Anne Marcotte and Billie Jo O’Donnell were arrested for causing severe trauma to a quadriplegic patient
ALBANY, NY (January 15, 2010) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the arrest of two Essex county nurses for causing severe trauma to a quadriplegic patient during a routine procedure and then failing to perform or seek any medical treatment for hours.
Anne Marcotte, 49, of Willsboro and Billie Jo O’Donnell, 38, of Witherbee, are both employees of the Horace Nye Nursing home in Elizabethtown. Marcotte is a licensed practical nurse and O’Donnell is a registered nurse.
According to court papers, in November 2008 Marcotte caused severe trauma to a quadriplegic patient during a routine catheter change. Despite substantial bleeding, she failed to ensure that adequate and appropriate medical care was provided, or to seek emergency medical care for at least 6 hours. O'Donnell never came to assist the patient despite being aware that an injury had occurred. The bleeding persisted for two weeks and ultimately required two trips to the emergency room. The resident expelled numerous blood clots and lost a substantial amount of blood causing physicians to order two blood transfusions and antibiotics.
“A care-dependent quadriplegic patient suffered immensely because the nursing staff allegedly botched a routine procedure and then failed to provide or seek adequate medical care for hours,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “Protecting vulnerable New Yorkers and combating patient abuse will continue to be a major priority for this office.”
Marcotte and O’Donnell are each charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and willful violation of health laws, all misdemeanors. They were arraigned in the Town of Elizabethtown Court, before the Honorable William Garrison and released on their own recognizance pending a future court appearance. They face a maximum penalty of one year in jail if convicted.
Special Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Boland is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Senior Special Investigator Dianne Tuffey and Medical Analyst Stephanie Keyser, under the supervision of Richard Harrow, the director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Albany Office.
The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anne Marcotte, 49, of Willsboro and Billie Jo O’Donnell, 38, of Witherbee, are both employees of the Horace Nye Nursing home in Elizabethtown. Marcotte is a licensed practical nurse and O’Donnell is a registered nurse.
According to court papers, in November 2008 Marcotte caused severe trauma to a quadriplegic patient during a routine catheter change. Despite substantial bleeding, she failed to ensure that adequate and appropriate medical care was provided, or to seek emergency medical care for at least 6 hours. O'Donnell never came to assist the patient despite being aware that an injury had occurred. The bleeding persisted for two weeks and ultimately required two trips to the emergency room. The resident expelled numerous blood clots and lost a substantial amount of blood causing physicians to order two blood transfusions and antibiotics.
“A care-dependent quadriplegic patient suffered immensely because the nursing staff allegedly botched a routine procedure and then failed to provide or seek adequate medical care for hours,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “Protecting vulnerable New Yorkers and combating patient abuse will continue to be a major priority for this office.”
Marcotte and O’Donnell are each charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and willful violation of health laws, all misdemeanors. They were arraigned in the Town of Elizabethtown Court, before the Honorable William Garrison and released on their own recognizance pending a future court appearance. They face a maximum penalty of one year in jail if convicted.
Special Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Boland is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Senior Special Investigator Dianne Tuffey and Medical Analyst Stephanie Keyser, under the supervision of Richard Harrow, the director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Albany Office.
The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The quadriplegic involved in this story phone Ms. Marcotte when this appeared in the press. He was in tears...he said he would testify at Ms. Marcotte's trial that she did nothing wrong!
ReplyDeleteThis is another instance of a Cuomo trying to make headlines for purely political purposes. The fact that Andrew Cuomo is running for Governor has EVERYTHING to do with this case being brought to the public's attention.
When the nurses are found NOT GUILTY, I hope the lawsuit against Mr. Cuomo is in the tens of millions of dollars!
Isn't this a case of nurses fired weeks before the arrest telling prosecutors others were doing worse things?
ReplyDelete