A nurse has been found guilty of mistreating patients in a hospital stroke unit by giving them sedatives to "quiet them down and make them compliant." Catherine Hudson, aged 54, administered sedatives to two patients during her shifts at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in April 2017 and November 2018. Jurors at Preston Crown Court also found her guilty of conspiring with her junior colleague, Charlotte Wilmot, aged 48, to administer a sedative to a third patient. However, Hudson was cleared of mistreating two other patients.
Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, ordered Hudson into custody after the verdicts were delivered, which came after nearly 14 hours of deliberation. He stated, "Catherine Hudson's sentence must undoubtedly involve immediate custody. The only question is the duration."
Wilmot, who was also found guilty of encouraging Hudson to drug a patient, was granted bail by the judge but cautioned that it was highly likely she would also receive a custodial sentence. The sentencing for nurse Hudson and assistant practitioner Wilmot, both residing in Blackpool, is scheduled for December 13 and 14.
The investigation began when a student nurse on a work placement blew the whistle and reported that Hudson had suggested administering unprescribed Zopiclone, a sleeping pill, to a patient. The student nurse was alarmed when Hudson made comments regarding the patient's DNAR (do not attempt resuscitation) status, implying that the patient wouldn't be resuscitated if any harm occurred.
The court learned that inappropriately giving Zopiclone to critically ill patients could be life-threatening. Prosecutors revealed a "culture of abuse" within the unit when police examined WhatsApp messages exchanged between the co-defendants and other staff members.
In another news, a man from Florida who had recently been released from jail found himself back behind bars after he was caught on gas station surveillance video allegedly stealing a car from a woman who was pumping gas into her vehicle. See detailed story here.
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