FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
March 9, 2016
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES CONVICTION OF A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE
FOR ABUSE OF CHILTON COUNTY NURSING HOME RESIDENT
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction
of a former employee of a Chilton County nursing home for the abuse of a resident of
the facility. Katherine Blevins Lenoir, 53, of Maplesville, pleaded guilty today to one
count of reckless abuse of a protected person, a class C felony.
Lenoir is a former employee of Don Hatley Healthcare and Rehabilitation of
Clanton. Lenoir, a licensed practical nurse, admitted that she inadvertently
administered a large dose of a narcotic pain medication to a resident of the facility
instead of the requested cough medicine. Lenoir, instead of alerting the facility to her
mistake, manipulated treatment records to reflect that she had given the correct
medication. The patient, suffering from an overdose of the narcotic pain medication,
was discovered by a nurse on a later shift and rushed to the hospital where she spent
several days in the intensive care unit before being released. Had Lenoir reported her
mistake immediately, the patient would not have suffered nearly the prolonged effects
of the narcotic. However, due to her failure to report the incident, the resident almost
died.
Lenoir’s sentencing is set for May 11 before Chilton County Circuit Judge Ben
Fuller. She faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Attorney General Strange thanked the management of Don Hatley Healthcare
for their prompt reporting of the incident and commended his Medicaid Fraud Control
Unit for their investigation and prosecution of the case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
