Home / Crime and Justice / ER Nurses Allege Drug Theft, Patient Harm at Heritage Valley
ER Nurses Allege Drug Theft, Patient Harm at Heritage Valley
1 Jul
Summary
- Former nurses allege drug theft by a coworker.
- Allegations include treating patients while impaired.
- Two patient deaths linked to alleged inadequate care.
A federal whistleblower lawsuit unsealed recently details serious allegations of misconduct within the Heritage Valley Sewickley emergency department. Two former nurses, Samantha Gallo and Jennifer Duckett, claim a colleague, Nolan Chismire, stole narcotics intended for patients. They further allege he treated patients while impaired by these stolen drugs.
The lawsuit asserts that this alleged impaired care contributed to the deaths of two patients. One woman reportedly died after experiencing delayed care and a medication error. Another patient, suffering from alcohol withdrawal, allegedly received inadequate care, leading to a fall and a fatal brain bleed.
Attorneys for the whistleblowers are seeking individuals with knowledge of misconduct or those who may have been injured. Heritage Valley has formally denied all allegations in court filings. The lawsuit remains pending in federal court.
