The Washington State Department of Health has filed formal charges of unprofessional conduct against a Douglas County medical assistant and certified nursing assistant. The allegations involve a series of workplace incidents, missing narcotics, and prior criminal convictions.
Workplace Incidents
The state's statement of charges outlines a series of events in April 2024 at an adult family home where the individual was employed. On April 6, a patient reported finding the employee unresponsive at a desk after a request for medication went unanswered, and was only able to rouse him after several attempts.
The following day, witnesses reported that he displayed erratic behavior, including attempting to force entry into a locked office containing medications. He also allegedly instructed a patient to break into the office and improperly assigned a co-worker to administer another patient's insulin.
On April 8, two other employees discovered discrepancies in narcotic medications and corresponding logs for medications administered solely by him. These discrepancies were reported to the employer, which led to his dismissal shortly thereafter.
Prior Convictions
The Department of Health's investigation also included a review of his criminal record. In May 2022, he was convicted in Douglas County District Court of a gross misdemeanor for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a conviction that required the installation of an ignition interlock device in his vehicle. In January 2024, he was convicted in Chelan County District Court for operating a vehicle without the required ignition interlock device, which is also a gross misdemeanor.
When the state initiated its investigation into his workplace conduct, he did not engage with the process. A health care investigator sent a Letter of Cooperation in August 2024, but no written response was ever provided.
The Department of Health has determined that his actions constitute unprofessional conduct under state law, citing acts involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, failure to cooperate with a disciplinary authority, and gross misdemeanor convictions related to his profession.