[pebbles]

RCMP investigate report that nurses being drugged
Last Updated Mon, 04 Jul 2005 21:54:01 EDT
CBC News

Police are looking into the possibility that someone is drugging nurses at a northern Alberta hospital, after a number of them fell ill and some tested positive for tranquilizers.

The mysterious sicknesses began about 16 months ago at the hospital in Grande Prairie, about 500 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
Jerry Macdonald

In separate incidents, more than a dozen nurses who worked on the same surgical unit complained of experiencing loss of memory and dizziness, then sleeping for hours after they went home.

"When people first started falling ill in the workplace, everyone first thought it was some variation on a sick building syndrome," said Jerry Macdonald, a spokesman for the United Nurses of Alberta.

After a number of possible causes were ruled out, through air quality tests and other measures, the RCMP were called in to investigate.

"Recently, some tests were conducted on staff at the hospital and the results of those have indicated that there may be something criminal in nature occurring," said RCMP Cpl. Brent Mundle.

The local health authority said blood and urine tests showed a tranquilizer-type drug was being used on the staff, possibly in their food or drink.

"We're thankful at this point we haven't had anything that's serious that's happened to somebody health-wise, but that's always a possibility," said Jim Sanderson of the Peace Country Health.
RCMP Cpl. Brent Mundle

The health authority said as many as 15 nurses might have been drugged over the last 16 months, including a case two weeks ago.

Staff at the hospital have been warned to protect their food and watch what they drink.

"You think about it but you just keep on with your day," said Teresa Smithard, a graduate nurse at the hospital.

The suspicion has made hospital employees watch each other more closely, spooked patients and sent ripples of unease across the city.

"Is this a psycho, or is this somebody that's vindictive, or do we have something more sinister than that?" one woman, who lives in Grande Prairie and didn't give her name, told CBC News.

Copyright ©2005 CBC

[oramar]

I would be interested in know what drug is being used and if any of that drug has been reported missing from same establishment. Sort of sounds like it would be a coworker does it not. Since so many people have been affected over such a long period of time it would most likely be an inside job, maybe a disgrunted employee.

[SmilingBluEyes]

wow that sounds horrible, and frightening. I hope they get to the bottom of it. It does sound suspiciously like an employee is possibly behind this.

[DG5]

Even if you bring your own food and drink in you couldn't watch it all the time. I would go across the road at lunch to eat every day.

[pebbles]

This is really scary. I'll be looking for updates on this story.

We've had problems with disgruntled employees at my workplace before, but nothing like this! They're all looking at their co-workers with suspicion at that hospital, and that's no way to work. I hope the RCMP catch the person soon.

[z's playa]

And I thought it was a pain the a$$ to watch my drink in a bar ! Now this?

Z

[pebbles]

Police use questionnaire to ask who drugged nurse
Last Updated: Jul 6 2005 10:42 AM MDT

Police are using an eight-page questionnaire to try to determine who may be drugging nurses at the hospital in Grande Prairie.
Staff have been asked to answer questions, including did you purposely drug a nurse, how could a nurse become drugged and what are the five top issues that could have led to this situation.

The questionnaire specifically asks about the case of one nurse.

While nurses have asked their union whether they have to fill out the survey, the union believes most will to get some answers.

Police aren't saying, but the speculation is they suspect the drugging is an inside job. Since employees were cautioned last week to watch their food and not share, no one else has gotten sick.

Over the past 16 months, 15 nurses on the surgical ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have fallen ill and some have tested positive for tranquilizers. The most recent case was two weeks ago.

The RCMP won't specify what drug was used, but have said they are investigating the possibility of a criminal act.

The local health authority says blood and urine tests showed some staff tested positive for a tranquilizer-type drug, which may have been put in their food or drink.

In separate incidents, which began about 16 months ago, more than a dozen nurses who worked on the same surgical unit complained of experiencing loss of memory and dizziness, and said they then slept for hours when they went home.

After a number of possible causes were ruled out, through air quality tests and other measures, the RCMP were called in to investigate.

Staff at the hospital have been warned to protect their food and watch what they drink.


Copyright © 2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved

[engineer]

"In separate incidents, which began about 16 months ago, more than a dozen nurses who worked on the same surgical unit complained of experiencing loss of memory and dizziness, and said they then slept for hours when they went home."

Hi,

I'm posting some comparison which may be of interest - for what its worth. I experienced precisely this while working with electronic equipment that radiated strongly. Also difficulty getting up any stairs where I worked. It took a long time to develope, and in my factory, only I had particular tasks that brought me so close to particular gear, for so many hours per month. As I fell sick more often, I was referred all the way through to a neurosurgeon (who found nothing to justify intervention from his side). Toxicologists helped me to identify an unexpected and controversial cause.

"After a number of possible causes were ruled out, through air quality tests and other measures, the RCMP were called in to investigate."

I wonder if radiated emissions were checked? Electromagnetic fields from equipment and microwave antennae are now an accepted cause of symptoms, depending on the intensity and proximity and frequencies in use. I wonder is the ward particularly near equipment, compared to other wards?

"Over the past 16 months, 15 nurses on the surgical ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have fallen ill and some have tested positive for tranquilizers. The most recent case was two weeks ago."

"The RCMP won't specify what drug was used, but have said they are investigating the possibility of a criminal act. The local health authority says blood and urine tests showed some staff tested positive for a tranquilizer-type drug, which may have been put in their food or drink."

"Some" have tested positive. The RCMP won't specify? This is interesting. A "tranquilizer-type" drug? It is a tranquilizer or it isn't? What can the body secrete when it realises an illness is getting borderline and it needs more sleep, or what can it secrete inappropriately because of disturbance to the immune systems? I regret this speculation, however, I think it would be useful to know what the tests revealed and what a toxicologist or microbiologist would make of it in total - i.e. are there any other possibilities? Are there any other ways that could give the same positive test results? The toxicologists' reports I read for the Government included a view that the body chemical systems are in disarray after pulsed interference from electromagnetic fields, particularly brain and glands. Although comparing my case is moot; I was in a right "state", being carried down stairs (which for some reason was much harder). I slept like a stone at home, but would compare it much more in hindsight, to like being concussed or under anaesthesia. Were any of the nurses students using the same accomodation? Are there antennae there?

"Police aren't saying, but the speculation is they suspect the drugging is an inside job. Since employees were cautioned last week to watch their food and not share, no one else has gotten sick."

I suppose the answer hinges on this circumstance. I don't know if the additional alertness of the nurses could surmount the problem for a short period. In my case where I worked, as an engineer, the additional alertness to the potential problem changed things immediately. Having concluded I may one day have to work from a wheelchair for unknown reasons, once aware of the facts presented by a toxicologist, I was somehow much more alert and the symptoms nearly disappeared (until I forgot the warning). It became a battle of mind over matter on a daily basis until I could resign the job. If the problem reoccurs at that hospital, despite the police help, I would hope radiated emissions go on the checklist if not already done. If the problem does not reoccur, but no culprit is found, it might be worth checking if any equipment had been switched off/removed/had its power output reduced. It is regrettable that there was some very swift effort to "cover up" the possibility of electromagnetic radiation where I worked - although I felt no rancour; I should add that nothing was being done where I worked that had not been authorised (yet using last decades' ideas of safe limits). What happened was a reluctance to investigate, refusal to measure, one offer to add protective cladding (then later denied), but finally a removal of half the equipment (after three years).

This post is for what its worth, because, of course, I don't know if the "surgical ward" described is isolated or in some way "different" from the rest of the building. Also, looking for microwave antenna is not straightforward. The companies who rent the tops or sides of buildings or garden property for their antennae are doing a lot to disguise them (claiming its for aethetic reasons), when often they know people do not trust the old standards and do not want them. Also, some are very small, and some are used by building owners themselves to connect computer links. These can be installed, overpowered, switched off or removed very quickly without occupants being aware.

Should the cause be found and proven to be criminal activity, I guess that will be that and at least everyone will know for sure. So my post is simply a note for the possibility if its not proven.

If it is not proven to be criminal, if the sicknesses stay stopped, it could be checked if anything has been switched off. If sicknesses continue or resume, I guess they will reopen the search and I hope include an EM radiation check.

regards

[Tweety]

Wow. Scarey situation.

[mattsmom81]

It sure is scary...but I've met a few psychopaths out there who might try something like this. They should start with someone who has a beef specifically with these nurses. Who has been written up by the staff or reprimanded due to a group complaint, etc.

And the above is another reason to lock up all our belongings in our locker til we need them, then not let them out of our sight whenever they are out. This also prevents a diverter from slipping something into your bag (which happened to an agency nurse friend of mine...so I took special care following)

Hope they get to the bottom of this soon before someone is seriously hurt.