Still Trust these People?

This one is from Cleary's Notebook. (www.ClearysNoteBook.com) I have long said that mandatory random drug testing should be implimented for medical personnel. They have unlimited access to drugs and therefore are at even greater risk of developing drug dependance than the rest of us. Don't bother to argue that these drugs are in locked cabinets, YOU or somebody you know has the keys. OR, you can do like these lovely people who are responsible for our safety and well-being allegedly did and simply "divert" drugs for their own use... They don't LOOK like monsters do they?

Four Lehigh Valley Nurses Arrested for Stealing Pain Medications

November 25, 2009

Tracy Goetter

Lisa Citrola

Christopher Evans

Krista Lichtenberger

HARRISBURG - Four nurses, who worked for the Lehigh Valley Health Network, were charged today with diverting prescription pain medication from the hospitals where they worked. They allegedly took the drugs for their own personal use.

Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendants as:

• Tracy Goetter, 48, 54 E. Station Ave., Coopersburg;
• Lisa Citrola, 48, 2094 Fieldstone Dive, Bethlehem;
• Christopher Evans, 31, 909 Barn View Lane, Breinigsville; and,
• Krista Lichtenberger, 25, 725 10th Ave., Bethlehem.

Tracy Goetter
Goetter, a nurse in the Cardiac Cath Lab at Muhlenberg Hospital, allegedly diverted waste Fentanyl in an effort to make her own Fentanyl patches for personal use.

The charges, Goetter started diverting the drug waste during her last two weeks of work, in late spring 2009. According to hospital records, during the final weeks of Goetter's employment, 850 mcg of Fentanyl waste was recorded, but it is unclear how much of that was diverted for her personal use.

Lisa Citrola
Corbett said that Citrola was also a nurse at Muhlenberg Hospital and worked in the emergency room.

According to the criminal complaint, Citrola allegedly diverted significant amounts of the powerful prescription drug Dilaudid for her personal use.

Corbett said that Citrola allegedly began diverting Dilaudid waste in August 2007. As her addiction grew, the waste was allegedly not enough to feed her addiction. The charges state that Citrola began signing out the drug in patients' names and used the drug for personal use.

According to the criminal complaint, in December 2008, Citrola started to inject herself at work in the bathroom. Corbett said that 195 mg of Dilaudid and 644 mg of Morphine were missing from the hospital during that time.

Christopher Evans
Corbett said that Evans was a nurse at the Cedar Crest Campus of Lehigh Valley Hospital where he allegedly diverted Fentanyl and Midazolam.

The charges state the Evans initially diverted the drugs once a week in May 2009, but increased to four or five times in June and then daily in July.

According to the criminal complaint, other employees witnessed Evans dispose of the drug waste, but it was later determined that this waste was saline.

Agents estimate that Evans diverted 7887.5 mcg of Fentanyl, which is equal to 78 vials and 47 mg of Midazolam.

Krista Lichtenberger
Corbett said that Lichtenberger, an emergency room nurse at Muhlenberg Hospital, allegedly accessed a Pyxis machine on her day off to obtain prescription medications. A Pyxis machine is a type of vending machine nurses use to obtain medications for patients.

The charges state that Lichtenberger removed 750 mc of Fentanyl, 11 mg of Hydromorphone and 400 mg of Meperidine for her personal use.

"Our Bureau of Narcotics Investigation agents are very active in investigating medical professionals who are illegally using prescription pain medication," Corbett said. "It is a potentially dangerous situation if the person you trust with your medical care is under the influence of drugs."

Goetter, Citrola, Evans and Lichtenberger are all charged with acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, a felony, and one count of possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. They face a maximum penalty of 16 years in prison and $255,000 in fines.

Goetter, Citrola and Lichtenberger were arraigned before Bethlehem Magisterial District Judge Wayne Maura. Evans was arraigned before Allentown Magisterial District Judge Anthony Rapp.

Corbett thanked the Lehigh Valley Health Network for their assistance with the investigation.

The case will be prosecuted in Lehigh County by Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin's Office.

# # #

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Interesting Doctor's Sexual Abuse Case

Doctor's possible defense: alleged sex assaults were hallucinations


A couple of things jumped out at me while reading this article; This comment; "Dr. Glen Gabbard, director of Baylor Psychiatry Clinic in Houston, stated in a 1991 American Health article that sexual exploitation of patients is "a very common phenomenon" and that the number of false accusations is "infinitely small" compared with cases of real abuse.

"You don't want someone to be using anesthetic agents as a way to satisfy some sort of perverse agenda," said Dr. Butterworth. REALLY? Isn't it perverse on its face that we are getting a drug, Versed/Midazolam, designed specifically to hide abuse?

(Gotta love this one) "Medical journals note that with modern medicine, this side effect (sexual "hallucinations") though uncommon, has resulted in false and career crushing allegations against practitioners; it has also prompted some doctors to take advantage of drugs' "amnesic effects" to cover up actual assaults on patients." (italics mine)

I saved the best for last; "I feel it would be inappropriate to ask" about those experiences (sexual misconduct after drugging the patient) she said. (Dr. Erin Sullivan) "But if the patient volunteered the information, I would explain. We obtained informed consent. I don't go through all the side effects. That's not standard of care." Better re-read that! It's "not standard of care" to reveal side effects. How was informed consent obtained without revealing side effects? This is a violation of the law. Obviously Dr. Erin Sullivan, "who teaches anesthesiology and runs the cardiothoracic department at UPMC Presebytarian" has absolutely no clue what informed consent is, what the law is or anything else about patient rights. This is basically my point. Informed consent has nothing to do with being informed. It has to do with arrogant people like Dr. Erin pointing to a piece of paper purported to be "informed consent" which probably reveals nothing, that absolves her of all wrongdoing.

Just MY opinion folks! If you don't like it, change your evil ways. Quit using these drugs without proper informed consent which outlines the effects and side effects. Just as an aside, having your crotch groped, fondled, touched and threaded with a catheter just might make people think they are being abused, especially if they have been drugged! Having your breasts squeezed, touched and hooked up to a machine might make people think they are being abused, especially if absolutely none of this was explained ahead of time as the law of informed consent demands. Even if there was no sexual intent, there was still sexual contact.

Confusion about Sexual Battery

OK, for those of you who take umbrage at our comparison between rape, sexual battery, child molestation and your forced injection of Versed, let me draw you some verbal diagrams. I might like to add false imprisonment to these charges.

The patient goes to the Doctor for help. The Doctor and his minions CONCEAL their true intentions to render you a compliant piece of meat and have their way with you. Once you are on their turf, you accept an IV and they surriptitiously inject you with a drug which usually causes amnesia and perfect obedience. You cannot object even if you try because your psycho motor skills are now non existent. Slurred or incoherent speech is also a feature of Versed. You also are suffering from the "anti-conflict" component of this drug Versed. You cannot escape. You are now their prisoner. You can't sign out against medical advice and you can't make them stop. They claim that they have your permission to do this (debatable) and you can't retract that permission once they drug you. (also debatable) You, the patient, who trusted these people with your very life are now totally helpless while they abuse your body and make crude comments about you. If you are able to struggle they will place you in restraints and continue the abuse. Maybe they will give you general anesthesia to get more control and more money, but they won't release you.

They torture you, watching you scream and writhe in pain. They violate EVERY ORIFICE that you have. If you are having colonoscopy, or just a simple procedure, you are subjected to having your sexual organs exposed and breached. You get a tube "rammed down your throat." (according to another post) You get tubes shoved up your urethra while they all giggle and watch (ten or twenty of them along with drug salesmen and anybody else who wants to get in on the action.) You will have prostate or pelvic exams if you are in a teaching hospital, also without your knowledge or consent. (At least that's what they hope for with the amnesia part of Versed.) But since you went to the medical center in the first place willingly they will say that this degradation is all part and parcel of getting "help."

Then you go home to find that you now have a preventable kidney infection and possibly other medical problems as a result of them treating you like an object instead of a human being. Your friends can't believe that 1) medical people have a drug like this, 2)that they would sneak it into you. (Remember the so-called "informed consent" that everybody allegedly signs, and patients rely on?) And 3) that medical people would behave like this, especially a whole group of them. You are a target of hate now for saying these things about such wonderful life saving people.

You are humiliated, ashamed, angry and frightened. You don't feel like a human being any more. You now have PTSD like symptoms and are put on Prozac, Amitriptiline, Lexapro or some other drug.

Contrast that scenario with this one.

You go on a date in a public place with a charming, highly regarded professional man. You meet some of his friends at this place. They are all funny and polite, including some women. You accept a soda pop from them and suddenly you find that you are woozy. You know something is wrong, but you can't get your legs to work. The charming date and his friends help you to their car.

For the next few hours or more, you are sexually abused by this group of people. You are going in and out of consciousness. You are trying to scream for help and make them stop. They continue. Your crotch, anus, and throat are violated. You are totally helpless. They simply force more drug down your throat if you get too out of control. The drug they use makes you obedient, so that even while you are objecting, you are still obeying their orders. They tell you that once you have gone "this far" that you can't stop them.

After the horror of it all these people drop you off apparently safe and sound, although violated, in front of your house. Your friends just can't believe that these particular individuals would EVER do this. The highly regarded individuals claim that they had your complete consent to do this. After all you DID willingly go out with them. You obeyed their commands while under the influence and this is construed as; you were a willing participant. They might even claim that it never happened, you are hallucinating or a drunk. Nobody believes that there is any drug which will cause this kind of reaction. You are a target of hate now for saying these things about such wonderful people.

You are humiliated, ashamed, angry and frightened. You don't feel like a real human being any more. Then you discover that you have an STD, and other medical problems. You also have PTSD which is treated with Prozac, Amitriptiline, Lexapro etc.

Is this getting clearer yet?

As for the child molestation, there are parallels. Children are helpless. They are subject to the whims and desires of the adults around them. They are easily controlled and if the molestation is from a family friend or member, there are obedience and trust issues which go along with the violation. Patients are being treated as trusting children to be violated at will. And, like a dear family friend, priest, scout leader, PTA member, parent, police officer, teacher etc. the abuse from highly regarded medical people is hard to imagine or believe.

BELIEVE IT!

P.S. These scenarios completely disregard the very real physical reaction to Versed. The jangled nerves, cognizant disfunction, memory loss etc. I am only dealing with behavior in this post, not paradoxical reactions to Versed.

"Could I have PTSD from a hospital stay?

This article is from CNN News.Could I have PTSD from a hospital stay? - CNN.com It was sent to me by a Versed sufferer, thanks Linda! Tim from www.versedbusters.blogspot.com says "Notice the doc says"...you were violated in a moment of utter vulnerability in a way that provided no warning. This is a classic recipe for the developement of PTSD symptoms."

Tim correctly seized on the most germane sentence in the article. No wonder we have PTSD-like symptoms. You medical people violate your patients on a regular basis, by unexpectedly turning your patients into compliant zombies with the amnesia (hoped for anyway) drug Versed/Midazolam. We ARE "utterly vulnerable" while under your care. Especially if you hve knocked us silly with Versed. You are providing "no warning" before you inject us with this drug. Not to mention our treatment subsequent to administration of the amnesia drug whether it works or not. When we complain about it we are verbally attacked.

What you are doing is wrong, people, and it is having long term effects on your poor patients. By your non disclosure of your patient control and amnesia drug, Versed, you are creating "...a classic recipe for the developement (sic) of PTSD symptoms." Yet you insist that Versed is SAFE, and you discount us as "tin foil hat" people when we develop PTSD as a result of your ministrations!

The behavior exhibited by the tube changing nurse smacks of the standard of care for people under the influence of Versed. You people are incorrectly ASSUMING that the patient has amnesia and doesn't require even a modicum of care. I have first hand knowledge of how quickly the smarmy polite attitude of health care givers changes once the patient is presumed to have amnesia and it isn't nice. I was there and you guys are truly UGLY, just like the e-mails I get that you would NEVER say to my face!

Nobody would ever consent to the sloppiness of care exhibited by my crew. (or this patient from the article) The only way to prevent this is to stay cognizant the entire time, or at least until the ga is administered. Health care providers; there have been studies which seem to show that if the conversation in the OR is alarming enough to patients they retain some form of memory of it, EVEN UNDER G/A! You are not safe saying crude things about the patient even if you think that they can't possibly remember, doing things to the patient that you would NEVER do if you thought that they could remember and identify you! We simply must have actual caring people and not bullies intent on imposing their will on the luckless patient.

No more fake "informed consent." No more phony people pretending to be caring. No more amnesia and obedience through forced drugging. You know who you are and/or you know who is guilty of this kind of evil. We go to you for HELP, not an assault, verbal and physical!

Power to the Patient

This is only slightly off topic. It deals with drugs and attitude from health care providers so I thought I would print it. Italics and bold face type are mine.

From: realhealth@healthiernews.com
Sent: 1/3/2010 5:10:32 A.M. Pacific Standard Time
Subj: Daily Dose - Power to the patients


It's easy to take medical risks when it's not your own body at stake.

Docs often forget that -- or some just don't give a hoot -- as they volunteer their unknowing patients to be Big Pharma's next set of human guinea pigs... and too many patients just go along for the ride without asking questions.

But a new study shows patients are much less willing to board the Big Pharma drug bus when they know where it REALLY stops.

The study found that patients are as complacent as sheep when a doc TELLS them what to do. But when a doc ASKS for their input, they're far more likely to thumb their noses at Big Pharma meds and pick less risky treatments.

Researchers at Yale University let patients watch videos in which a doctor described a drug along with a low risk of a serious side effect.

In some cases, the video was followed by instructions that they take the drug. In others, the patients were asked to make a choice.

And it turns out those who were given the choice were much less likely to take the new drug.

I can hear the whines now. "They're only patients! When the heck do they know?" Sound familiar?

I've always found they know a lot more than most docs will ever give them credit for. What they don't know, it's up to us doctors to tell them... and by that I mean the whole truth, not just a line from some drug salesman's propaganda sheet. This is very important! This goes to the heart of informed consent laws!

Believe me, most folks are perfectly capable of figuring it out when we give them all the information they need. But too many dictator docs expect patients to walk into the office and submit to their every command, pop every pill and lie back for every test and procedure -- no questions asked. This is EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT!

Don't put up with that. If your doc won't invite you into the process, politely thank him... walk out... and then invite yourself to a new physician's office. I advise people to do exactly this!

You're not a sheep, and you're no one's guinea pig. If docs don't like it, too bad. Thank you very much!

Reader Comment about The "Jerk" From Versedbusters

Dear Jackie,

I can't believe the carelessness of the jerk. When will these people understand that we have a right to determine what happens to our bodies. When will the law be inforced? This guy needs to understand that the law was made to prevent unwanted touch (battery, rape) whatever the term you prefer. Like it or not the law does equate it to rape and OH Yea hmm let me see isn't rape against the law? What about molestation? Is that the same as Rape? Only a moron cannot see the similarities. For his information just because it is not sexual it is still violating because we all have the right to decide how and when we will be touched in anyway. Including a pat on the back. Therapist are taught the simple polite thing to do is ask before touching maybe he should try this instead of bullying his way through people. I would like to say that I too was given versed without consent. In fact I was told I was getting morphine. There is an example of a bald face lie. Also I don't have short term amnesia you jerk. I have had and continue to have memory problems three years later. Not to mention PTSD and there is evidence based studies that prove versed causes long term problems. Perhaps this shining example would like to look them up. Jackie feel free if you so desire to put these comments up on your site. I too will be proud to let health care (non professionals) know we will not tolerate there brutality.

"Comment" from Brad's blog

Get over it

Submitted by Anastakid (not verified) on Thu, 2010-01-28 00:22.

Wow am I sick and tired of you people. You decide you need help, you consent to treatment and demand drugs to help you then question the manner in which we provide you help. Patients are given Versed BECAUSE IT'S THE SAFEST INDUCTION AGENT for them. If you were given Dip instead you would need to be intubated and on a vent, but I suppose you would complain about a sore throat or raspy voice then. the truth of the matter is all patients need something to complain about. Even with a 5 star rating on a survey there's always the line "the only thing that I didn't like was...". Get over yourself and realize that you didn't want the anxiety, you didn't want to remember the procedure, and you didn't want to be aware under anasthesia. Why don't you look up anasthesia awareness in between your complaint sessions and understand that with the right drug (Versed) you'll never be aware or at least not remember it. You want to talk dangerous drugs? APAP is absolutely terrible and according to a FDA report looking at the years 1990 to 2001: 26,000 people are hospitalized and 458 die each year from acetaminophen overdoses. It is the number one cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Now chew on that and GFY.

Here is another enlightening post from Brad's blog on Versed used as a vehicle for torture. Once again this person begins with some erroneous ASSUMPTIONS. They assume that we "consented" to Versed, they assume that we "demanded drugs," assume that we had "anxiety," assumes that we "didn't want to remember the procedure,"and finally this person assumes that only Versed can prevent "anesthesia awareness." This person also claims that Versed is the "safest induction agent." Then this cretin actually makes a comparison to acetaminophen poisoning to prove some kind of point? Doctors and hospitals are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country and he is going to point to an aspirin substitute to prove a point about the safety of Versed?

I like his/her last statement. We patients object to Versed, especially when used for the convenience of the staff and for frivolous reasons. We object to the lack of "informed consent" for this drug. We have a problem with PTSD, anxiety, rage, insomnia etc. following the injection of this poison and this sympathetic person says; "Now chew on that and GFY." "Go Fuck Yourself" is what the acronym stands for. Isn't that special. Every single one of this idiots assertions are totally false. But we are the bad guys.

Also I keep pointing out "anesthesia awareness" has nothing to do with Versed induced amnesia. Anesthesia awareness is when your CRNA/anesthesiologist screws up your knock out drugs. This post is somewhat confusing in that first they point out that Versed is "the safest induction agent for them." This presumes that the person is going to have general anesthesia. With general anesthesia you are going to have that "tube rammed down your throat" as shown in another comment on this blog. So why then are we discussing Diprovan leading to intubation? Doesn't this seem to indicate that if you have Versed before you are put out, that you WON'T get a tube rammed down your throat? HUH? So, this person gives Versed so that you (hopefully) won't remember your "anesthesia awareness" brought on by their complete lack of skill?

"Wow I am sick and tired of you people" is the line I am going to use to describe my feelings toward this person and all the rest of you medical people who treat us to this kind of vitriol SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE YOUR STINKIN' VERSED! "Now Chew on that and GFY" you delusional drug pushers! (How do you like YOUR OWN attitude coming back at you?)

This whole Versed thing just amazes me! I have never had this problem refusing Demerol! Nobody cares, if I don't want it, I don't get it, no problem. I can't believe how incredibly nasty the comments are when we complain about very real problems with this drug Versed. You medical people know full well that this drug is BAD for lots of patients, yet you attack US because we don't like it! You use it against our will, in an unlawful manner, for made up excuses and if we take exception to it in any way, or criticize Versed's use, misuse and/or severe side effects we are treated to this kind of comment.

Medical people; accept the truth that Versed is a very bad drug for many of us. Accept the truth that you (some of you) are using this for selfish reasons which have nothing to do with patient safety and/or comfort. Accept the truth that you (some of you) are willfully injecting us with Versed in violation of "informed consent" laws. For you good guys that this does not apply to; where are your voices defending the patient against this kind of assault? Where is your outrage? To use a trite phrase "one bad apple spoils the whole barrel." Why are you not speaking out about the abuse of patients with Versed and while under the effects of Versed? Where are YOUR comments on this blog?