Four resign from Talihina veterans center after resident found with maggots in wound
December 3, 2016 in News by RBN Staff
Source: www.tulsaworld.com
By Barbara Hoberock Tulsa World
OKLAHOMA CITY — Four staff members at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Talihina facility have resigned after a resident who later died was found with maggots in a wound, the agency said.
Executive Director Myles Deering said the maggots were discovered while the patient was alive but were not the cause of his death. He said the man came into the center with an infection.
“He did not succumb as a result of the parasites,” Deering said Tuesday. “He succumbed as a result of the sepsis.”
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection.
A physician’s assistant and three nurses, including the director of nursing, resigned in the wake of the investigation, said Shane Faulkner, a spokesman for the agency.
“All four chose to resign before the termination process began,” Faulkner said.
The agency reported the incident to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, said Deering, who also serves as secretary of Veterans Affairs.
It also submitted a report to the district attorney to see if charges are warranted, Deering said.
Jeff Smith, district attorney for LeFlore and Latimer counties, said Wednesday his office has yet to receive the report but he was made aware of the situation by the agency.
Deering said the facility staff discovered the maggots.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Oct. 13 received an incident report from the veterans center in Talihina, said Jamie Dukes, an Oklahoma State Department of Health spokeswoman.
The agency denied a request to provide the report, saying it contained identifying information that is prohibited by law from being released.
Based on the report, “it was determined that the facility fully investigated the incident and took any appropriate actions,” Dukes said.
Raymie Parker, of Atlanta, identified the dead man as his father, Owen Reese Peterson.
Peterson, 73, died Oct. 3 at the Talihina Veterans Center, according to his obituary.
Born in Texas, he grew up on a farm, according to the obituary. He joined the Army in 1969 and served in Vietnam, Parker said.
Parker described his father as a hardworking Texas boy, a patriot and a country poet.
“During the 21 days I was there, … I pled with the medical staff, the senior medical staff, to increase his meds so his bandages could be changed,” Parker said. “I was met with a stonewall for much of that time.”
Deering said the patient’s medication was increased during his care.
Parker said the floor nursing staff was outstanding, but he is displeased with the senior medical personnel and administration.
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