Nurses assisting a gunshot patient came into harm’s way as a driver struck them and then drove off, leaving one nurse in critical condition.
The nurses were helping a gunshot victim who was dropped off by someone in a private vehicle at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, in West Philadelphia, early Saturday morning, just after 4:15, officials said. The gunshot victim was hit on the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue.
A driver in a silver Jeep Cherokee pulled into the ambulance bay at Presbyterian to leave the gunshot victim. Three nurses rushed outside to assist the victim, when the driver of the Cherokee drove off, hitting the nurses and the gunshot victim.
The driver is a man, possibly in his twenties, according to officials.
Two of the nurses, a 37-year-old male and a 51-year-old male, suffered injuries to their legs and back, and the 51-year-old also had injuries to his head. They are listed as stable.
A third nurse, a 36-year-old man, suffered injuries to his face and was found to have internal bleeding after he was hit by the Cherokee. He is in critical condition.
The gunshot victim, a 28-year-old man, was shot multiple times throughout his body. He then suffered head injuries as the driver sped off.
The four victims are being treated at Presbyterian.
Police are actively searching for the driver of the Cherokee. Anyone with any information regarding the shooting or the driver is urged to contact police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
A Louisiana nursing home owner has agreed to pay $8.2 million in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice after being accused of misusing assets from four nursing home facilities. The settlement stems from allegations that Bob Dean Jr. violated the National Housing Act of 1934 by embezzling funds intended for the care and well-being of nursing home residents.
Inadequate Evacuation Plans Led to Tragedy and Death
The controversy surrounding Dean’s nursing homes gained national attention when more than 840 residents were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish ahead of Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm. The makeshift shelter lacked proper facilities, leading to a disastrous situation in the aftermath of the hurricane. Several residents died due to the lack of adequate care and resources at the warehouse.
Federal Embezzlement Charges
According to the Department of Justice, Dean misused assets from the following four nursing home facilities he owned and operated:
Ville Platte Healthcare Center (Ville Platte, LA)
Richland Parish Healthcare Center (Delhi, LA)
Richland Parish Retirement Center (Delhi, LA)
Richland Parish Healthcare Center (Rayville, LA)
By misappropriating funds intended for the care and operation of these facilities, Dean violated the National Housing Act of 1934, which provides mortgage insurance for nursing homes.
Settlement Terms and Implications
Under the terms of the $8.2 million settlement, Dean has agreed to pay back the misused funds and has been prohibited from participating in any federal healthcare programs for the next three years. The settlement also requires Dean to sell all of his nursing home facilities within 90 days.
Calls for Stricter Regulations
The tragedy of Hurricane Ida and the subsequent revelations of financial misconduct have led to calls for stricter regulations and oversight in the nursing home industry, particularly when it comes to emergency preparedness and evacuation plans.
“This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of ensuring that nursing home residents receive the care and resources they need, especially in times of crisis,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Justice.
As the nursing home industry continues to grapple with the fallout from this case, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect the safety and well-being of residents, both in day-to-day operations and during emergency situations.
A northeastern Tennessee nurse and his dog died in flash floods from Hurricane Helene while trying to save someone, according to the man’s employer.
Boone McCrary was a registered nurse at Greeneville Community Hospital, about 70 miles northeast of Knoxville, part of the Ballad Health system.
On Sept. 27, he was in a boat with his dog, a chocolate lab named Moss, trying to save someone else, the health system announced on Facebook.
McCrary, his dog and a female occupant launched a boat into the river just after 7 p.m. on Sept. 27 when the boat swept into the bridge and capsized, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency or TWRA confirmed to USA TODAY this week.
Both people in the boat and the dog fell into the water. The female occupant was rescued, but McCrary and his dog were swept downstream.
McCrary’s body was recovered from a creek feeding into the Nolichucky River around 2 p.m. on Oct. 1, The boat and his dog’s body were found Sunday, TWRA said.
“TWRA offers prayers and condolences to McCrary’s family and loved ones,” the agency said in its statement. “The incident remains under investigation.”
McCrary’s family did not immediately respond to requests for comment but his sister, Laura McCrary Harville, shared that she’s still in shock on Facebook.
“It’s Tuesday,” she wrote. “It’s been a week since my brother, Boone, was found. I’m still in shock. It hasn’t set in yet. I’m trying to just act normal until it does.”
She encouraged community members to check in with themselves to make sure they are living lives they’ll be proud of.
As of Saturday, at least 228 people have died due to Hurricane Helene’s devastation across the southeastern U.S.
McCrary’s last TikTok video was shared on July 2. In the video, he’s on a boat and notes how some people wonder if he has a death wish.
“The truth is that I have a ‘life wish,'” he captioned the video.
“I have a need for feeling the life running through my veins. One thing about me…I may be ‘crazy’ perhaps, a little reckless at times but when the time comes to put me in the ground, you can say I lived it all the way. Besides, who else gets to see these sunsets?”
Hospital community remembers nurse as ‘ultimate caregiver’
When Ballad Health shared news about McCrary’s death, the health system said he was “the ultimate caregiver who was kind and compassionate with a larger-than-life personality.”
He’d often sing to team members and patients to make them feel better and he loved music. McCrary also loved Moss, his dog, and the pair spent every second they could together, Ballad said in its dedication to him.
“We are committed to being there for each of our team members as we grieve and work through the challenging days ahead together,” the post read. Thank you for respecting the privacy of those affected as we navigate this tragedy.”
McCrary was a member of the Greene County Coon Club, TN Bear Hunters Association and was made an honorary member of the Camp Creek Volunteer Fire Department for his actions during the hurricane, his obituary said.
“The family wants to thank all of the volunteers, what we have affectionately nicknamed the Boone’s Brigade, for your countless hours spent searching and praying,” the obituary said.
Survivor calls nurse his guardian angel
The man McCrary was attempting to rescue is David Boutin, according to a Facebook post and the Associated Press, and he attended McCrary’s funeral Sunday.
“I got to thank you today brother,” Boutin wrote in the post, saying McCrary risked his life to save his. “May you rest in peace and continue to watch over us and help as you did while here.”He called McCrary is his guardian angel.
Boutin also shared online that he is trying to rebuild and get back on his feet after the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
On October 4, 2024, Christopher Ciccone, a multitalented artist and younger brother to pop icon Madonna, passed away at the age of 63 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Known for his work as a dancer, designer, director, and creative consultant, Christopher’s impact on the world of art and entertainment extended far beyond his familial connection to one of the world’s biggest stars. His death marks the loss of a figure who shaped the careers of several artists, including his sister, while also forging his own path in the arts.
Early Life and Creative Journey
Born in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1960, Christopher Ciccone grew up in a large Catholic family alongside Madonna and their seven other siblings. Like his sister, Christopher shared a passion for dance and music from a young age, which he pursued academically through dance classes at Oakland University. This passion would soon evolve into a lifelong career in the arts.
By the early 1980s, Ciccone had relocated to New York, where his sister’s burgeoning career was just beginning to take off. Christopher’s early contributions to Madonna’s career were as a dancer and backup performer. He appeared in the music video for her 1984 hit Lucky Star and later took on roles behind the scenes, working as a dresser and, eventually, as an art director. His designs played a role in shaping some of Madonna’s most iconic tours and music videos, including her Blond Ambition tour and the cover art for her controversial hit single Like a Prayer.
Artistic Ventures Beyond Madonna
While much of Christopher’s early career was spent collaborating with his sister, he didn’t limit his creative output to just her projects. Over the years, Ciccone worked with various other notable artists, including Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett, directing music videos and designing stage sets. His eye for aesthetics and creativity found additional outlets through interior design, where he helped design several high-profile spaces, including homes for Madonna in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York.
Despite his success, Ciccone’s most publicized work has been his personal memoir, Life With My Sister Madonna, published in 2008. The book, which quickly became a bestseller, detailed Christopher’s complex relationship with his famous sibling. Although the book gave readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their partnership and Madonna’s rise to fame, it also revealed a strained relationship between the two. The memoir candidly discussed both their personal and professional lives, particularly focusing on the dynamics of working so closely with such a towering figure. Unsurprisingly, the book caused a rift between the siblings, further complicating their already tenuous bond.
A Complicated Relationship
The release of Life With My Sister Madonna exposed many of the tensions that had long simmered between the siblings. In the book, Christopher wrote about feeling overshadowed by his sister’s fame and how their professional partnership often blurred the lines of their personal relationship. He described his role in her life as “a double-edged sword,” where the closeness they once shared sometimes felt more like a job than a familial connection. His candidness about Madonna’s personal life and her interactions with other famous figures, such as her former husband Guy Ritchie, further complicated their relationship.
Although the memoir reportedly upset Madonna, by 2012, Ciccone shared in interviews that their relationship had stabilized somewhat. He noted that they were on more “personable” terms, though he emphasized that he no longer worked for her. The separation of their professional lives seemed to allow them to navigate a healthier personal relationship, at least to a degree.
Legacy and Final Years
In his later years, Christopher relocated to Michigan, where he remained close to his family. He found solace in his marriage to British actor Ray Thacker, who was by his side during his final days. His death, coming just a few months after the loss of Madonna’s stepmother, Joan Ciccone, and their older brother, Anthony, in early 2023, represents yet another profound loss for the Ciccone family.
Christopher Ciccone’s legacy extends beyond the shadow of his sister’s fame. As an artist, designer, and director, he left a lasting impact on the creative industries in his own right. His contributions to dance, stage design, and music videos are remembered as critical components of some of pop culture’s most memorable moments. More than anything, his life’s work reflects the complexity of familial relationships in the face of fame, the struggles of carving out one’s own identity, and the lasting bonds that can both unite and divide families.
Christopher’s passing marks the end of a unique chapter in the Ciccone family’s history, one defined by art, creativity, and, at times, discord. His contributions, however, will continue to resonate in both the art world and the annals of pop culture history.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Christopher’s public grappling with identity—both in relation to his sister and in his own right—offers valuable insights into the struggles faced by those living in the orbit of a megastar. His life and career serve as a reminder that while fame may bring opportunities, it also brings challenges that are often unseen.
The Vietnam War, one of the most controversial and violent conflicts of the 20th century, not only tested the resilience of nations but also reshaped the landscape of medical care in warfare. While the images of soldiers on the battlefield often dominate historical recollections, the contributions of nurses—particularly military nurses—remain less visible but no less important. The role of nurses during the Vietnam War was pivotal in transforming battlefield medicine and advancing trauma care. They worked under unimaginable conditions, facing daily emotional and physical challenges, yet their bravery and dedication saved thousands of lives and forever changed the nursing profession.
Nursing in Wartime: An Overview
The Vietnam War, spanning from 1955 to 1975, witnessed the deployment of over 5,000 U.S. Army nurses, alongside hundreds from other branches of the military. These nurses were predominantly women, although a smaller number of male nurses were also involved, reflecting the gradual shift towards gender inclusivity in the nursing profession. For many of these nurses, Vietnam was their first encounter with combat nursing, where they faced the task of caring for soldiers suffering from the brutalities of guerrilla warfare, land mines, booby traps, and prolonged jungle combat.
Unlike previous wars, Vietnam was marked by highly mobile and unconventional warfare, meaning the injuries nurses encountered were often catastrophic, involving complex trauma and severe burns. The nurses, usually stationed in mobile field hospitals, evacuation hospitals, and aboard hospital ships, were at the heart of these medical efforts, turning the tides for many wounded soldiers.
Challenges Faced by Nurses
Vietnam posed numerous challenges for military nurses, ranging from environmental difficulties to emotional burdens. The tropical climate was an immediate and ever-present enemy. Intense heat, humidity, and monsoon rains created an environment ripe for infections, further complicating medical treatments. The nursing facilities were often makeshift, and nurses had to work in primitive conditions where resources were scarce, and hygiene was difficult to maintain.
Medical supplies were in constant demand, and sterilization of equipment was often a luxury. Nurses frequently had to improvise with the limited resources available to them. In mobile hospitals, the sound of helicopters overhead and gunfire in the distance was an everyday reality, creating an atmosphere of perpetual tension. Some nurses even found themselves treating patients while under enemy fire, with their hospitals occasionally targeted by Viet Cong forces.
Moreover, the types of injuries these nurses treated were far more severe than those seen in civilian hospitals. Gunshot wounds, shrapnel injuries, burns from napalm, and traumatic amputations were common. Nurses worked around the clock in high-pressure environments, performing triage, administering blood transfusions, cleaning wounds, and offering comfort to soldiers who often faced life-altering injuries. The fast-paced nature of wartime medical care meant that nurses often had little time to reflect or process the emotional toll of their work.
Emotional Toll and Psychological Impact
The emotional impact of the Vietnam War on nurses cannot be overstated. The relentless nature of combat meant that nurses were frequently exposed to death and suffering. Witnessing the deaths of young soldiers—some no older than 18 or 19—was a traumatic experience that stayed with many nurses long after the war ended. Unlike earlier wars, where soldiers were more likely to succumb to their injuries, advancements in medical care and rapid evacuation protocols meant that more soldiers survived but often with devastating physical and psychological wounds.
Nurses were expected to maintain a level of emotional detachment in order to perform their duties, but this was often impossible. The personal connections they formed with the soldiers under their care, many of whom would express their last words to a nurse, left deep scars. These experiences led to significant post-war psychological struggles for many nurses, with many suffering from what we now recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, during the Vietnam War era, mental health support for returning nurses was minimal, and many struggled in silence.
Transforming Trauma and Emergency Care
Despite the immense challenges, the Vietnam War also became a catalyst for significant advancements in trauma and emergency care. The experience nurses gained in treating severe trauma injuries led to the development of new medical techniques and procedures that would later be adopted in civilian medicine.
One of the most notable innovations was the use of helicopter medical evacuations, commonly known as “medevacs.” For the first time in military history, helicopters were used on a large scale to transport wounded soldiers from the battlefield to medical facilities within minutes. This practice drastically improved survival rates, as soldiers could receive medical care almost immediately after being injured. Nurses were integral to this system, often stabilizing patients in flight or providing emergency care upon their arrival at medical units.
The introduction of more advanced triage techniques was another significant development. Nurses had to make split-second decisions about the prioritization of care, determining which soldiers could be saved and who was too gravely injured to receive immediate treatment. This harsh reality was a burden nurses bore daily, but it also pushed them to develop an extraordinary level of skill and efficiency under pressure.
Furthermore, the Vietnam War era saw the use of new treatments for infection control, such as the widespread use of antibiotics, as well as the early adoption of techniques that would later become standard in trauma units, such as the administration of intravenous fluids and blood transfusions in mass casualty situations.
The Legacy of Vietnam Nurses
The legacy of the nurses who served during the Vietnam War is profound. Their experiences not only paved the way for future advancements in trauma care but also highlighted the crucial role of nurses in wartime medicine. Their courage and resilience redefined what it meant to be a nurse in a combat zone, and their contributions are still felt in modern military and civilian medical practices today.
Upon returning home, many Vietnam War nurses faced a different battle—the struggle for recognition and support. Unlike soldiers, they were not always seen as veterans in the traditional sense, and their emotional scars were often overlooked. However, in recent decades, the contributions of Vietnam War nurses have been increasingly acknowledged, with memorials and documentaries celebrating their role in the conflict. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated in 1993, stands as a testament to the 265,000 women, many of them nurses, who served during the Vietnam era.
Conclusion
Nurses in the Vietnam War were the unsung heroes, working tirelessly in the face of unimaginable horrors to save lives and provide comfort to the wounded. They served with extraordinary dedication, courage, and skill, and their contributions continue to impact both the nursing profession and trauma care to this day. The Vietnam War was not just a test of military might but also of medical innovation and human compassion, and the nurses who served are a crucial part of that story.
The months-long nurses’ strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick, New Jersey, has come to a potential resolution after a tentative agreement was reached between the hospital and the United Steelworkers Local 4-200, which represents approximately 1,700 nurses. The strike, which began in early August, centered around key issues such as nurse-to-patient ratios, wage increases, and benefits, with both parties struggling to reach a compromise.
The tentative agreement is set to provide substantial improvements to the working conditions of the nursing staff while ensuring higher standards of patient care. The union and the hospital have agreed to enforceable staffing standards, which were at the heart of the nurses’ concerns throughout the strike. Many nurses had complained that high nurse-to-patient ratios left them overworked and unable to provide the level of care that patients deserved. By ensuring that nurse staffing levels are appropriate and manageable, the agreement seeks to alleviate burnout among healthcare workers, improve patient outcomes, and reduce turnover within the hospital.
Additionally, the deal includes reasonable wage increases, which were another major point of contention during the strike. Nurses demanded that their wages reflect the critical work they perform, especially given the increased demands and stress placed on healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the specific wage increases have not been fully disclosed, union representatives have stated that the new wages and benefits are greater than what was in place before the strike began. This comes as a relief for many nurses who had been on the picket lines for months, enduring the financial strain of striking without pay.
The strike itself was particularly contentious. Nurses at RWJUH took to the picket lines for four months, advocating for better working conditions while the hospital operated with temporary staff. The strike gained national attention, with prominent figures like Senator Bernie Sanders publicly supporting the nurses’ demands for safer staffing and improved wages. During the strike, RWJBarnabas Health, the nonprofit organization that operates RWJUH, reported financial losses. Despite these losses, the organization remained committed to resolving the strike and ensuring that patient care remained unaffected throughout the labor dispute.
The hospital also took measures to address the concerns raised by the union. In their official statement, RWJUH emphasized that they had already met state regulations regarding nurse-to-patient ratios and that they had made significant progress in hiring additional nurses to reduce vacancy rates. The hospital’s efforts to improve staffing levels were aimed at addressing the union’s demands while ensuring that the hospital continued to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients throughout the strike.
The tentative agreement is now subject to a ratification vote by the nurses, who will have the opportunity to review the terms before deciding whether to accept them. Informational sessions have been scheduled to help nurses understand the specifics of the deal. If the contract is approved, it will mark the end of a strike that has caused significant disruption to hospital operations and has had a profound impact on the nursing staff.
Throughout the strike, both the hospital and the nurses expressed a shared commitment to ensuring patient care quality, despite being at odds over how to achieve this goal. The tentative agreement reflects months of negotiation and advocacy on both sides and offers a way forward for RWJUH and its nursing staff. Should the deal be ratified, it will set an important precedent for other hospitals in the region, many of which are also grappling with staffing shortages and labor disputes.
As nurses prepare to vote on the agreement, the outcome of this labor dispute will be closely watched by healthcare professionals and unions across the country. The resolution of the RWJUH strike demonstrates the power of collective action in improving working conditions and protecting the rights of healthcare workers.
The ongoing labor dispute at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu has escalated, leading to the arrest of 10 demonstrators on September 23, 2024. The demonstrators were protesting the lockout of about 600 nurses, which followed a one-day strike earlier in the month. The protests were aimed at drawing attention to the nurses’ demands for safer staffing levels and improved patient care conditions. Those arrested, including state legislator Kim Coco Iwamoto and Democratic candidate Ikaika Hussey, were blocking buses transporting temporary nurses hired to replace the locked-out union members.
Despite the tensions, negotiations between the Hawaii Nurses’ Association and Kapi‘olani Medical Center continue, though no agreement has been reached yet. Both parties are set to meet for further discussions, with the possibility of involving a federal mediator being floated by Hawaii Governor Josh Green.
In addition to the arrests, the broader implications of the strike and lockout at Kapi‘olani Medical Center are becoming more evident. The nurses, represented by the Hawaii Nurses’ Association, have been advocating for safer nurse-to-patient ratios, citing concerns over patient safety and the well-being of the nursing staff. The hospital, however, maintains that it has been providing appropriate care with the help of temporary nurses and claims it is necessary to ensure patient care is not disrupted.
The lockout came as a direct response to the nurses’ one-day strike, and hospital management has taken a firm stance, stating that the locked-out nurses will only be allowed back if they agree to the hospital’s contract terms without conditions. This has sparked public outcry, leading to increasing support for the nurses from various community members, political figures, and labor rights advocates.
Governor Josh Green and Attorney General Anne Lopez have suggested federal mediation as a potential way forward. Governor Green emphasized that nurses are a critical part of Hawaii’s healthcare system and encouraged both parties to seek assistance from a neutral third party to help reach a fair agreement. Mediation, he said, could help break through the stalemate and guide both sides towards a solution that ensures the continued care of Hawaii’s most vulnerable patients.
This ongoing dispute, now marked by civil disobedience and multiple arrests, highlights the high stakes involved not just for the nurses, but also for the quality of healthcare in Hawaii. As contract negotiations continue, the hope is that mediation could provide a pathway to resolve the conflict while addressing the safety and staffing concerns that sparked the strike.
An Oregon hospital, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, is embroiled in a $303 million lawsuit following an alarming case of fentanyl theft and medical malpractice. At the center of the scandal is 36-year-old former ICU nurse Dani Marie Schofield, who has been accused of stealing fentanyl—an extremely potent synthetic opioid—from patients and replacing it with tap water. The drug diversion, which allegedly took place over a year from July 2022 to July 2023, is said to have caused severe bacterial infections in 44 patients, leading to the deaths of 16 individuals. The remaining patients, who survived the ordeal, are part of a collective lawsuit against the hospital.
How the Scandal Unfolded
The investigation into Schofield’s actions began in December 2022 when hospital staff noticed a disturbing rise in central line infections among ICU patients. Central lines are critical for delivering medication and fluids directly into a patient’s bloodstream, making proper sanitation and care crucial to avoid infections. The infections were later linked to Schofield, who had access to all of the patients who developed these complications. An internal investigation by Asante revealed that the fentanyl meant for patient use had been swapped with non-sterile tap water, leaving patients without proper pain relief and exposing them to waterborne bacteria.
Fentanyl is commonly used to manage severe pain, especially for patients undergoing surgery or those suffering from chronic conditions such as cancer. The drug’s high potency makes it indispensable in hospital settings, but it also poses a significant risk of abuse and theft. According to reports, Schofield diverted the drug for her personal use, leading to patients receiving contaminated IV drips, which caused dangerous bacterial infections. The affected patients were vulnerable individuals already dealing with complex medical conditions, making the consequences of the nurse’s actions particularly devastating.
Legal and Financial Ramifications
Schofield now faces 44 second-degree felony counts related to the theft and tampering of medications. In June 2024, she pleaded not guilty to the charges but agreed to suspend her nursing license until the criminal proceedings are concluded. She has been released on $4 million bail and is awaiting trial. If found guilty, Schofield could face up to 10 years in prison .
The lawsuit against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center claims the hospital was negligent in its duty to monitor staff and prevent drug theft. The plaintiffs, which include the estates of the deceased and surviving patients, accuse the hospital of failing to adequately safeguard its fentanyl supply and allowing unsanitary conditions to go unchecked. The lawsuit, originally seeking $11.5 million, has grown to a staggering $303 million, covering medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and wrongful death claims. Plaintiffs include the family of Horace E. Wilson, a patient who developed a bacterial infection after surgery and later died from multi-organ failure.
The Broader Impact of Drug Diversion in Healthcare
Drug diversion is a significant issue in healthcare, particularly with highly controlled substances like fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), healthcare professionals divert an estimated $70 billion worth of drugs each year. Hospitals are required to have stringent protocols in place to track the use and distribution of controlled substances, but cases like Schofield’s show that these systems can sometimes fail. When that happens, the consequences for patients can be severe, including unnecessary pain, infection, and in some cases, death.
The case has also sparked renewed scrutiny on the growing opioid epidemic in the U.S. Fentanyl, in particular, has been a key contributor to the crisis. While it is used legitimately in medical settings, fentanyl is also one of the most commonly abused opioids, contributing to a significant rise in overdose deaths. The potency of fentanyl—100 times stronger than morphine—makes even a small miscalculation or misuse potentially deadly.
Asante’s Response
Following the discovery of Schofield’s actions, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center contacted law enforcement and cooperated fully with the ensuing investigation. Hospital officials have expressed remorse for the pain and suffering caused by the incident, pledging to review and strengthen their medication tracking and security protocols. The hospital has since reached out to patients and their families to provide support and transparency regarding the ongoing case.
However, the hospital’s reported failure to monitor Schofield’s actions for over a year has raised questions about accountability and oversight. Critics argue that the hospital should have acted sooner, especially given the pattern of infections and the critical nature of ICU care. The lawsuit aims to hold the hospital accountable for these alleged lapses, ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
Looking Forward
As the legal proceedings move forward, this case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of drug diversion in healthcare settings. For the families of the victims, the lawsuit is a step toward justice and closure after their loved ones suffered from preventable infections and deaths. For the healthcare industry, this case emphasizes the importance of stringent controls and monitoring systems to prevent drug theft and ensure patient safety.
With Schofield’s trial still pending, the lawsuit against Asante will likely be closely watched by healthcare professionals and legal experts alike, as it touches on both the opioid crisis and the ethical responsibilities of hospitals to safeguard their patients.
In the meantime, the hospital and healthcare systems nationwide will need to re-examine their drug monitoring protocols to prevent further tragedies like this one.
A 64-year-old American woman recently became the first person to use the Sarco suicide pod to end her life in Switzerland, a country where assisted suicide is legal. The Sarco pod, designed by Dr. Philip Nitschke of Exit International, is a 3D-printed device shaped like a sarcophagus. When a user inside the pod presses a button, the pod fills with nitrogen gas, quickly lowering oxygen levels and causing the user to lose consciousness within a minute, followed by death within ten minutes.
The woman, who had been suffering from a severe illness and chronic pain for years, chose to end her life using the pod. According to witnesses and those involved with the procedure, her death was quick and peaceful. Florian Willet, co-president of the Swiss assisted-suicide group “The Last Resort,” was the only person physically present during her death. Dr. Nitschke monitored the process remotely from Germany using various devices to track her heart rate and oxygen levels.
Following the woman’s death, Swiss authorities launched an investigation into the incident, leading to the arrest of several individuals involved. Swiss police detained multiple people, including a photographer who captured images of the event. The public prosecutor’s office in Schaffhausen is now investigating allegations of incitement and accessory to suicide. This case has raised concerns about whether the Sarco pod complies with Swiss safety regulations and its broader legality, as Switzerland typically permits assisted suicide but under strict guidelines.
This event has reignited the global debate surrounding assisted suicide and the ethical implications of using advanced technology for such a sensitive matter. Although Exit International insists the Sarco pod provides a painless and dignified death, critics question its lack of medical oversight and whether it could be easily misused.
She Was Accused of Murder After Losing Her Pregnancy. SC Woman Now Tells Her Story.
Lauren Sausser
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Amari Marsh had just finished her junior year at South Carolina State University in May 2023 when she received a text message from a law enforcement officer.
“Sorry it has taken this long for paperwork to come back,” the officer wrote. “But I finally have the final report, and wanted to see if you and your boyfriend could meet me Wednesday afternoon for a follow up?”
Marsh understood that the report was related to a pregnancy loss she’d experienced that March, she said. During her second trimester, Marsh said, she unexpectedly gave birth in the middle of the night while on a toilet in her off-campus apartment. She remembered screaming and panicking and said the bathroom was covered in blood.
“I couldn’t breathe,” said Marsh, now 23.
The next day, when Marsh woke up in the hospital, she said, a law enforcement officer asked her questions. Then, a few weeks later, she said, she received a call saying she could collect her daughter’s ashes.
At that point, she said, she didn’t know she was being criminally investigated. Yet three months after her loss, Marsh was charged with murder/homicide by child abuse, law enforcement records show. She spent 22 days at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center, where she was initially held without bond, facing 20 years to life in prison.
This August, 13 months after she was released from jail to house arrest with an ankle monitor, Marsh was cleared by a grand jury. Her case will not proceed to trial.
Her story raises questions about the state of reproductive rights in this country, disparities in health care, and pregnancy criminalization, especially for Black women like Marsh. More than two years after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which allowed states to outlaw abortion, the climate around these topics remains highly charged.
Marsh’s case also highlights what’s at stake in November. Sixty-one percent of voters want Congress to pass a federal law restoring a nationwide right to abortion, according to a recent poll by KFF, the health policy research, polling, and news organization that includes KFF Health News. These issues could shape who wins the White House and controls Congress, and will come to a head for voters in the 10 states where ballot initiatives about abortion will be decided.
This case shows how pregnancy loss is being criminalized around the country, said U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat and graduate of South Carolina State University whose congressional district includes Orangeburg.
“This is not a slogan when we talk about this being an ‘election about the restoration of our freedoms,’” Clyburn said.
‘I Was Scared’
When Marsh took an at-home pregnancy test in November 2022, the positive result scared her. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to let my parents down,” she said. “I was in a state of shock.”
She didn’t seek prenatal care, she said, because she kept having her period. She thought the pregnancy test might have been wrong.
An incident report filed by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office on the day she lost the pregnancy stated that in January 2023 Marsh made an appointment at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia to “take the Plan-C pill which would possibly cause an abortion to occur.” The report doesn’t specify whether she took — or even obtained — the drug.
During an interview at her parents’ house, Marsh denied going to Planned Parenthood or taking medicine to induce abortion.
“I’ve never been in trouble. I’ve never been pulled over. I’ve never been arrested,” Marsh said. “I never even got written up in school.”
She played clarinet as section leader in the marching band and once performed at Carnegie Hall. In college, she was majoring in biology and planned to become a doctor.
South Carolina state Rep. Seth Rose, a Democrat in Columbia and one of Marsh’s attorneys, called it a “really tragic” case. “It’s our position that she lost a child through natural causes,” he said.
On Feb. 28, 2023, Marsh said, she experienced abdominal pain that was “way worse” than regular menstrual cramps. She went to the emergency room, investigation records show, but left after several hours without being treated. Back at home, she said, the pain grew worse. She returned to the hospital, this time by ambulance.
Hospital staffers crowded around her, she said, and none of them explained what was happening to her. Bright lights shone in her face. “I was scared,” she said.
According to the sheriff’s department report, hospital staffers told Marsh that she was pregnant and that a fetal heartbeat could be detected. Freaked out and confused, she chose to leave the hospital a second time, she said, and her pain had subsided.
In the middle of the night, she said, the pain started again. She woke up, she recalled, feeling an intense urge to use the bathroom. “And when I did, the child came,” she said. “I screamed because I was scared, because I didn’t know what was going on.”
Her boyfriend at the time called 911. The emergency dispatcher “kept telling me to take the baby out” of the toilet, she recalled. “I couldn’t because I couldn’t even keep myself together.”
First medical responders detected signs of life and tried to perform lifesaving measures as they headed to Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, the incident report said. But at the hospital, Marsh learned that her infant, a girl, had not survived.
“I kept asking to see the baby,” she said. “They wouldn’t let me.”
The following day, a sheriff’s deputy told Marsh in her hospital room that the incident was under investigation but said that Marsh “was currently not in any trouble,” according to the report. Marsh responded that “she did not feel as though she did anything wrong.”
More than 10 weeks later, nothing about the text messages she received from an officer in mid-May implied that the follow-up meeting about the final report was urgent.
“Oh it doesn’t have to be Wednesday, it can be next week or another week,” the officer wrote in an exchange that Marsh shared with KFF Health News. “I just have to meet with y’all in person before I can close the case out. I am so sorry”
“No problem I understand,” Marsh wrote back.
She didn’t tell her parents or consider hiring a lawyer. “I didn’t think I needed one,” she said.
Marsh arranged to meet the officer on June 2, 2023. During that meeting, she was arrested. Her boyfriend was not charged.
Her father, Herman Marsh, the band director at a local public school in Orangeburg, thought it was a bad joke until reality set in. “I told my wife, I said, ‘We need to get an attorney now.’”
Pregnancy Criminalization
When Marsh lost her pregnancy on March 1, 2023, women in South Carolina could still obtain an abortion until 20 weeks beyond fertilization, or the gestational age of 22 weeks.
Later that spring, South Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature passed a ban that prohibits providers from performing abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, with some exceptions made for cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in jeopardy. That law does not allow criminal penalties for women who seek or obtain abortions.
Solicitor David Pascoe, a Democrat elected to South Carolina’s 1st Judicial Circuit whose office handled Marsh’s prosecution, said the issues of abortion and reproductive rights weren’t relevant to this case.
“It had nothing to do with that,” he told KFF Health News.
The arrest warrant alleges that not moving the infant from the toilet at the urging of the dispatcher was ultimately “a proximate cause of her daughter’s death.” The warrant also cites as the cause of death “respiratory complications” due to a premature delivery stemming from a maternal chlamydia infection. Marsh said she was unaware of the infection until after the pregnancy loss.
Pascoe said the question raised by investigators was whether Marsh failed to render aid to the infant before emergency responders arrived at the apartment, he said. Ultimately, the grand jury decided there wasn’t probable cause to proceed with a criminal trial, he said. “I respect the grand jury’s opinion.”
Marsh’s case is a “prime example of how pregnancy loss can become a criminal investigation very quickly,” said Dana Sussman, senior vice president of Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that tracks such cases. While similar cases predate the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, she said, they seem to be increasing.
“The Dobbs decision unleashed and empowered prosecutors to look at pregnant people as a suspect class and at pregnancy loss as a suspicious event,” she said.
Local and national anti-abortion groups seized on Marsh’s story when her name and mug shot were published online by The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg. Holly Gatling, executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life, wrote a blog post about Marsh titled, in part, “Orangeburg Newborn Dies in Toilet” that was published by National Right to Life. Gatling and National Right to Life did not respond to interview requests.
Marsh said she made the mistake of googling herself when she was released from jail.
“It was heartbreaking to see all those things,” she said. “I cried so many times.”
Some physicians are also afraid of being painted as criminals. The nonprofit Physicians for Human Rights published a report on Sept. 17 about Florida’s six-week abortion ban that included input from two dozen doctors, many of whom expressed fear about the criminal penalties imposed by the law.
“The health care systems are afraid,” said Michele Heisler, medical director for the nonprofit. “There’s all these gray areas. So everyone is just trying to be extra careful. Unfortunately, as a result, patients are suffering.”
Chelsea Daniels, a family medicine doctor who works for Planned Parenthood in Miami and performs abortions, said that in early September she saw a patient who had a miscarriage during the first trimester of her pregnancy. The patient had been to four hospitals and brought in the ultrasound scans performed at each facility.
“No one would touch her,” Daniels said. “Each ultrasound scan she brought in represents, on the other side, a really terrified doctor who is doing their best to interpret the really murky legal language around abortion care and miscarriage management, which are the same things, essentially.”
Florida is one of the 10 states with a ballot measure related to abortion in November, although it is the only Southern state with one. Others are Montana, Missouri, and Maryland.
‘I Found My Strength’
Zipporah Sumpter, one of Marsh’s lawyers, said the law enforcement system treated her client as a criminal instead of a grieving mother. “This is not a criminal matter,” Sumpter said.
It was not just the fraught climate around pregnancy that caused Marsh to suffer; “race definitely played a factor,” said Sumpter, who does not believe Marsh received compassionate care when she went to the hospital the first or second time.
The management of Regional Medical Center, where Marsh was treated, changed shortly after her hospitalization. The hospital is now managed by the Medical University of South Carolina, and its spokesperson declined to comment on Marsh’s case.
Historically, birth outcomes for Black women in Orangeburg County, where Marsh lost her pregnancy, have ranked among the worst in South Carolina. From 2020 through 2022, the average mortality rate for Black infants born in Orangeburg County was more than three times as high as the average rate for white infants statewide.
Today, Marsh is still trying to process all that happened. She moved back in with her parents and is seeing a therapist. She is taking classes at a local community college and hopes to reenroll at South Carolina State University to earn a four-year degree. She still wants to become a doctor. She keeps her daughter’s ashes on a bookshelf in her bedroom.
“Through all of this, I found my strength. I found my voice. I want to help other young women that are in my position now and will be in the future,” she said. “I always had faith that God was going to be on my side, but I didn’t know how it was going to go with the justice system we have today.”
KFF Health News Florida correspondent Daniel Chang contributed to this article.
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