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FSO 00738
5 DEC 95
DEBRIEF OF CALL TO DR. DAVID MINKOFF RE LISA MCPHERSON:
Tonight I spoke to Dr. David Minkoff regarding Lisa McPherson. Minkoff is an
OT 8 who is an MD and he works at the New Port Richey hospital, outside of
CW.
I asked him to relate to me what had happened and he told me the
following.
He said that tonight about 7:30 - 7:45 PM he received a call from Janice
Johnson, the MLO FSO
Janice said that she had seen Lisa McPherson, who was staying in one of the
cabanas at the Fort Harrison, and that Lisa looked very sick. Janice said it
looked like Lisa had a bad infection and wanted to know if she should be given
antibiotics.
Minkoff told Janice that it was better to get her to the hospital and that
she should bring Lisa in to see him.
Janice took Lisa and two staff (the SSO and an assistant) with her and drove
to the New Port Richey hospital, about 45 minutes away.
When they arrived at the hospital, Lisa was brought back to the Emergency
room where Minkoff was working.
Minkoff said that he looked at her and he could see that she was dead.
He said that Janice Johnson stated that Lisa had been gasping and had
labored breathing, enroute.
They worked on her for about 20 minutes trying to resusitate her, giving her
CPR and antibiotics, but to no avail.
He said that it appeared that she had been overwhelmed by an infection, one
which she could not fight off.
He said that it appeared to him as if there had been some infection that
overwhelmed the body in maybe 8 - 12 hours.
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He said that she had marks on her which may be due to the infection, where
the infection discolors the flesh under the skin. There was bruises on her hands
and feet he said.
He said that he thinks that she may have had meningitis, which is an
infectious disease.
He stated that even if she had been brought to another hospital in the area
(ie closer to the FH), he felt she still would have died.
Janice Johnson was spoken to by the hospital staff but did not know Lisa's
address, phone number, next of kin, Social Security number, etc and explained
that she had just been the one to drive Lisa to the hospital and had forgotten
to grab Lisa's purse with her ID etc as she was in a hurry.
Minkoff spoke to terminals at the FSO by phone and was given the address and
phone number of Lisa.
Minkoff spoke to the Nursing Manager at the hospital, and she tried calling
the phone number of Lisa's apartment in CW (to get her roommate to get data on
Lisa) but that there was no answer.
Minkoff said that it is routine in matters such s these, where a patient
dies quickly when coming to the hospital, that it becomes a Coroner's case. He
said that starting tomorrow (Wed) a Coroner will ask questions about the case,
and basically will just want to get things answered for himself -what happened,
how did she get sick, etc. He said that the Coroner, once through, will sign the
death cert.
He said that there will be blood tests done Wed.
He said that since this might be an infectious disease, he will ensure we
get notified tomorrow as soon as he knows, as to what disease it was and then we
should take precautions that whoever on the Base was in contact with Lisa should
get antibiotics.
Minkoff is going to contact us first thing Wed as soon as he hears any data
from the Coroner and from Lisa's blood tests re this infection.
ML, CO OSA FLAG
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FSO 00740
Heather Hoff --
Starter staying with Lisa 1 week ago wednesday. She started at 400pm and was
on flat out 'till 1:30pm on thursday. While Heather was with her Lisa was not
violent, she tried to trip heather a couple of times but no other real
aggression. She ate some food and took some vitamins at the time. She was very
active at the time and was moving around the room a lot.
Heather was then off and the next day While the Dir RAP and Dir I & R
were with her Lisa became very violent. Heather was called back over as Lisa had
not been violent when she was there. Once Heather arrived the Dentist was there
and got 0 - 12 aspirin down her throat. Also possibly got her to take benadril
(a sleeping pill)
Heather was then off until 3 days ago when she was put back on. Once she
returned to the room she found that Lisa was pale, weak and slept more. Per
heather Lisa has not been active in the last 3 days.
During the last 2 days Heather attempted to give her food. Sometimes she
would eat and sometimes she would just spit it out.
Per Heather she also had a lot of bruises on her legs, feet, arms, etc from
kicking things hitting the walls etc.
Today, most of the day Lisa was in bed to saying anything or not moving, she
was breathing. She was given a bath.
Heather left to go to dinner when Laura arrived. Laura said Lisa looked sick
and should go to the doctors.
Rita Edwards (Boykin)
Rita was the first on the watch Sunday/Monday 26 and 27th of November. At
that time Lisa was extremely agitated and active. She was combative with the
other girls staying with her and would ramble on about things, occasionally
threatening to attack them.
Rita was then off for a few days, and then came back onto it last Thursday,
30 Nov. At that time she notices that Lisa was not walking around much and sat
on the bed quite a bit. She reported that she was weak and not eating much at
all. Couple of days ago she seemed to be doing better. However the last 24 hours
she has noticeably dropped wieght.
Last 24 hours Lisa had a swollen jaw on the left side of the face and when
attempting to feed her comlained about paid in the throat. Rita did administer
magnesium shots to Lisa including today.
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Lesly Woodcraft -
Was with Lisa for 1 night, two weeks ago on 24 November. She said that Lisa
was extremely aggitated and moved around the room a lot. She got aggitated a
couple of times while Lesly was there and slapped Janis Johnson several times
through out the night. She did not sleep that night. She was very non-coherent
and would chatter continuously while she was there. She also spent a lot of time
in the bathroom turning the water on and off and banging the shower hose around.
She then got herself drenched and sprayed water all over the room. Floor got
wet. At this point once Joan arrived Lesly went out to get dry clothes for
Lisa.
Joan Stevens -
She was also with Lisa for one day the same day and came in to replace
Lesly. When she got there, Lisa was awake and agitated she became more agitated
and became violent towards Joan, Poking her in the eye and attempting to do it
several times. She then attacked Joan with a potted plant in the room, which
they took away from her. She then started to hit at things in the room and broke
a lamp hanging from the ceiling. There was then glass all over the floor. She
then became more and more violent and broke more glass in the bathroom. She then
went and got back on her bed and then jumped off landed on the wet floor and
then hit her head on the floor. She then attempted to hit her head again on the
floor which the watch prevented her from doing. At this point security was
called in and she was gotten onto her bed and the room was cleared, all towel
bars, hair dryers, glasses etc were removed. The room was then cleaned up.
Barbro Wenberg -
Came in at the tail end of the above. She also was also with Lisa for one
day. Nothing more happened once she was there other than Lisa being
aggitated.
Patricia Stracener -
Was with Lisa for one night 1 December from 10:00pm to 300 am When Patricia
arrived Lisa was asleep. Patricia started to clean the room, Lisa then woke up
and started to become aggitated came up and slapped Patty several times Patty
would push her arms back down to her side. She was very incoherent and rambling
on. Lisa then got sick and vomited. Patty got scared so she called security who
said that it was fine. They cleaned it up. Per Patty Lisa was always moving
around.
Kenya Smith -
Was with Lisa for 2 nights, 24th of Nov. First night she arrived Lisa was
very agitated and Kenya helped calm her down.
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and then Lisa fell asleep. She then slept for 8 hours. The next night when
Kenya arrived, Lisa was babling a lot and talking and was very agitated. She
moved around the room a lot. Later Hiede Sesary arrived, another watch member,
to replace Valerie Demange. She was not as good with Lisa so Kenya got Valerie
back into the room.
Valerie Demage -
Was with Lisa for a few days within about 3 days of Lisa's arrival. Lisa was
very aggitated at the time and moved around a lot. Valerie was then off for a 2
days and then put back on, when she got back she noticed that Lisa looked very
tired and had only been getting 3 - 5 hours of sleep per night. She was taking
Vitamins and protein drink.
Laura Arrunda - MLO Asst.
Laura started with Lisa two weeks ago. Lisa at this time was very stirng and
fighting all the time, walking, talking, cleaning the walls, sticking her hands
in her mouth alot. There were 3 staff with Lisa. Lisa was with Silvia at first
and later with Valerie and then with Rita. The first week she was still very
strong and kicking and fighting.
Lisa was eating at some times and other times was putting the food on the
floor. She was eating bits at a time. The girls helped her to eat and drink and
tried to help her keep eating by offering it to her.
Laura was off for 5 days and then started again last Saturday. Lisa was less
strong and sitting and walking more. She was sitting and laying on the floor,
rolling around, walking and talking non-sequitor That day she got a magnesium
shot and she slept and the next day she was better and not talking non-sequitor.
She was only drinking protein shakes and not eating much solid foods. She was
then two days looking better and was sleeping this week and talking to Laura at
times in PT and watching her. Then two days later -- yesterday she was refusing
the protein shake and when Laura arrived today she was looking bad, she was not
moving her body. Laura took her to give her a shower. After the shower she was
sleeping. Laura was watching her to see that her expiratory range was OK. Her
respiratory range and pulse was OK. Laura told Janis, that Lisa was not eating
and maybe needed an IV. Janis came to see her and saw she was looking bad. Today
her skin color changed to ivory color and looked septic. Janis called the SNR
C/S Office and called to Dr Minkoff to get Ok to bring Lisa there to the
hospital. Two days ago Lisa was helping to put her clothes on and then
deteriorated in the last 24 hours very badly. It was when Laura arrived today
that she noticed her doing bad.
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Lisa had been sleeping better for the last 3 days so had not been given any
chloral hydrate in the last 3 days. She was being given magnesium injections
however.
Janis Johnson - MLO
Lisa arrived at the FH on 18 Nov, after having been gotten out of Morton
Plant. Suzanne Schuremberger stayed with her the fist weekend. Lisa was agitated
and got violent with Suzanne over the weekend. Janis also knows that Lisa got
violent with other people who were staying with her (including Janis). People
were staying with Lisa to make sure she did not hurt herself and that she ate
and slept. Lisa thought Janis was a psych and would get very enturbulated and
violent when Janis came to check on her, so Janis would just check with people
staying with Lisa how she was doing. Janis got Lisa herbs and chloral hydrate to
help her sleep, which she was starting to do the last 3 days, until she got
sick.
Tonight, Janis was given a message when she got into the office at 7:00PM
that Laura needed her. She went to the cabana and saw that Lisa was septic and
had bruises on her body which looked like they were from and infection and were
not healing properly Laura said she had looked like that when she first saw her
today at 5PM. She ran an Alain at that time and discussed with him what they
could do. They both called Dr. Minkoff and told him that Lisa was septic and
that she needed antibiotics. He said that he would have to see Lisa before
giving her antibiotics and that they should bring her to see him at New Port
Richey hospital, but that he would only be there until 10. Janis went and got
directions to the New Port Richey hospital from Emma and arranged for Paul
Greenwood to come along to help. She went back to the cabana and helped Laura
get Lisa ready to go. Lisa had had diarhea, so Janis helped Lisa change her.
Janis noticed that Lisa had lost a lot of weight. Janis told Lisa that they were
taking her to Dr. Minkoff. Lisa acted like she hurt everywhere, but was not
hostile and acknowledged Janis in a friendly way.
Paul and Laura lifted Lisa into Janis' van and sat in the back with her.
Janis drove. It took 45 minutes to get to the hospital. At one point, janis
heard Lisa's breathing get fast and harsh for 10 - 15 seconds and then go back
down.
When they got to the hospital Janis opened the door to the van and saw Lisa
She thought that she still had some circulation from the was her skin looked.
She got an orderly and nurse to come and get her. They put her in a wheelchair.
Janis could see that Lisa's blood pressure was very low. Her skin still had
color and she thought she saw Lisa breathing. Later, she was standing outside
the emergency room where Dr. Minkoff was working on Lisa and saw the EKG screen,
which showed no signs of
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life.
Because of the way Lisa's skin looked, Janis thinks she had a severe
infection, like meningitis. Minkoff though the same thing and is having a blood
test done. Minkoff asked Janis why she hadn't brought Lisa in earlier and Janis
said that Lisa had not looked this sick before today.
The hospital staff wanted to know basic information about Lisa, social
security number, address, etc but Janis had left in such a hurry that she forgot
Lisa's purse and did not know any of this data. This had to be called in
for.
Paul Greenwood:
SSO Paul Greenwood was called tonight and told to go assist Janis Johnson
take someone to the hospital who was sick. He went to the cabana, saw Lisa there
with Laura A. Janis had gone to get the car. When he saw Lisa she was awake, but
looked very sick and was breathing heavily. He asked Laura what they were going
to do and she said they were going to take Lisa to the hospital. He and Laura
tried to have lisa walk between them, but she was too sick, so he carried her to
the car. He sat in the back with Lisa and Laura and Janis drove. Paul did not
know which hospital they were going to. It took about 45 minutes to get there.
On the way to the hospital, Lisa's breathing became labored and then got fainter
and fainter just before they arrived. When they got to the New Port Richey
hospital Janis went in to get a doctor. An orderly took Lisa into the hospital
in a wheelchair. That is the last he saw her.
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