http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/11/30/local_news/SNURSE30.htm
Nurse's death an apparent overdose
The Chester County coroner is awaiting test results. A syringe was found near the body.
By Ericka Bennett and Marc Schogol
INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/11/30/local_news/SNURSE30.htm
CALN - A nurse found dead in a locked bathroom at the Brandywine Hospital and Trauma Center Wednesday died of an apparent drug overdose, the Chester County coroner said yesterday.
"[The autopsy] is consistent with earlier findings that point to an accidental drug overdose," coroner Rodger Rothenberger said. He said he would make his final ruling when toxicology reports come back in about two weeks.
If the death is ruled an overdose, this would be the second such case at the hospital in the last four months. On July 23, a 28-year-old staff nurse from Norristown died from an accidental overdose of injectable morphine, Rothenberger said.
A syringe was found near the body of the latest victim - a 31-year-old Newtown Square, Delaware County, woman from a nursing temporary agency - according to Caln Police Chief James Franciscus.
In addition, an injectable narcotic was missing from the floor she worked on, said Rothenberger, who did not identify either the victim or the narcotic. Chester County Detective Lt. George Painter said the woman had completed a shift on the hospital's medical surgery unit.
Rothenberger said the woman's name was not being released to protect the family's privacy. Police and hospital officials also would not release the name of the temporary agency the woman worked for.
While the coroner did not identify the narcotic, he did say that the hospital has a system to prevent medication dispensing errors. The hospital uses an automated medication control and dispensing system that is meant to "increase accountability," Rothenberger said.
The system keeps an account of medications and patients to whom they should go. It is believed that the woman may have tampered with the machine so that it gave a false error reading, Rothenberger said.
In a statement released yesterday afternoon, hospital officials said: "Brandywine Hospital extends our sympathy to the family of the nurse who died in our facility. We are cooperating fully with the authorities investigating this tragic death, but cannot offer any further information at this time."
What is known is that the victim had worked the 3 to 11 p.m. shift on Tuesday and was last seen at 11:30 p.m., Franciscus and Rothenberger said. The woman's family became alarmed when she did not come home and filed a missing-persons report, Rothenberger said.
She was discovered about 4 p.m. the next day when one of the hospital's housekeeping employees found a unisex bathroom door locked, became alarmed, and called security. A hospital security officer then unlocked the door and found the body, officials said.
The nurse found dead in July had been working at Brandywine Hospital for a couple of months and was not on duty when her body also was discovered in a bathroom, Rothenberger said. Officials would not release the woman's name.
Chester County District Attorney Anthony Sarcione said there were no signs of violence to the body of the nurse found Wednesday. He said he could not comment further.
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Jonathan Gelb of the Inquirer suburban staff contributed to this article.
Ericka Bennett's e-mail address is [email protected].
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If the death is ruled an overdose, this would be the second such case at the hospital in the last four months. On July 23, a 28-year-old staff nurse from Norristown died from an accidental overdose of injectable morphine, Rothenberger said.
TWO nurses dying within 4 months????? In a facility only 30miles from my home..............
I wonder what the controls are accessing narcotics at this facility. Two nurses signing + witnessing narcotic waste can help decrease illegal access.
Such a shame. Hope they have councilors educating the staff re addiction. Karen
