"As hospital administrator, Pamela Ott, was ultimately responsible for safeguarding the welfare of her patients," Brown said. "Instead, Ott abdicated her responsibility and allowed the staff of the Kern Valley Hospital to forcibly sedate patients who questioned their care."
The charges against Ott were filed in Kern County Superior Court. Ott surrendered herself in court Sept. 8 and pled not guilty. She was released on her own recognizance on the condition that she not run a skilled nursing facility. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 4. These charges are in addition to those filed in February 2009 against:
 Then-Kern Valley Healthcare District CEO Pam Ott at the May 3, 2007 board meeting shortly before she announced her resignation. |
- Debbi Hayes, the former pharmacist at the Valley Healthcare District, on charges of elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. On Aug. 14, Hayes pled no contest to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit an act injurious to public health. She is a cooperating witness for the people.
- Dr. Hoshang Pormir, a staff physician at Kern Valley Healthcare District, who was serving as the medical director of the skilled nursing facility, on charges of elder abuse.
As the Administrator of the Kern Valley Health Care District, Ott hired and supervised Director of Nursing Gwen Hughes.
Upon taking over in September 2006, Hughes ordered that Alzheimer's and other dementia patients be given high doses of psychotropic medications to make them more tranquil and easy to control. She ordered the administration of these medications to patients who argued with her, were noisy, or who were otherwise disruptive. Two patients who resisted were held down and forcibly given injections. Ms. Ott was informed of these actions and allowed them to continue.
Hughes is also alleged to have directed Debbi Hayes, the hospital pharmacist, to fill prescriptions for psychotropic medications. Hayes wrote and filled these prescriptions without first obtaining a doctor's approval.
Dr. Pormir approved these psychotropic medications only some time after they had been administered and without examining the patients first and determining whether these psychotropic medications were medically necessary.
Several of these patients are alleged to have had medical complications as a result of being given these psychotropic medications, including lethargy and the inability to eat or drink properly. It is believed that three patients died and one patient suffered great bodily injury as a result.
The Investigation
Kern Valley Healthcare District operates a small community hospital and skilled nursing facility in Lake Isabella. The case came to the attention of authorities in January 2007, when an ombudsman reported to the Bakersfield office of the California Department of Public Health that a patient in the skilled nursing facility had been held down and given an injection of psychotropic medication by force.
The Department of Public Health immediately sent an investigative team with a doctor, a nurse, and a doctor of pharmacology. They determined that 22 patients, including some who were suffering from Alzheimer's at the skilled nursing facility, were being given high doses of psychotropic medication not for therapeutic reasons, but to simply control and quiet them for the convenience of the staff.
The Department of Public Health issued a Certificate of Immediate Jeopardy which resulted in the immediate dismissal of the Ms. Hughes. The matter was then turned over to the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.
Special Agents from the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse began a year-long investigation, with the coperation and assistance of the Department of Public Health and the administration of the Kern Valley Healthcare District.
A search warrant was served on the facility in August 2008, resulting in the seizure of numerous medical files and records.
If convicted, all defendants could face up to 11 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, with the co-operation and assistance of the Kern County District Attorney's Office.
To view the news releases issued February 2009 about this case, go to http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1682&.
To report elder abuse or Medi-Cal fraud, call the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse's hotline at (800) 722-0432.
Comments
43 comment(s)Deborah Calvert wrote on Jan 2, 2010 7:18 PM:
Read my story why I'm asking the District Attorney and Grand Jury to indict him for crimes against me at blog site: sunhealthcaregroupinc.blogspot.com/
Deborah Calvert
Newport Beach, California "
Lauren wrote on Oct 12, 2009 2:37 AM:
Peg I live in San Mateo California. And what Kim said about the Guardian/Conservator is the absolute truth. I have no idea where you got the idea the courts need the families permission. I wish that were true.
I wish my family and I weren't living the nightmare called conservatorship. And I have called ombudsmans, investigators, Inspector Generals, f.b.i, National center for elder abuse..etc. Everyone I could find that I believed would be concerned. Iwas wrong "
Jeff wrote on Oct 2, 2009 1:18 PM:
3ws (dot)marjoriehduckett(dot)com
[***Remember all of Mom's records had been looted by Louise & Ruth when mom was in the hospital and even Mom did not have a copy of this very important document that Louise and the girls had them sign back on July 16, 2008, just under 1 year prior to this:***(The looting of financial documents are documented "
Gail Korner wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:38 PM:
maria bowne wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:36 PM:
Gail Korner wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:34 PM:
The Truth wrote on Sep 20, 2009 10:05 PM:
Deb Calvert wrote on Sep 20, 2009 1:17 AM:
Richard Laga; Betty Harness; Stella Carter; Man in Room2-b; Evelyn Calvert-my mother.
Why did the Depts of Health & Justice turn a blind eye?
Corruption?
Deborah Calvert, Newport Beach, CA "
Peg wrote on Sep 17, 2009 10:45 AM:
Kim wrote on Sep 17, 2009 8:29 AM:
Look at the stopguardianabuse.org/victimsandtheirstories.htm site to find the name of the person there. "
Kim wrote on Sep 17, 2009 6:02 AM:
elderabusehelp.org
freenancy.com/Help.htm
nasga-stopguardianabuse.blogspot.com
stopguardianabuse.org/victimsandtheirstories.htm
Nursing homes in our cases are drugging with the court permission, because the G/C tells them the ward is being upset. THE WARD WOULD NOT BE IF THEY COULD SEE FAMILY OR GO HOME. "
Cece wrote on Sep 16, 2009 8:02 PM:
KRVer wrote on Sep 16, 2009 5:43 PM:
Peg wrote on Sep 16, 2009 5:37 PM:
Kim wrote on Sep 16, 2009 10:21 AM:
I am from North Texas, and I know of at least 7 families who are now advacating these abuses we are all having trouble putting an end to these people who are litteraly murdering our loved ones. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS THE US FIGHTING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. "
FlatLander wrote on Sep 15, 2009 10:18 PM:
to victim wrote on Sep 15, 2009 10:18 AM:
victim wrote on Sep 13, 2009 11:43 PM:
We tried to find it asked the radio staion but we would like to hear it. they said no they don't have it.
Ron Jamison from the hospitl board put her on the radio.
please let me know how to get this. thank you "
mrs notellin wrote on Sep 12, 2009 11:06 AM:
To those who should know wrote on Sep 11, 2009 11:04 AM:
Valley Resident wrote on Sep 11, 2009 9:04 AM:
Washington Resident wrote on Sep 10, 2009 7:53 PM:
Vicky Sawyer wrote on Sep 10, 2009 10:17 AM:
Ann wrote on Sep 10, 2009 7:53 AM:
Reedley Resident wrote on Sep 10, 2009 6:27 AM:
Mac wrote on Sep 9, 2009 11:55 PM:
I'm also wondering if some people are unaware that the webmaster can see a poster's IP address. That's a dead giveaway that someone is posting under different names. "
Ann wrote on Sep 9, 2009 7:55 PM:
Wise Council wrote on Sep 9, 2009 6:54 PM:
to Old Employee wrote on Sep 9, 2009 4:38 PM:
to Wise wrote on Sep 9, 2009 4:35 PM:
Mac wrote on Sep 9, 2009 4:20 PM:
Old employee wrote on Sep 9, 2009 2:20 PM:
Ann wrote on Sep 9, 2009 1:42 PM:
Kelly wrote on Sep 9, 2009 11:32 AM:
What does Heidi Sage have to do with any of this? "
channeling God wrote on Sep 9, 2009 11:30 AM:
Wise Council wrote on Sep 9, 2009 9:48 AM:
jjones wrote on Sep 9, 2009 8:33 AM:
Valley Resident wrote on Sep 9, 2009 7:48 AM:
Mac wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:37 PM:
Local Reedley Resident wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:38 PM:
thinker wrote on Sep 8, 2009 7:49 PM:
Wise Council wrote on Sep 8, 2009 5:46 PM:
Observer wrote on Sep 8, 2009 5:10 PM: