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The Unbelievable, But True Story of the Nurses of Winkler County: Part 1
The Unbelievable Story of the Nurses of Winkler County
In the spirit and tradition of a favorite South Park episode where the boys are taken for a ride by a shady carnival huckster, I called shenanigans on the prosecution of Anne Mitchell and Vicki Galle on July 21, 2009, shortly after charges were brought against them. While I followed their saga to it’s favorable conclusion, I confess that I did not pay enough attention or do enough digging to discover and understand entirely the events which led to one of the most absurd and unjust abuses of power by state health and welfare and law enforcement officials imaginable. As a general rule I have no patience for things that are unfair. When things are unfair because someone who was given power and responsibility has chosen to make them unfair, it pisses me off and I lose sleep. The events thrust upon these two nurses gnawed at me until finally I did my digging, and reading, and discovering, until I understood what had happened with particularity. Once in the know, the utter disgust brought by the stench of the rotting abuse of power and rape of law and decency, which apparently is the foundation of certain Winkler County government offices, left me in no better disposition for sleep.
So I undertake this telling of The Unbelievable, But Story of the Nurses of Winkler County. Perhaps you think you know much of the story, or at least the basic facts which have left you with your own sense of injustice and anger on behalf of our Texas duo. I assure you, whatever you know, there is more…..and it is even more outrageous and unacceptable than you first beleived. I do not know either of the two nurses, or any one else who plays a role in this non-fictional tale. What is presented here is based on court records, news reports, credible commentary and statements made by those involved. I have no doubt whatsoever that if I had met all of those involved, I would be even more incensed at the abject arrogance permeating each and every one of the named defendants in the civil lawsuit the Winkler County Nurses have filed. We have all met such people before, seen them on TV or read about them in the newspaper once their self aggrandizing entitlement caught up with them while posing for a mug shot, or admitting, while their pursed lip wife stood next to them with a blank stare, that they had in fact pushed that prostitute into the trunk of their government vehicle when crossing the Mexican border. Their long faces not fooling us into believing they are sorry for anything but being caught by people whom they believed they were much better, more important and smarter than. But enough of the introduction of our common detriments to society.
Anne Mitchell and Vicki Galle began working at the Winkler County Memorial Hospital in 1986 and 1987 respectively. Without exception they both enjoyed respected and appreciated careers at the hospital, where the rose to integral administrative positions. Mitchell was promoted to Compliance Officer for the hospital and served as Co-Medical Staff Coordinator with Galle. She provided back-up to Galle for Utilization Management. Galle was in charge of Quality Improvement and Utilization Management and was Co-Medical Staff Coordinator. Anyone familiar with the inner workings of hospital administration will tell you that the positions these nurses held are of paramount importance to the safe and proper treatment of patients, and the assurance of hospital compliance with state and federal regulations.
Between them the two nurses were directly responsible for assuring patients were treated by qualified, competent physicians, that the care received from the entire institution was safe and met or exceeded the standard of care expected, that the entire organization complied with federal and state regulations and requirements, and that hospital resources were correctly and efficiently utilized in the delivery of health care to the community. By all accounts the nurses took their jobs seriously and were good at what they did. The hospital and it’s administrators were pleased with their work product. But when Mitchell and Galle insisted on doing their jobs ethically and in compliance with the law when hospital administration decided to forbid them from doing so, they were summarily fired without explanation and were arrested in retaliation by the local sheriff after a kangaroo court, rigged grand jury indictment on bogus felony charges.
In Part 2: The Quack, his buddy the Sheriff and the Crooked Arm of the Law.
In Part 3: Kangaroo Grand Jury, Indictment, You’re Fired.
In Part 4: Explanation of the Charges, Prosecution Team Shenanigans Exposed
Other Blog Coverage: ScienceBlogs, ScienceBaseMedicine
Related Posts
- Hear The Story of the Winkler County Nurses from Those Involved [AUDIO]
- The Unbelievable, But True Story of the Nurses of Winkler County: Part 4
- The Unbelievable, But True Story of the Nurses of Winkler County: Part 3
- The Unbelievable, But True Story of the Nurses of Winkler County: Part 2
- Winkler County Nurses Fight Back, File Lawsuit
[...] The Unbelievable, But True Story of the Nurses of Winkler County [...]
[...] Mitchell and Galle were in charge of Quality Improvement as well as Medical Staff Co-ordination as previously noted. As such they dealt with any complaints or concerns of a physician’s clinical practice. And [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lawmed. Lawmed said: http://lawmedconsultant.com/173/the-unbelievable-but-true-story-of-the-nurses-of-winkler-county-part-1 [...]
[...] Embattled Winkler County Memorial Hospital Administrator Stan Wiley made his own bed when he fired two nurses for blowing the whistle on the king of the quacks Dr. Rolando Arafiles to the Texas Medical Board. [...]
[...] County Attorney Scott Tidwell faces six charges in connection with the Winkler County nurses’ whistleblower scandal, two counts each of felony misuse of official information and retaliation and misdemeanor official [...]
[...] Winkler county whistle blower nurses were fired and charged with felony for alleged misuse of official information for reporting a doctor's questionable practices to appropritate authorities. This was a full blown conspiracy that also included the sheriff, the attorney and some other hospital and county officials. The Nurses were later cleared of all charges and awarded a $750, 000 settlement. [...]