TBI investigates GOPer Rep. Tony "Health Dept. Rascal" Shipley, other TNGA members

[doeriver]

Run time: 02:49 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvDQgeHxE7k   Posted on YouTube: July 19, 2011 By YouTube Member: wataugariver Views on YouTube: 1   Posted on DU: July 19, 2011 By DU Member: doeriver Views on DU: 994

 
Fair use and criticism of WSMV article (I am thinking that perhaps this news coverage could have featured the newer bio picture of Shipley at his official TNGA biographical web page as he appears to be putting on a whole lotta weight since all those lobbyists in Nashville have been feeding him regularly):

Complete news report at:
http://www.wsmv.com/story/15102855/tbi-investigates-state-lawmakers-health-de...

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
The Channel 4 I-Team has learned that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has opened a high-level investigation of several state lawmakers and the Tennessee Department of Health. The investigation centers on possible official misconduct and false reporting charges.

The Channel 4 I-Team has learned the TBI is looking into the cases of three nurse practitioners whose licenses were revoked for over-prescribing medication. In some cases, the patients died. The orders revoking those licenses were rescinded in May.

Now investigators are looking into possible misconduct as to how those nurses were exonerated and whether illegal political pressure was applied to get them off the hook, and whether the health department acted illegally in dropping the case.

According to a report in the Kingsport Times News in May, three former nurse practitioners accused of contributing to two patients' deaths have been exonerated and their licenses restored, with Tennessee state Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport, saying he's the "rascal behind the scenes that made it happen."

A spokeswoman for the TBI said in June they were directed by District Attorney Torry Johnson to investigate possible official misconduct and false reporting where nurses licenses were revoked and then rescinded under questionable circumstances.

(...more at hyperlink)

[doeriver]

1. Tennessean:

TN nursing board under scrutiny over discipline case
TBI examines lawmakers' influence in disciplinary action
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110720/NEWS0201/307200121/2288/NLETTER01/TN-nursing-board-under-scrutiny-over-discipline-case?source=nletter-news

4:06 AM, Jul. 20, 2011

EXCERPT: “...They did the right thing, and I did the right thing,” Ford said of the board’s re-evaluation of the suspension. “They can investigate me all they want because I haven’t done anything wrong.”

The Board of Nursing has not made public its reasons for the reversal. The board, which is part of the Tennessee Department of Health, is not commenting on the case while the investigation is under way.

Helm said the June request from Davidson County District Attorney General Torry Johnson was to look into the conduct of lawmakers and health department employees in trying to influence the nursing board.

The board on May 2 unanimously voted to deny a petition to change the disciplinary action against Stout, but then continued a hearing held for Reynolds that same day, according to minutes taken at that meeting that have yet to be officially approved.

On May 5, the board unanimously reversed the disciplinary actions against all three nurses. The minutes do not state the reason for the reversals. But the nurses were represented by lawyers who presented new evidence.

The board had suspended their licenses last year for “engaging in a pattern of deceptive, substandard care and gross malpractice.” The nurses all worked at Appalachian Medical Center in Johnson City. The consent orders accused the nurses of prescribing pain medicine to five patients even though law enforcement advised them that the patients were selling drugs.

The consent orders, which have since been rescinded, alleged that “these substandard practices contributed” to the deaths of two of the patients. The patients were identified only by the initials “T.H.” and “A.B.”

Helm said the TBI has turned over its case against the three nurses to District Attorney Tony Clark in East Tennessee."

(more at hyperlink)