They Call it a day to remember, this anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy on the AMerican People and all who live in this world where there is communication.
I remember, that day.
I also remember the odd feeling that there was something disturbing beyond that of the events being portrayed on my television set. I saw a plane fly into a building which SEEMED to be Exploding from the bottom to the top.
In fact, I felt I was being manipulated into believing that this was an act of terrorism by a group of dissidents, not associated with the AMerican government.
But it may have been far more nefarious than that.
This is the anniversary of a day that many people have used to springboard to the TRUTH. They have asked questions, made comments, examined video, searched documents, all in search of this allusive TRUTH.
And now we have documentaries, agents who have turned on their masters, and those who will NO longer accept the nonsense, the propoganda, and who will only be satisfied by the real fact, the truth it's called for those who have lost touch.
THe only way to SEE the reality of our peculiar situations is to accept there is a TRUTH which is the record of WHAT REALLY happened.
I"m not going to provide you details of the 9/11 events, another theory or any thing else, I am saying this was the impetus for the seekers of truth to begin sniffing the trail of deceit which goes all over the "known"
world.
We had a President, a BUSH, a family not unfamiliar with the Middle east. NOt unfamiliar with the white house and a VICE PRESIDENT who took a business, called, Haliburton to new levels. Haliburton became the big STAR in the sky in the Middle East as they were allowed to take all the WAR contracts.
So, WAr Contractor, Haliburton, was the Cream rising to the TOP?
Well, the SCUM rises to the top too. And the scum suffocates all life that is under the water. ANd so it was, the war on terrorism, the NEWEST plan to quash all choices, such as the Patriot ACt. BUsh and Obama both put their Signatures, their SEAL to that unfortunate document.
Acting like a Patriot is a yankee doodle dandy, and it is an AMerican Dream, and a BIG DAM lie. LOL
The World is a UNEVEN Game...
It is a world where the playing field has been bent this way and that. In one day, 9/11, we were shown a mistake we had made: TRUSTING the government. Or trusting that there are people left who are UNWILLING to lie, cheat and steal to get ahead.
But the forces that be, are never satisfied with only these minor sins. The bottom line of th e BOTTOM FEEDERS, is the FULL and Utter CONTROL of everything.
I know it sounds as if I believe there is nothing good in this world. Why , in fact, I wonder I really do, if there is much left to worry about. AS most souls are sold off to the idea that this is a GOOD world and if we simply CONFORM or submit, we will too, be rewarded.
Sad, but religion and OPRAH and her minions, are selling this proposition.
Here's my idea: First we are VICTIMs of a horrible, base, ugly system of Illusion. It's goal is to trap, enslave, demoralize, anything and everything.
It has been successful, as there are still folks who fasley believe there is some freedom. THey also believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa CLAWS, lol. (Santa is real, and is currently taking names of who is naughty and nice.) They are okay with lying in most cases. They are Deceipt's favorite types, who will just do it, cheat, lie, and at least keep quiet.
The people I happen to have the most dislike are the ones who will throw their OWN in front of the bus. They are willing to scapegoat. Not just lying, but blaming and creating victims.
Money is the honey
KVHD, Kern Valley Healthcare DIStrict, just gave a 4 percent raise to their CEO, Tim MCglew, and I watched a whole valley of people who are barely able to put food on the table or pay for insurance, sit with glazed donoughts for eyes, and allow this hypocrisy to continue.
This is a tragedy, but it's a tragedy for those who "SEE NO EVIL" or speak about how there is no evil, just CRITICS, like me.
We have seen no raises to the average workers and KVHD has talked Austerity, but they have also lucratively lavished a few of their own, such as McGlew.
More victims are Created who will not protest, who do NOT support the truth, rather they are looking to RISE to the Top of the pond at any cost. We see underlings at KVHD who take the deals, whether it's a position of making more money, or having more control, they are dealing both under and above the table.
(Naughty, naughty)
Systematically deceived...
WE are taught to be powerless. WE are taught there are RACES who are Better. We aRE Taught Women are less than men. WE are taught to be a Disgusting type of creature. LOL Sorry, but since this is an anniversary of something so reprehensible as to draw the ire of even those who cannot fathom this nasty matter could possibly occur, that I take a moment to Harp on the tRUTH.
TRuth is this is a cruel world. We do and particpate in the propogation of this unfortunate Deceptive, oppressive, manipulative game called life.
I think some would argue with me on this point, and let them. There is no reason to simply accept what I say, either it resonates with you or it doesn't. If it doesn't, I say move on, you have a LONG LIFE to lead and plenty of time to gather your thoughts. In fact, if this is what people want for a life, I say GIVE IT TO THEM. LOL
I, however, am not willing to give up the idea of something BETTER and GREATER than this horrific romp where there are iMMORal types who would like to be PRESIDENT, or who would be a GOVERNOR, or any other way to dominate as opposed to being an equalizer.
EQUALITY and Qality, high ideals which apparently take incidents such as 9/11, to SHAKE up our False sense of security, and begin to rumble is the thunder, and hopefully, the light bulb will turn on for many.
This is not our deSTINY. This is simply a stopping point, where some of us must and will have to RETHINK our position in life.
So, think of the possibilities.
BLAMIng types such as BUSH or CHENEY, certainly gives credence to the idea that there is a puppet master out there, who is pulling all the strings. But then they are STILL RESPONSIBLE. They are still going to have to face their roles in these crimes against the world.
They call them conspiracy theories, they make fun and laugh at those who would spot the mistakes in their 9/11 story books. But Government types, those who had hands on and off the tragedy which killed firefighters, those who would risk to rescue, however, the Story From Washington DC, did not add up.
And we are in the know. We know that there is more to this than a simple RELIGIOus FAnaTIC at work. And we know we are in for more. Obama has talked about Marshal law, and California Governor Jerry Brown, spoke of anarchy.
They also seem to be ACTING and Directing the action to lean that way. TAke away more from people, as we are BECOMING ALERT and awake. WE are SEEING, and that is causing a reaction from those who do not wish to be seen in their true colors, form.
self fulfilling prophecy
Jerry Brown, California Governor, has added something new to his naughty resume, IMPOSING TAXES and calling them FEES. He has grabbed onto some power as he has been unopposed.
Where is the LA (out of touch with...) THe TIMES? Where is the investigative reporter?
LOIS LANe, lol, where's our Lois Lane?
Brown will continue to manipulate the law, and he will CUT the poor at the throat as they have too much time to think. And oversight, government agencies, are only for SHOW as this boat has set sail in California.
Hollywood and Jerry Brown, they are so close that he attends all the funerals. lol (yes, extreme, but also an interesting connection)
So, WHILE you WERE SLEEPING...
Okay. We are currently on FACE BOOK or chatting, fixing the car, sipping a cancer causing Coca Cola and we DO NOT realize how quickly these people in power are running roughshod over the denizens of this life.
This World has yet to unleash it's ugliness, it's true ugliness, and those who wish it to change, must get out there and begin to speak up. To Show Which side of the banner they are on. TRUTH o'r DECEPTION.
This blog is CARRYING THE BANNER OF TRUTH. We accept the challenge and all that goes with it, so that there will be CHANGE.
On this anniversary, I send a MESSAGE of hope to all. There is only one side to be on where you will transcend this scum covered pond.
You ARE MORE, not less. I teach power not power less ness.
Thanks to those who have suffered in the light of the truth, who have given for the cause of compassion and truth, it is appreciated. It is my own energy which is expanded each time I find another who lives only for something better, unwilling to bend to the forces of negativity. THank you!
Persistance and Tenacity, requires a new chapter, a new beginning....
Showing posts with label George W. Bush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George W. Bush. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Dr. Pormir to be sentenced July 11th...and more
According to the Kern County Superior Court website, Dr. Hoshang Pormir, charged with eight counts of elder abuse plead no contest to one count of "conspiracy" last Friday, June 1st.
The eight counts of elder abuse were dismissed as Pormir has accepted the charge referred to in penal code, section 182 (a) (5): "To commit any act injurious to the public health, to public morals, or to pervert or obstruct justice, or the due administration of the laws."
Pormir is scheduled to return to court to be sentenced in the case on July 11th.
Conspiracy would mean there are partners in this crime, and as of yet, the California Department of Justice has been keeping a low profile-- which is odd as they used this very case to elevate one of their own several years ago.
Now in the "hands" of Attorney General Kamala Harris, the case has not seen much media attention or actually there are no press releases listed on her website either.
Since the new "tight-lipped" AG has not given out much information regarding the case, I guess it's time to speculate a bit here.
Kamala Harris California Attorney "in General"
There are three defendants in the elder abuse case, Pormir, former Kern Valley Healthcare District CEO, Pamela Ott and once director of nursing for the KVHD skilled nursing facility, Gwen Hughes.
As of now, Pormir is not scheduled for trial, and all information leads to the plea deal. The other two defendants remain on track for a trial later this month on June 25th. (we'll see)
But the legal code above really strikes me as something that could have been used to round up all the players at KVHD who allowed the residents of the skilled nursing center to suffer and possibly die due to alleged mistreatment, along with keeping it all quiet.
Also not addressed was the issue that employees attempted to bring the mismanagement problems to the surface. There were attempts to address the problem with under staffing the nursing center. But employees who chose to speak up were demeaned or fired or they quit due to pressure to conform.
I maintain that several of the board of directors and administrators were part of a cover up which lead to unsafe conditions for residents of the SNF. I have many different kinds of evidence to prove this: documents-witnesses-audio-video--but I guess that's just not good enough for the AG is who is the leader of bringing justice to all-- and, me, I'm just one of the pack. (sarcasm)
http://www2.mbc.ca.gov/LicenseLookupSystem/PhysicianSurgeon/document.aspx?path=\DIDOCS\20110815\DMRAAADE2\&did=AAADE110815170725193.DID&licenseType=A&licenseNumber=49827
State Medical "Bored"
Something interesting happened last year as the leaders of keeping California residents safe from harm as they get medical care, the State Medical Board, also had a chance to weigh in on the problems Dr. Pormir had in the skilled nursing facility.
Once again, Pormir signed off and will take the penalty set forth by our Medical Board: Two years probation- a "how not to kill your patients" 40 hour catch me up class and finally he can never have a "solo" medical practice again. (read document above for specific information)
How this penalty fits in with the conspiracy charge remains to be seen, but the doctor has had some help along the way since he was charged with elder abuse on Feb. 17, 2009.
Pormir's team...
His first round of help along with Pamela Ott, came from three KVHD board members, and they voted to allow both defendants $25,000 each to help defend themselves. Hughes and a former defendant were refused assistance with their criminal matters via the board of directors.
Pormir must have gotten excited as after a year, he was in the company of some big time attorneys.
Donald Etra, a visitor to the George W. Bush Whitehouse sleep over, and former pal of Ralph Nader, took over the case in 2010.
Etra's sidekick was none other than Monica Lewinsky's (Former President Bill Clinton's paramour) William H. Ginsburg.
The two famous attorneys were in our town for a sweep of information at one point, talking to Pormir's old chums, but they avoided me. Why? Too much truth? They did however leave with documents and other goodies which they cajoled from people who were impressed by their position.
So, Pormir was defended by Ginsburg in his dealings with the state Medical Board.
I suppose for the good doctor that was money well spent, as the Medical Board document allows Pormir to continue his medical career with some slight reservations such as not being able to have his own practice and a "refresher" class. There is also a section of that deal that indicates his admission of something or another cannot be used in a civil case. I don't know how true it is and will ask once I get some answers.
But unlike Ginsburg, Etra left, and Pormir was given a public defender. The current attorney on his case is Fred Gagliardini, "I defendem" and he has brought home a plea deal we are anxiously awaiting hearing about.
Or did he? (Gagliardini has been sent a request for information on the deal)
Did Etra make a deal for Pormir prior to his departure?
The last time I was in court, Etra, Ott's former attorney Jim Faulkner, Hughes' former attorney Bruce Blythe, all piled into a car together after court. Etra was even fetching the former CEO who was not his client, for court. (See youtube video as I was sitting in my car with my camera in front of the legal Beagles white Mercedes Benz, license plate number...)
It was a legal gang bang and after it was over, all the defendants were given public defenders.
Oh, I was given something too: a legal way to keep me out of the courtroom.
I would like to mention the cute little move on the part of all parties including the DOJ lead attorney, Steve Muni.
Due to my issue with telling the truth I always got permission before I went into a courtroom with my camera.
On this day, I did not film as the morning session was moved to the afternoon. I got some lunch and headed back to court. As I sat on the bench outside the courtroom, two guards (not one) grabbed my camera and told me I had to get out or take the camera out.
I was told I had taken video illegally. Of course I knew I had not taken any video, so I made a bit of a fuss, even writing to the judge himself.
When I got into the courtroom I could feel the collusion all around me. The attorneys, including Captain Etra, all had self satisfied grins on their faces. Then the judge called my name. "Moi?"
I stood up and listened intently, though I could barely hear, as the judge explained to me that I had taken illegal video earlier that day. There was no opening for me to "defend" myself. I sat back down.
Moments later, the same happy grin was on the DOJ as I was asked to stand up again.
The judge and the DOJ made the statement that I would be a witness in the penalty phase of the case and therefore...I could NOT be in the courtroom. Aren't they clever?
No, not really clever...
There isn't much being said in the community or anywhere else for that matter about the wonderful job the DOJ has done in bringing justice and positive change to our community that was hit by these horrible events more than five years ago.
I'm sure if this was a big media event we would be hearing from the DOJ or Miss Harris, but this may just be something they would rather "get over with" and move on to something that will play better in the morning newspaper.
The facts are all up on this blog, no need to go far to find some truth.
We had board members, Bob Jamison, Bradley Armstrong, and Barbara Casas in overt Brown Act violations which are included in emails, and other documents, (later even on film--look up) working together to keep the problems at the hospital out of the media spotlight.
Well, that is if you don't include board member, Bob Jamison's defense of defendant Pam Ott on his radio program in 2007. Or even his attacks on me on his blog which were apparently okay with the ABC radio affiliate, it's business name posted under each nasty message.
Conspiracy, you bet!
Collusion is what it takes to get your irons out of a fire I'm personally trying to put out. There has been NOTHING but lies and deceit amongst people who are elected or hired to do their due diligence.
The reason I'm still doing this is because I care about the families who had to endure such inhumane treatment in the course of finding out what had happened to their loved ones in the skilled nursing facility. I'm here because I do believe in fair play and the truth, two things slipping away from those in power.
Finally, these players are still playing and thanks to Facebook, I got a chance to verify it for myself. In the photo below, board member, Bob Jamison, and former board member, JoAnne Jones, fawn over Ott on Facebook over this past new year.
Again, as I said before, we will likely not see legal justice as it appears to be "just us." But don't count me out, hell, I'm just warming up...
More on Pormir as information becomes available...
Also, there is a Kern Valley Healthcare District board of directors meeting tonight at 5:30 pm in the cafeteria at the hospital.
The eight counts of elder abuse were dismissed as Pormir has accepted the charge referred to in penal code, section 182 (a) (5): "To commit any act injurious to the public health, to public morals, or to pervert or obstruct justice, or the due administration of the laws."
Pormir is scheduled to return to court to be sentenced in the case on July 11th.
Conspiracy would mean there are partners in this crime, and as of yet, the California Department of Justice has been keeping a low profile-- which is odd as they used this very case to elevate one of their own several years ago.
Now in the "hands" of Attorney General Kamala Harris, the case has not seen much media attention or actually there are no press releases listed on her website either.
Since the new "tight-lipped" AG has not given out much information regarding the case, I guess it's time to speculate a bit here.
There are three defendants in the elder abuse case, Pormir, former Kern Valley Healthcare District CEO, Pamela Ott and once director of nursing for the KVHD skilled nursing facility, Gwen Hughes.
As of now, Pormir is not scheduled for trial, and all information leads to the plea deal. The other two defendants remain on track for a trial later this month on June 25th. (we'll see)
But the legal code above really strikes me as something that could have been used to round up all the players at KVHD who allowed the residents of the skilled nursing center to suffer and possibly die due to alleged mistreatment, along with keeping it all quiet.
"...any person who actively participates in any criminal street gang, as defined in subdivision (f) of section 186.22, with knowledge that it's members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity..."We tend to prejudice ourselves and think that street gangs are "the" real threat: How about people in positions of trust who lie? Who can lie when people have died in their care. These are the people really taking down America right now. The people with their hands in the cookie jar who want to have a position of power and access to the benefits of that position--but none of the responsibility.
Also not addressed was the issue that employees attempted to bring the mismanagement problems to the surface. There were attempts to address the problem with under staffing the nursing center. But employees who chose to speak up were demeaned or fired or they quit due to pressure to conform.
I maintain that several of the board of directors and administrators were part of a cover up which lead to unsafe conditions for residents of the SNF. I have many different kinds of evidence to prove this: documents-witnesses-audio-video--but I guess that's just not good enough for the AG is who is the leader of bringing justice to all-- and, me, I'm just one of the pack. (sarcasm)
State Medical "Bored"
Something interesting happened last year as the leaders of keeping California residents safe from harm as they get medical care, the State Medical Board, also had a chance to weigh in on the problems Dr. Pormir had in the skilled nursing facility.
Once again, Pormir signed off and will take the penalty set forth by our Medical Board: Two years probation- a "how not to kill your patients" 40 hour catch me up class and finally he can never have a "solo" medical practice again. (read document above for specific information)
How this penalty fits in with the conspiracy charge remains to be seen, but the doctor has had some help along the way since he was charged with elder abuse on Feb. 17, 2009.
Pormir's team...
His first round of help along with Pamela Ott, came from three KVHD board members, and they voted to allow both defendants $25,000 each to help defend themselves. Hughes and a former defendant were refused assistance with their criminal matters via the board of directors.
Pormir must have gotten excited as after a year, he was in the company of some big time attorneys.
Donald Etra, a visitor to the George W. Bush Whitehouse sleep over, and former pal of Ralph Nader, took over the case in 2010.
Etra's sidekick was none other than Monica Lewinsky's (Former President Bill Clinton's paramour) William H. Ginsburg.
The two famous attorneys were in our town for a sweep of information at one point, talking to Pormir's old chums, but they avoided me. Why? Too much truth? They did however leave with documents and other goodies which they cajoled from people who were impressed by their position.
So, Pormir was defended by Ginsburg in his dealings with the state Medical Board.
I suppose for the good doctor that was money well spent, as the Medical Board document allows Pormir to continue his medical career with some slight reservations such as not being able to have his own practice and a "refresher" class. There is also a section of that deal that indicates his admission of something or another cannot be used in a civil case. I don't know how true it is and will ask once I get some answers.
But unlike Ginsburg, Etra left, and Pormir was given a public defender. The current attorney on his case is Fred Gagliardini, "I defendem" and he has brought home a plea deal we are anxiously awaiting hearing about.
Or did he? (Gagliardini has been sent a request for information on the deal)
Did Etra make a deal for Pormir prior to his departure?
The last time I was in court, Etra, Ott's former attorney Jim Faulkner, Hughes' former attorney Bruce Blythe, all piled into a car together after court. Etra was even fetching the former CEO who was not his client, for court. (See youtube video as I was sitting in my car with my camera in front of the legal Beagles white Mercedes Benz, license plate number...)
It was a legal gang bang and after it was over, all the defendants were given public defenders.
Oh, I was given something too: a legal way to keep me out of the courtroom.
I would like to mention the cute little move on the part of all parties including the DOJ lead attorney, Steve Muni.
Due to my issue with telling the truth I always got permission before I went into a courtroom with my camera.
On this day, I did not film as the morning session was moved to the afternoon. I got some lunch and headed back to court. As I sat on the bench outside the courtroom, two guards (not one) grabbed my camera and told me I had to get out or take the camera out.
I was told I had taken video illegally. Of course I knew I had not taken any video, so I made a bit of a fuss, even writing to the judge himself.
When I got into the courtroom I could feel the collusion all around me. The attorneys, including Captain Etra, all had self satisfied grins on their faces. Then the judge called my name. "Moi?"
I stood up and listened intently, though I could barely hear, as the judge explained to me that I had taken illegal video earlier that day. There was no opening for me to "defend" myself. I sat back down.
Moments later, the same happy grin was on the DOJ as I was asked to stand up again.
The judge and the DOJ made the statement that I would be a witness in the penalty phase of the case and therefore...I could NOT be in the courtroom. Aren't they clever?
No, not really clever...
There isn't much being said in the community or anywhere else for that matter about the wonderful job the DOJ has done in bringing justice and positive change to our community that was hit by these horrible events more than five years ago.
I'm sure if this was a big media event we would be hearing from the DOJ or Miss Harris, but this may just be something they would rather "get over with" and move on to something that will play better in the morning newspaper.
The facts are all up on this blog, no need to go far to find some truth.
We had board members, Bob Jamison, Bradley Armstrong, and Barbara Casas in overt Brown Act violations which are included in emails, and other documents, (later even on film--look up) working together to keep the problems at the hospital out of the media spotlight.
Well, that is if you don't include board member, Bob Jamison's defense of defendant Pam Ott on his radio program in 2007. Or even his attacks on me on his blog which were apparently okay with the ABC radio affiliate, it's business name posted under each nasty message.
Conspiracy, you bet!
Collusion is what it takes to get your irons out of a fire I'm personally trying to put out. There has been NOTHING but lies and deceit amongst people who are elected or hired to do their due diligence.
The reason I'm still doing this is because I care about the families who had to endure such inhumane treatment in the course of finding out what had happened to their loved ones in the skilled nursing facility. I'm here because I do believe in fair play and the truth, two things slipping away from those in power.
Finally, these players are still playing and thanks to Facebook, I got a chance to verify it for myself. In the photo below, board member, Bob Jamison, and former board member, JoAnne Jones, fawn over Ott on Facebook over this past new year.
Again, as I said before, we will likely not see legal justice as it appears to be "just us." But don't count me out, hell, I'm just warming up...
More on Pormir as information becomes available...
Also, there is a Kern Valley Healthcare District board of directors meeting tonight at 5:30 pm in the cafeteria at the hospital.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Part One: Breaking News: A new political spin on the Kern Valley Healthcare District Case? Who is Donald Etra and how did ABC get involved? And some background...
The KVHD "elder abuse" case and the ABC News media abuse case
In the last four years of this investigation into the wrongdoings at the Kern Valley healthcare district which includes not only elder abuse (which is a general term not specific to chemical restraints), but other crimes such as "Brown Act" violations by three members of the board of directors; targeting employees for unwarranted termination because they wanted to tell the truth about the elder abuse caused by short staffing and peculiar new drugs being used by the Director of Nursing; a previous policy that reduced staff and pay leaving the skilled nursing facility understaffed and overworked (and patients underfed and underweight, according to government documents); use of the only local radio outlet to disseminate falsehoods regarding the situation at the hospital by a board member and disc jockey and CEO; a CEO without proper credentials who was in charge and giving orders to the management of the nursing facility; same CEO, Pamela Ott, misrepresented her credentials, claiming to be a nurse practitioner; threats from the CEO, Ott and board member, radio jock, Bob Jamison, (running off the ABC logo) of lawsuits against all who disagreed; malicious defamation, lies and deceit round off the list of incredible truths the have taken place in our rural, public hospital.
(Phhhew! That's some list for you, and I even left a few things out for brevity sake.)
Recently ABC News took up their own story of the Kern Valley Healthcare District, running a national news story on the day that defendants in the "elder abuse" criminal case went to court last week, Jan. 5, in the Kern County Superior Court.
It was simply a continuance of the matter last week in court as one of the defendants changed attorneys in the case and needed time to catch up on events, so the date was pushed out until March 9.
But as nothing is as it seems in this case, the attorney for Dr. Hoshang Pormir in the criminal matter is now not just any attorney, but we have a political celebrity in our midst with Donald Etra.
(Yeah, me too, I didn't know who Etra was and even went on to make a few cute remarks about his name, extra and et cetera, and even commented that he must be really "high powered" if he uses an "AOL" email address.)
That was until I received an email with a story about our new player. (I'm really good at looking stupid, so this is nothing new for me.)
As I gazed upon a picture of Donald Etra and his wife, Paula, posing at Camp David with friends, George and Laura Bush, I knew this was going to get even stranger. I closed the email and began my own search which lead me to several articles and even a site called "mucketymucks" which links celebrities to other people, like Etra is linked to Snoopdog and Fran Drescher too. (weee..)
More interesting is Etra's politics which he is purported to have called himself a liberal democrat. Not unusual except that he is supposedly a good friend and supporter of conservative democrat, George W. Bush.
He was a consumer advocate working as Ralph Nader's attorney, according to several of the articles I have read so far. (Interesting that he would be on this side of the case as a consumer advocate, but Mr. Etra is also known for defending death row criminals, according to background information contained on several different internet sites.)
Politics has come to this case, but it is bigger than I thought, as it would be very easy, or I should say, is easy to get your name out there on a "shock value" story such as the one being told by the attorney general of the state of California, Jerry Brown.
Could our elder abuse case get him elected to the governor's mansion? Again?
However, let's start with some background on the case, unlike ABC news, which we will deal with shortly, so we can catch up to this ever changing story which is occurring right now, not almost four years ago Diane Sawyer...
Jerry Brown's scare job on chemical restraints
As some know, the use of psychotropic medications sometimes referred to as, "chemical restraints" when used in an institutionalized setting, are really two different issues entirely.
Psychotropic drugs are not unusual to find in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, try calling around, they are part of the arsenal against the horrible nature of some of the geriatric illnesses such as Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and other disorders which can make the elderly patients altered, frightened, and uncomfortable emotionally and physically.
And then you have the issue of medicating "violent" patients who are unaware in their psychosis that they are acting out and hurting staff and other patients. It's not really the patient him or herself, it's the diseases of age or injury which turn loving spouses, parents, grandparents, into raging, violent, out of control and sometime dangerous people.
It's a tough call as to how to treat these patients so they have their dignity, compassion and effective care for the last part of their lives.
Anyone who has had to take care of a grandparent or parent or even in certain cases younger people who have brain injuries or degenerative diseases, knows that it is a full time job and nothing about it is ever perfect.
My grandmother turned very violent, breaking windows, attacking people, and was too much for us to handle at home. We tried for a time, but it became dangerous for all involved.
So, we took my violent grandmother to a facility where she could be monitored and live peacefully with caring and professional people helping us with the situation.
She was immediately put on a drug, not used in this case, but one that could make people wonder if it was not a chemical restraint, "Haldol," which is an antipsychotic, not used much anymore, as newer, safer, drugs have come along to replace that generation of drugs.
My grandmother responded well to the drug, and was no longer violent, but was much more sleepy and tired but even occasionally smiled. My grandmother it was later found had Alzheimer's.
I'm glad they gave her the drugs, they made the last obviously horrible part of her life more tolerable. I would rather have seen her sleep then grapple with her invisible demons which would set her off into fear and violence.
The situation was though that my grandmother was 92 years old, and the drugs were going to have an effect which may have shortened her life. She lived to be 102 years old, ten years after she was psychotic and put on antipsychotic drugs.
We made that choice. I call it a choice as there is little alternative out there, but we knew and accepted the situation.
The choices are slim, and must be well thought out by a combination of family and medical staff working together to make the last days, months or years, (sometimes people live a long time in a vegetative state due to illnesses like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.) as pleasant as they can be for "all" involved.
At KVHD there were no choices
But such as what happened here at the Kern Valley Healthcare District in 2006 was a breakdown in management systems, because the leader, the CEO, the administrator who signed off on the skilled nursing facility, did not have the background to be running that operation.
In fact, the credentials we have found to be true and correct, is that the CEO, Pam Ott, had a current registered nursing license in California which came from a Fresno City College degree she received, which was an AA, back in 1971.
Not only were the systems outdated and the procedures in place ineffective at the beginning of 2006, but families were being pushed out, not allowed to know what exactly was going on. They weren't given their choices.
It's not just about chemical restraints
A chemical restraint would be a medicine which reduces a patient's psychosis or altered thinking and behavior, thus allowing the patient more freedom from the symptoms and obviously allowing them the chance to be more interactive and even potentially able to help themselves again.
However, these drugs or any drugs should not to be used as a babysitter, which is what is being claimed in the criminal case here in the Kern River Valley.
In April of 2006, four months before the investigate period by the California Department of Justice, which includes August 2006 until January 2007, the Kern Valley Healthcare District was cited by investigators in the nursing center's annual survey by the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services, CMS, for using "physical" restraints on the residents.
But that claim was not as ominous as the results of what was happening in the nursing center before the six month time period delineated by the Department of Justice, DOJ, office of Medi-cal fraud and elder abuse.
Months before the August start date of abuse (I guess that's what the state might call it) there is paperwork indicating the nursing center is short staffed, not fulfilling it's nurse to patient ratios, which obviously would cut back on the ability of the unit to properly monitor it's patients.
Indeed that was the case, as residents had lost significant amounts of weight, and were even noticeably dehydrated by the investigators from public health who do the annual evaluations for CMS on nursing centers.
(There are many pages from these reports on this blog. Please look up short staffing and physical restraints, it will give background, and actual documentation)
The administrators of the skilled nursing facility were also being questioned in April of 2006, as Pam Ott, CEO, did not have a Nursing Administrator's license, and indeed she did not need one in a facility where the nursing facility is part of the hospital.
But public health pushed that issue and Ott sent the inquiry to the hospital's board attorney, Scott Nave, who came back with the answer that Ott indeed didn't have to have those credentials to sign off as administrator of the SNF.
Ott, in a letter she signed to CMS, indicates that she is "not" the person in charge of the nursing facility: the person in charge is Sharon Brucker, RN, and former Cheif Nursing Officer.
Brucker has not been charged in the elder abuse case, though Ott was a late arrival, being brought in six months after the initial arrests of three defendants, a doctor, pharmacist and director of nursing, and according to the press office for the DOJ, the investigations are on-going.
You must have a DON
One of the corrections public health demanded of the hospital early in 2006, was the need for a Director of Nursing for the nursing home portion of the hospital.
At this point, according to employees of the time period in 2005/06, the previous director of nursing, who seemed to be well liked by the employees, left the employ of the hospital because of a disagreement he had with the CEO, Ott, and the Cheif Financial Officer, Chet Beedle, over paycuts and staffing problems.
Now this is according to several nurses who worked with this DON at the time, not from the hospital or the DON himself.
The hospital did not have Director of Nursing for the SNF, so public health insisted that KVHD hire one.
And Lucy Miller was transferred into the nursing center a week later.
Ott signed off that the hospital was in compliance by bringing in a DON.
Miller, didn't stay long, just long enough to comply with the state and federal mandates from the annual survey.
An ad in the classifieds
Miller left, or actually changed jobs within the hospital, and an ad came out shortly after, for a Director of Nursing for the SNF.
We, the media, the board of directors, heard that there was a new DON ready to take charge of the skilled nursing facility, Ott announced we were waiting and very excited about our new acquisition.
"She has more than 30 years with geriatric experience," Ott told us, and we were impressed.
In August of 2006, our new DON, came on, her name is Gwen Hughes. She is now charged with eight counts of elder abuse 368 B (1) and two counts of assault which was a result of medicating a resident against her will.
But in August 2006, Hughes was the hero, coming into a nursing center which had been recently beaten up by the state investigators over the use of the physical restraints, the short staffing, the lack of monitoring the weights of the patients, and even a few issues regarding medications, psychotropic.
"We are so lucky to get her," Ott told me as I was introduced to Hughes, who was in a wheelchair, and rather quiet as I asked some simple questions, like "what brings you to our little town?"
Hughes told us she had polio at one point in her life, but was still able to walk without her wheelchair, so we should not think it a miracle if she arose and began walking.
In conversations which were to follow the thing we kept hearing about Hughes from our CEO, (who herself, had funny credentials from a diploma mill called Kennedy/Western University, an on-line program, unaccredited, and not accepted in California,) was that Hughes was an expert in "geriatric medications."
(Now, how would she know an expert?)
Part two: the IDT team
In the last four years of this investigation into the wrongdoings at the Kern Valley healthcare district which includes not only elder abuse (which is a general term not specific to chemical restraints), but other crimes such as "Brown Act" violations by three members of the board of directors; targeting employees for unwarranted termination because they wanted to tell the truth about the elder abuse caused by short staffing and peculiar new drugs being used by the Director of Nursing; a previous policy that reduced staff and pay leaving the skilled nursing facility understaffed and overworked (and patients underfed and underweight, according to government documents); use of the only local radio outlet to disseminate falsehoods regarding the situation at the hospital by a board member and disc jockey and CEO; a CEO without proper credentials who was in charge and giving orders to the management of the nursing facility; same CEO, Pamela Ott, misrepresented her credentials, claiming to be a nurse practitioner; threats from the CEO, Ott and board member, radio jock, Bob Jamison, (running off the ABC logo) of lawsuits against all who disagreed; malicious defamation, lies and deceit round off the list of incredible truths the have taken place in our rural, public hospital.
(Phhhew! That's some list for you, and I even left a few things out for brevity sake.)
Recently ABC News took up their own story of the Kern Valley Healthcare District, running a national news story on the day that defendants in the "elder abuse" criminal case went to court last week, Jan. 5, in the Kern County Superior Court.
It was simply a continuance of the matter last week in court as one of the defendants changed attorneys in the case and needed time to catch up on events, so the date was pushed out until March 9.
But as nothing is as it seems in this case, the attorney for Dr. Hoshang Pormir in the criminal matter is now not just any attorney, but we have a political celebrity in our midst with Donald Etra.
(Yeah, me too, I didn't know who Etra was and even went on to make a few cute remarks about his name, extra and et cetera, and even commented that he must be really "high powered" if he uses an "AOL" email address.)
That was until I received an email with a story about our new player. (I'm really good at looking stupid, so this is nothing new for me.)
As I gazed upon a picture of Donald Etra and his wife, Paula, posing at Camp David with friends, George and Laura Bush, I knew this was going to get even stranger. I closed the email and began my own search which lead me to several articles and even a site called "mucketymucks" which links celebrities to other people, like Etra is linked to Snoopdog and Fran Drescher too. (weee..)
More interesting is Etra's politics which he is purported to have called himself a liberal democrat. Not unusual except that he is supposedly a good friend and supporter of conservative democrat, George W. Bush.
He was a consumer advocate working as Ralph Nader's attorney, according to several of the articles I have read so far. (Interesting that he would be on this side of the case as a consumer advocate, but Mr. Etra is also known for defending death row criminals, according to background information contained on several different internet sites.)
Politics has come to this case, but it is bigger than I thought, as it would be very easy, or I should say, is easy to get your name out there on a "shock value" story such as the one being told by the attorney general of the state of California, Jerry Brown.
Could our elder abuse case get him elected to the governor's mansion? Again?
However, let's start with some background on the case, unlike ABC news, which we will deal with shortly, so we can catch up to this ever changing story which is occurring right now, not almost four years ago Diane Sawyer...
Jerry Brown's scare job on chemical restraints
As some know, the use of psychotropic medications sometimes referred to as, "chemical restraints" when used in an institutionalized setting, are really two different issues entirely.
Psychotropic drugs are not unusual to find in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, try calling around, they are part of the arsenal against the horrible nature of some of the geriatric illnesses such as Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and other disorders which can make the elderly patients altered, frightened, and uncomfortable emotionally and physically.
And then you have the issue of medicating "violent" patients who are unaware in their psychosis that they are acting out and hurting staff and other patients. It's not really the patient him or herself, it's the diseases of age or injury which turn loving spouses, parents, grandparents, into raging, violent, out of control and sometime dangerous people.
It's a tough call as to how to treat these patients so they have their dignity, compassion and effective care for the last part of their lives.
Anyone who has had to take care of a grandparent or parent or even in certain cases younger people who have brain injuries or degenerative diseases, knows that it is a full time job and nothing about it is ever perfect.
My grandmother turned very violent, breaking windows, attacking people, and was too much for us to handle at home. We tried for a time, but it became dangerous for all involved.
So, we took my violent grandmother to a facility where she could be monitored and live peacefully with caring and professional people helping us with the situation.
She was immediately put on a drug, not used in this case, but one that could make people wonder if it was not a chemical restraint, "Haldol," which is an antipsychotic, not used much anymore, as newer, safer, drugs have come along to replace that generation of drugs.
My grandmother responded well to the drug, and was no longer violent, but was much more sleepy and tired but even occasionally smiled. My grandmother it was later found had Alzheimer's.
I'm glad they gave her the drugs, they made the last obviously horrible part of her life more tolerable. I would rather have seen her sleep then grapple with her invisible demons which would set her off into fear and violence.
The situation was though that my grandmother was 92 years old, and the drugs were going to have an effect which may have shortened her life. She lived to be 102 years old, ten years after she was psychotic and put on antipsychotic drugs.
We made that choice. I call it a choice as there is little alternative out there, but we knew and accepted the situation.
The choices are slim, and must be well thought out by a combination of family and medical staff working together to make the last days, months or years, (sometimes people live a long time in a vegetative state due to illnesses like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.) as pleasant as they can be for "all" involved.
At KVHD there were no choices
But such as what happened here at the Kern Valley Healthcare District in 2006 was a breakdown in management systems, because the leader, the CEO, the administrator who signed off on the skilled nursing facility, did not have the background to be running that operation.
In fact, the credentials we have found to be true and correct, is that the CEO, Pam Ott, had a current registered nursing license in California which came from a Fresno City College degree she received, which was an AA, back in 1971.
Not only were the systems outdated and the procedures in place ineffective at the beginning of 2006, but families were being pushed out, not allowed to know what exactly was going on. They weren't given their choices.
It's not just about chemical restraints
A chemical restraint would be a medicine which reduces a patient's psychosis or altered thinking and behavior, thus allowing the patient more freedom from the symptoms and obviously allowing them the chance to be more interactive and even potentially able to help themselves again.
However, these drugs or any drugs should not to be used as a babysitter, which is what is being claimed in the criminal case here in the Kern River Valley.
In April of 2006, four months before the investigate period by the California Department of Justice, which includes August 2006 until January 2007, the Kern Valley Healthcare District was cited by investigators in the nursing center's annual survey by the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services, CMS, for using "physical" restraints on the residents.
But that claim was not as ominous as the results of what was happening in the nursing center before the six month time period delineated by the Department of Justice, DOJ, office of Medi-cal fraud and elder abuse.
Months before the August start date of abuse (I guess that's what the state might call it) there is paperwork indicating the nursing center is short staffed, not fulfilling it's nurse to patient ratios, which obviously would cut back on the ability of the unit to properly monitor it's patients.
Indeed that was the case, as residents had lost significant amounts of weight, and were even noticeably dehydrated by the investigators from public health who do the annual evaluations for CMS on nursing centers.
(There are many pages from these reports on this blog. Please look up short staffing and physical restraints, it will give background, and actual documentation)
The administrators of the skilled nursing facility were also being questioned in April of 2006, as Pam Ott, CEO, did not have a Nursing Administrator's license, and indeed she did not need one in a facility where the nursing facility is part of the hospital.
But public health pushed that issue and Ott sent the inquiry to the hospital's board attorney, Scott Nave, who came back with the answer that Ott indeed didn't have to have those credentials to sign off as administrator of the SNF.
Ott, in a letter she signed to CMS, indicates that she is "not" the person in charge of the nursing facility: the person in charge is Sharon Brucker, RN, and former Cheif Nursing Officer.
Brucker has not been charged in the elder abuse case, though Ott was a late arrival, being brought in six months after the initial arrests of three defendants, a doctor, pharmacist and director of nursing, and according to the press office for the DOJ, the investigations are on-going.
You must have a DON
One of the corrections public health demanded of the hospital early in 2006, was the need for a Director of Nursing for the nursing home portion of the hospital.
At this point, according to employees of the time period in 2005/06, the previous director of nursing, who seemed to be well liked by the employees, left the employ of the hospital because of a disagreement he had with the CEO, Ott, and the Cheif Financial Officer, Chet Beedle, over paycuts and staffing problems.
Now this is according to several nurses who worked with this DON at the time, not from the hospital or the DON himself.
The hospital did not have Director of Nursing for the SNF, so public health insisted that KVHD hire one.
And Lucy Miller was transferred into the nursing center a week later.
Ott signed off that the hospital was in compliance by bringing in a DON.
Miller, didn't stay long, just long enough to comply with the state and federal mandates from the annual survey.
An ad in the classifieds
Miller left, or actually changed jobs within the hospital, and an ad came out shortly after, for a Director of Nursing for the SNF.
We, the media, the board of directors, heard that there was a new DON ready to take charge of the skilled nursing facility, Ott announced we were waiting and very excited about our new acquisition.
"She has more than 30 years with geriatric experience," Ott told us, and we were impressed.
In August of 2006, our new DON, came on, her name is Gwen Hughes. She is now charged with eight counts of elder abuse 368 B (1) and two counts of assault which was a result of medicating a resident against her will.
But in August 2006, Hughes was the hero, coming into a nursing center which had been recently beaten up by the state investigators over the use of the physical restraints, the short staffing, the lack of monitoring the weights of the patients, and even a few issues regarding medications, psychotropic.
"We are so lucky to get her," Ott told me as I was introduced to Hughes, who was in a wheelchair, and rather quiet as I asked some simple questions, like "what brings you to our little town?"
Hughes told us she had polio at one point in her life, but was still able to walk without her wheelchair, so we should not think it a miracle if she arose and began walking.
In conversations which were to follow the thing we kept hearing about Hughes from our CEO, (who herself, had funny credentials from a diploma mill called Kennedy/Western University, an on-line program, unaccredited, and not accepted in California,) was that Hughes was an expert in "geriatric medications."
(Now, how would she know an expert?)
Part two: the IDT team
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