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Nurse's license suspended after inmate death
30 Jun
Summary
- Nurse Penny Lynn Daniels had license suspended for three months.
- Inmate died from a perforated ulcer after alleged inadequate care.
- A civil lawsuit alleges Daniels failed to perform necessary assessments.
Iowa regulators have suspended the license of registered nurse Penny Lynn Daniels for three months. This action follows the death of an inmate at the Newton Correctional Facility in September 2024. The inmate, Malga Harun Yanga, died from a perforated ulcer.
The Board of Nursing alleges Daniels failed to provide adequate medical care, despite being informed of the inmate's worsening symptoms. She reportedly added fluids to his medication but did not assess him further, attributing his condition to a virus.
A civil lawsuit filed by Yanga's estate claims Daniels did not perform additional nursing assessments or request a physician's evaluation. The inmate had a week-long history of severe symptoms before his death.
Following the suspension, Daniels' license will be on probationary status for three years, subject to monitoring. Another nurse, David Allen Arterburn, also faces charges related to the incident, with a board hearing scheduled for July 17, 2026.
