Husel. Lawyer Gregory
The newly fired employ- training, Lamb said. Mount signing this month and that gized, noting it should have Foliano argues that isn’t
ees include five physician, Carmel didn’t specify Mount Carmel’s chief clini- expedited its investigation. enough to protect Husel’s
nursing and pharmacy whether those employees cal officer is retiring in Sep- It acknowledged that Husel right to a fair trial, in part
management team mem- are nurses and pharma- tember, paving the way for wasn’t removed from pa- because plaintiffs still can
bers, President and CEO Ed cists who administered or new leadership that could tient care until four weeks seek information from other
Lamb said in a statement. approved the excessive “facilitate healing and help after a concern about him Mount Carmel employees.
Mount Carmel said the doses. restore the trust of the com- was raised last fall, and The hospital also wants the
munity.” that three patients died lawsuits put on hold and
Expect another huge Mount Carmel fired Husel in during those weeks after has filed objections to the
December and concluded getting excessive doses he magistrate’s decision.q
blob of algae on Lake

Erie this summer

By JOHN SEEWER causing water warnings this
Associated Press year from Vermont to the
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Gulf Coast.
Heavy rains that inundated Environmental officials in
the Great Lakes region this New Jersey have been
spring will fuel another mas- telling people to stay out
sive algae bloom across of the state’s largest lake
parts of western Lake Erie since late June and beach-
later this summer, research- es in Mississippi have been
ers said Thursday. closed in recent weeks by
Scientists with the National a bloom fueled by pol-
Oceanic and Atmospher- luted Midwest floodwaters
ic Administration expect pouring from the Mississippi
this year’s bloom to rank River.
among the top five since it Lake Erie, the shallowest
began measuring their se- and warmest of the Great
verity in 2002, according to Lakes, has been hit par-
their annual algae forecast ticularly hard over the past
for the lake. decade. It was five years
What’s not known is how ago when a toxic bloom
toxic it might be or whether caused a two-day shut-
it will pose a threat for cities down of drinking water in
in Ohio and Michigan that Toledo.
draw their drinking water Researchers, using a scale
from the lake. for rating the severity of the
Algae blooms that pro- bloom, expect it to be a
duce toxins and can sicken 7.5 this year — short of the
swimmers and harm fish most severe outbreaks this
are becoming an increas- past decade but still a sig-
ing concern nationwide, nificant one. q