WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) – A category motion lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the property of Gwen Crawford and different victims relating to alleged crimes dedicated by former nurse Jonathan Hayes at Atrium Well being Wake Forest Baptist.
The lawsuit was filed earlier than Lanier Regulation Group, Pennsylvania
background
Jonathan Hayes is charged with the homicide of two girls and the tried homicide of one other Between December 2021 and January 2022 whereas working at Atrium Well being Wake Forest Baptist.
The warrants state that in March 2022, investigators met with staff from Atrium Well being Wake Forest Baptist, the place they instructed investigators what they believed had been suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of two sufferers.
Gwen Crawford dies
Gwen Crawford died in intensive care on January 8, 2022, after an episode of hypoglycemia on January 5, 2022. The notes state that her blood was drawn and docs verified that she had been given greater than 100 items of insulin.
“The medical professionals current at this assembly had been unable to offer any clarification as to why anybody would administer such a excessive dose of insulin to a affected person,” the warrants mentioned.
On the morning of Crawford’s episode, Hayes ready 12 items of insulin for Crawford, which is “typically accepted” as the best dose of insulin given to a median affected person by nursing employees, regardless of notes from the earlier shift indicating that his blood sugar It has been low. Crawford is regular and has not required exterior insulin since December 31, 2021.
“The medical professionals current at this assembly had been unable to offer any clarification as to why anybody would administer such a excessive dose of insulin to a affected person,” the warrants mentioned.
He was seen on digital camera taking a full vial of insulin, 300 doses, from the medicine room. When requested concerning the quantity of insulin, he claimed he had “wasted” the vial, disposing of it within the sharps container. Probation didn’t verify Hayes’ declare.
He made a written assertion on the time admitting that he “might have by chance given insulin to Crawford that was meant for one more affected person.”
Vicki Lingerfelt dies
Vicki Lingerfelt was a affected person in January 2022. She had a hypoglycemic episode on January 22, 2022, and died on January 28, 2022. When her blood was drawn, the physician verified that her loss of life was brought on by the applying of greater than 100 items. Of insulin. Lingerfelt was not diabetic and had no orders to obtain insulin for any purpose.
Though Hayes was not Lingerfelt’s main nurse that day, he had helped transfer her to a brand new mattress earlier within the day. Lingerfelt’s hypoglycemic episode occurred whereas her main nurse was consuming lunch.
Hayes was once more seen within the video taking a full vial of insulin out of the medicine room, documenting that he wanted 12 items for one more affected person, and hours after the occasion that occurred to her, he allegedly accessed her medical chart, which he would haven’t any purpose to do.
Assault on Pamela Little
On April 12, 2022, investigators had been notified of a 3rd affected person affected by a hypoglycemic episode, Pamela Little.
Her episode was on December 1, 2021. She was below Hayes’ care on the time it occurred, and collateral signifies he withdrew insulin for Little however indicated within the chart no insulin was supplied. Nonetheless, she suffered a hypoglycemic episode inside hours.
She was transferred out of the hospital.
Investigators spoke with Little on Might 3, 2022, concerning the episode. She confirmed that she has Sort 1 diabetes, and he or she solely realized as soon as that she had obtained insulin within the hospital, from a nurse, however she normally doesn’t take insulin. She instructed investigators she was “afraid of a nurse as a result of he was sneaky.” She mentioned she noticed him twice earlier than her assault and mentioned she noticed him put a white tablet into her intravenous line, however eliminated it when one other nurse entered the room.
Little could not keep in mind the title however gave an outline that almost matched Hayes.
Little died two days after talking with investigators, on Might 5, 2022.
Hospital investigation
“Additional investigation by hospital employees led to the next info relating to Jonathan Hayes and his use of insulin throughout the Atrium Well being Wake Forest amenities,” in keeping with arrest warrants.
Hayes was discovered to be the most effective insulin dispenser within the facility at seven occasions the power common, and the best consumer of insulin by any worker over a three-month interval and there have been discrepancies in Hayes’ report retaining.
“It was made clear to investigators that insulin was a ‘excessive alert’ drug, prompting further steps to be taken to watch its use,” the warrants mentioned. “It is usually clarified that in case the drugs is ‘on excessive alert’, the specialist physician is required to withdraw the drugs and confirm the kind of medication and dosage quantity by one other nursing specialist. This is called double checking course of carried out by the hospital administration.”
Investigators had been instructed that Hitz had correctly documented “excessive alert” medicines however had incorrectly documented them in a single case.
“This demonstrates that Jonathan Hayes is conscious of how you can correctly doc the usage of these medicines ‘on excessive alert,’ in addition to his want to not correctly doc their use.”
He allegedly mentioned Crawford was “very sick” and “wanted to go.”
Hayes’ employment data present that his resume acknowledged that he had labored for the previous 20 years at Baptist Hospital, novant well being, Excessive Level Regional Hospital, Moses Conn Wesley Lengthy Hospital, Iredell Memorial/Davis Regional Hospital And UNC Wayne Memorial Hospital Amongst different issues.
Hayes interview
Investigators interviewed Hayes, who mentioned he didn’t keep in mind giving Crawford insulin, as a result of she didn’t want any. He allegedly mentioned Crawford was “very sick” and “wanted to go,” however later mentioned he meant she wanted to be transferred to the intensive care unit.
He mentioned he ready insulin for Crawford earlier than checking data that indicated she didn’t want it and that she would “waste” the insulin in consequence.
Hayes claimed that almost all nurses withdraw medicines for sufferers with out checking whether or not they’re wanted and claimed that he didn’t know he was supposed to make use of “double checking,” which conflicts together with his appropriate use of documentation up to now.
He instructed investigators that he had “by no means given a affected person the mistaken medicine in his complete 20-year profession.” Jonathan Hayes additionally acknowledged that he didn’t recall taking out full vials of insulin on every of those dates, however acknowledged that he had been proven a video of him doing so by Threat Administration.
When instructed that 100 dose items had been administered to Crawford, he replied that this was an “unbelievable quantity” that needed to have been intentionally administered. He denied that he injected Crawford and Lingerfelt with insulin.
Hayes additionally mentioned that “it could be very uncommon for a nurse to have entry to the medical data of a affected person who is just not below her care,” denying that he had accessed Lingerfelt’s data on the day she had the emergency, after which claiming that he “might have checked to see if “She wanted a briefcase” when he was confronted with proof proving that he truly had entry to the data.
“If it is acceptable for these individuals and their households to have somebody to touch upon, then he can reside with that,” arrest warrants allege Hayes mentioned.
He then claimed that Lingerfelt’s sister induced her accident and so they had been allegedly arguing that day. Lingerfelt’s sister works as a nurse practitioner close to Lake Norman.
“Hayes acknowledged that he wouldn’t have killed somebody and he wouldn’t have tried to kill somebody,” however when requested about these two sufferers, he allegedly mentioned, “I believe if I gave it to her, that may make sense.”
Then when pressed to inform the reality, he allegedly mentioned that if he “acquired it proper, he did it” and that he “guessed he did it.”
“If it is acceptable for these individuals and their households to have somebody to touch upon, then he can reside with that,” arrest warrants allege Hayes mentioned.
Electronics had been seized
Whereas reviewing digital units seized from Hayes’ residence, he texted his spouse on March 2, 2021, that he had despatched his personal feces to be analyzed below the affected person’s title “to see if he had worms.” he didn’t do.
He additionally despatched a photograph of a useless man to his spouse, saying he wished to say goodbye to his “previous good friend who died that morning” on April 4, 2021.
On December 1, 2021, he despatched a photograph of a affected person’s penis, saying it was a “soiled mess” and commenting on the sick odor.
Footage of the wristbands of 25 hospital sufferers had been additionally discovered on his cellphone.
A reemployment eligibility utility for Novant Well being, dated February 23, 2022, was discovered on his laptop, and there was a Novant Well being employment discover requirement dated March 9, 2022. He labored there from 2018 to 2020 and mentioned he left due to a “misunderstanding.” Relating to instructing hours and time clock points, he claimed that he “had bother checking medicines on time.”
Arrest warrants had been issued on October 25, 2022, after the victims had been exhumed and medical experts famous that the way of loss of life for each girls was murder. Hayes was charged with two counts of homicide and one rely of tried homicide.
The go well with
The category motion lawsuit claims there have been “purple flags” that ought to have alerted hospital administration that Hayes was giving extra insulin to sufferers than some other worker on the hospital.
It additional alleges that Hayes was not following the hospital’s insurance policies relating to medicines “on excessive alert” and that he was fired from his earlier job for not dealing with medicines correctly.
The lawsuit accuses the hospital and Atrium Well being of failing to correctly supervise Hayes and failing to conduct “audits to make sure affected person security” and alleges that sufferers had been killed in consequence.
You may learn the total lawsuit right here.
