Katherine Blevins Lenoir, 53, of Maplesville, entered her plea Wednesday to one count of reckless abuse of a protected person, a class C felony.
Lenoir was a licensed practical nurse, or LPN, at Don Hatley Healthcare and Rehabilitation of Clanton, when she admitted to inadvertently administering a large dose of a narcotic pain medication to a female resident. The victim was supposed to be taking cough medicine.
Prosecutors said Lenoir's actions crossed into criminal territory when she set about manipulating treatment records to inaccurately show she'd given the correct medication instead of immediately notifying facility management of what had happened.
The victim suffered an overdose of the narcotic and nearly died, according to prosecutors. She was found by a nurse on a later shift and rushed to a hospital's intensive care unit. She was later released.
An investigation started after the AG's office says the nursing facility's management promptly reported the incident.
Lenoir, who no longer is employed at the facility, faces up to 10 years in prison. She'll learn her fate in a May 11 sentencing hearing.
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Nursing home abuse case ends with LPN's conviction
Human error will happen from time to time. But, we outright abuse or neglect, if facilities and staff were held accountable, it would drastically fall.
ReplyDeleteI am glad she is faced with prison.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Lynn.
ReplyDelete