Anesthesia - Law Med Blog

Nurse Pleads Guilty To Propofol Murder Of Stepfather

February 12, 2012 lawmed No comments

In Dekalb County, Al, prosecutors say 32-year-old Karri Denise Willoughby siphoned money away from her stepfather, Billy Shaw’s, account and stole her mother’s identity for financial gain. When her theft was discovered her access to the accounts was cut off and in response she murdered Shaw they say. On Wednesday, the day after a jury was seated and the morning her trial was to begin on capital murder charges, Willoughby agreed with them and pleaded guilty to a lesser count of murder. She has been sentenced to 20 years.

It was first thought that in 2008 Shaw died of a heart attack. A year later his body was exumed when toxicology results revealed a high concentration of propofol in his blood stream at the time of death. Also found were the drugs vecuronium and succinylcholine, powerful paralytic drugs used in surgery. Willoughby worked as a registered nurse at a Chattanooga, … (Continued…)

California Anesthesia Opt-Out Appeal Arguments Set For 2/14

January 26, 2012 lawmed No comments

In the case challenging the California Medicare nurse anesthetist physician supervision requirement opt-out signed by then governor Schwarzenegger, California Society of Anesthesiologists et al. v. Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor, all of the briefs and responses have been filed and oral arguments (after some rescheduling) have been finally set for February 14, 2012.

One party will not be feeling the love when the decision comes down from this Valentine’s Day event. Read the docket HERE.… (Continued…)

Where Has All the Propofol Gone?

January 16, 2012 lawmed No comments

By Kurt Stone OpEdNews.com

Propofol — one of the drugs that led to Michael Jackson’s untimely death — is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Known in some circles as “Milk of Amnesia,” its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically-ventilated patients, and procedural sedation. Propofol — and its generic equivalents — has been widely and successfully administered in hospital operating rooms around the world for nearly 30 years. And, as of June 4, 2010, Teva Pharmaceuticals, the Israeli-based firm that was the major supplier of Propofol, no longer manufactures it. Today, it is almost impossible to find.

Where has all the Propofol gone?

And while we’re at it, where has all the Doxil, Adderall, Mitomycin, Morphine Sulphate, Avalide, Ondansetron, Succinylcholine, Dextrose, B-12 and more than 200 others medicines gone? Shockingly, between 2006 and 2010, drug shortages increased by more than 200% according to a … (Continued…)

Felon Dr. Norberg Defense Of Propofol Use On Wife FAILS [Video]

January 08, 2012 lawmed No comments

In what can only be described as a pathetic attempt to justify what was at best gross medical negligence and unethical behavior, and at worst chemical incapacitation for the purpose of committing serial rape, Dr. Jon Norberg, 41, of Fargo N.D. went on camera Friday, days after pleading guilty to lesser charges of felony reckless endangerment and misdemeanor sexual imposition.

If the public learned anything about propofol from the Michael Jackson case , it is the fact that it should NEVER be administered in someone’s home under ANY circumstances, and that it is a very dangerous drug in untrained hands. The good Dr. Norberg would have us believe that he is somehow qualified and even experienced in the administration of propofol and that a reasonable physician might inject his wife with it over and over to treat an illness. There is not an ounce of truth in this. Not an … (Continued…)

Iowa Nurse Anesthesia Safer than Ever 10 Years After Physician Supervision Requirement Removed

December 27, 2011 lawmed No comments

From the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Iowa Nurse Anesthesia Safer than Ever 10 Years After Physician Supervision Requirement Removed

Recent studies confirm safety, cost-effectiveness of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

Park Ridge, Ill.—Ten years ago, in a historic, precedent-setting move, Iowa became the first state to opt out of the federal physician supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists. Recent studies have confirmed the safety and cost-effectiveness of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) without physician supervision.

In December 2001, less than one month after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its anesthesia care rule granting state governors the ability to opt out of the physician supervision requirement, then-Iowa Governor Thomas Vilsack sent a letter to CMS informing the agency that “it is in the best interest of the state of Iowa to opt out of the current physician supervision requirement….” Since then, not a single report of a … (Continued…)

Hospital Propofol Policy Results In $3M Judgement In Patient Death

December 21, 2011 lawmed No comments

Here at the Law Med Blog we have mentioned more than once the minefield institutions create through their ill considered creation of various unnecessary policies and procedures. The incredible irony here is that these P&P are almost always created with the idea they will LIMIT liability and increase quality of care. Often times they serve to create local Standards of Care which deviate from nationally accepted standards. The hospital however can be held liable for violating their own policies, regardless of whether they followed national standards. Once implemented, patients are entitled to be treated under the hospitals published policies.

And this brings us to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California. A Butte County Superior Court jury Monday ruled the hospital must pay the family of 50 year old Todd Stewart $3 million. Stewart, who died after a failed attempt to replace a faulty lead in an implanted cardiac defibrillator, underwent … (Continued…)

Ex Nurse Anesthetist Sentenced To Life +25 Years [VIDEO]

November 19, 2011 lawmed No comments

A former certified registered nurse anesthetist, convicted in April of 34 charges including sexual assault of a person in custody, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation and unlawful surveillance in a Georgia courtroom, was sentenced by a judge Friday to a term of life plus 25 years.

Paul Patrick Serdula, 49, was tried for the assaults on 19 of his patients, many of whom were unconscious from the anesthetic he administered during their surgical procedures in medical and dental offices across metro Atlanta. He was initially charged in November 2009 with hiding a camera in the women’s bathroom of a Cobb County dental office where he worked. The next week, Serdula was arrested on charges that he videotaped himself assaulting a 15-year-old girl under anesthesia at a dental office in Mid-Town Atlanta.

Serdula’s guilty verdict was handed down in April after a bench trial before a judge during which Serdula’s attorneys … (Continued…)

Company Increases Availabillity Of Propofol

October 18, 2011 lawmed No comments

APP Pharmaceuticals increases Propofol production.

From Pharmaceutical Business Review

APP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Fresenius Kabi Pharmaceuticals, has increased the availability of its drugs including APP Diprivan (propofol 1%) and APP Propofol 1% (generic Diprivan).

The company is said to have increased the production to supply the US market and meet the clinical needs of health care professionals. Propofol, marketed under the brand name, Diprivan, is a fast-onset sedative-hypnotic agent used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia or sedation.

APP Pharmaceuticals president and CEO John Ducker said in order to maintain a consistent supply of this drug, the company has responded promptly in the face of drug shortages to meet market demand.… (Continued…)

Juries Slap Propofol Companies With Over $280M Damages In Hep C Cases

October 15, 2011 lawmed 1 Comment

Two separate juries have levied a combined total of over $250 Million in punitive damages for 5 plaintiffs in two separate trials. The plaintiffs were suing after they contracted Hepatitis C from what their lawyers argued was contaminated propofol. The defendants were Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Baxter International Inc., manufacturers and distributors of the drug.

Plaintiffs argued that the pharmaceutical companies were negligent when they packaged the propofol in large vials thereby encouraging multiple use of what is supposed to be a single use vial. Propofol is particularly prone to contamination and its formula promotes growth of viruses and bacteria.

Michael Washington and his wife, Josephine, alleged that Mr. Washington was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2007 after he received Propofol from a reused vial at a Las Vegas Endoscopy clinic run by Dr. Dipak Desai. They were awarded $90 Million in punitive damages Friday. The same jury awarded … (Continued…)

Toxicology In The Michael Jackson Manslaughter Trial

October 08, 2011 lawmed 9 Comments

Witness testimony concerning the autopsy and toxicology results has begun in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. This is likely the make or break area of testimony for the defense, who has claimed that Jackson caused his own death by self administering both oral lorazepam and oral and/or IV propofol. It is highly technical testimony, with large amounts of medical and scientific jargon and principles which cannot help but confuse the jury at times.

Law Med will go through the evidence and testimony in order to simplify and clarify what is becoming. in our view, intentionally muddled by the defense. We don’t blame them, since it may be their only hope of getting Murray off. The facts are certainly of little use towards that end. Even though we are ‘simplifying’ the information, it is still intensive to digest. Read some, take … (Continued…)

Propofol Explained: Factual Expert Answers On Jackson Case

October 03, 2011 lawmed 6 Comments

Law Med has suffered through a number of “experts” appearing on international broadcast media and in print who claim to know all about propofol, its administration, its abuse and addiction potential, while at the same time spouting misstated facts or downright nonsense regarding the drug.

First, to bring some perspective as to why Law Med’s opinions are worth a hill of beans, we must humbly state that Law Med is arguably a national expert on the abuse of propofol, and resultant fatal outcomes, as well as propofol addiction, including incidence, physiologic mechanisms and treatment. Law Med has 2 decades of experience administering anesthesia including propofol, peer assistance advisory experience with a national organization of anesthesia professionals, and has published two peer reviewed medical journal articles on the subject, and has been a national contact person for dozens of calls about individuals in crisis from propofol abuse, overdose and addiction. Law … (Continued…)

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