By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A Lewis County paramedic’s credential has been suspended indefinitely for forging forms related to controlled substances and for administering unauthorized doses of morphine to patients.
Marla Fleming-Nixon worked for Lewis County Medic One and also as a volunteer medical coordinator for the Napavine area fire district.
Her credential expired in April of last year. Nixon was fired from Medic One a few months before that and resigned from Lewis County Fire District 5 at the same time.
Grant Wiltbank, executive director of Medic One, a shared ambulance service formerly known as South Lewis County EMS, said his internal investigation was limited to discrepancies in documentation.
“Probably the strictest policies we have are dealing with controlled substances,” Wiltbank said, adding that it wouldn’t cost a person their job if it only happened once.
The investigation that followed, conducted on behalf of the state’s manager of emergency medical services, resulted in a statement of alleged charges issued last September.
Nixon chose to forego a hearing on the matter and signed an agreed order two weeks ago acknowledging she committed unprofessional conduct, according to documents filed with the state Department of Health.
The resolution of the case was reported publicly by the Department of Health yesterday.
The facts Nixon agreed were true are as follows:
Between October and November 2011, on about eight occasions, she administered 20 mg or more of morphine sulfate to patients without medical control authorization. Protocols allow a paramedic to give as much as 10 mg without additional permission.
Between February and August of the same year, Nixon falsified the the required witnesses’ signature when she completed a patient controlled medications documentation form which includes a section noting amounts disposed of. That happened about four times, according to the documents.
Wiltbank described the disposal or waste of controlled medications issue explaining, for example, a standard vial holds 10 mg and if a patient is given less than that, a medic must get rid of the excess in front of a witness.
The conduct was found to cause no or minimal patient harm, according to the state documents.
Fire District 5 Chief Eric Linn said Nixon worked with his district for about two years and he had no reason to think she did anything unsatisfactory.
“I was very surprised, she’s a good medic, she worked very hard,” Linn said.
As the medical services officer, Nixon supervised and taught EMTs, and was responsible for quality assurance and ordering supplies, he said.
Paramedics employed by Lewis County Medic One respond jointly with fire districts in south and central Lewis County.
Wiltbank, who didn’t have personnel records in front of him this afternoon, said he thought Nixon worked for Medic One for three, perhaps four or even five years.
He called it an unfortunate situation, and said there was no animosity on his part.
“This is a very big deal,” Wiltbank said. “This was the first time we had to deal with a situation like this.”
Attempts to reach Nixon for comment were unsuccessful. A phone number listed for her in Winlock has been disconnected.
The documents state that if she seeks to reinstate her paramedic credential, she would be placed on probation for at least two years with monitoring to ensure public safety. She also would be required to complete a number of classes beforehand, as well as pay a fine of $500.
Nixon first became licensed to practice as a paramedic in Washington in 1995.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Busybody, please email me –sharyn decker
I think it’s really unfair that someone giving out a bunch of extra drugs is being treated any differently than any of the other drug dealers just because she has a high profile day job to hide behind. Yes I’m sure she saved lives but she also put lives in danger by doing what she did. Furthermore its really stupid that anyone is defending her actions and lack of consequinces for them.Defend her as a person if u know her but not her actions. If people sound angry about it, its probably because they are. Don’t post assult me too for my opinion though common sense. You say others are angry but you verbally attack anyone who’s opinion differs from your own.
Well common sense so much for your “last post” making anyone but YOU look like an idiot as usual. Lmao. You really must enjoy the taste of your foot being in your mouth. You say I’m angry but listen to yourself. Bye now and thank you for one last laugh.
There are several levels, but the only level able to give narcotics is Paramedic. They are in the process of changing all the classifications fro EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-Paramedic, to Advanced EMT, ect…You would be better to go to National registry of EMT’s….
Looking at Scope of Practice, it appears there are various levels of EMT, with varying scopes of practice:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_medical_technician_%E2%80%93_intermediate
This will be my last post SMH. I want to make sure everyone knows what an idiot you are. There isn’t anywhere in this country where an EMT can give narcotics. You are more than welcome to look at the national standards….I have also read your comments in many other posts on this site…You are just as ignorant in those comments…You are an angry, angry little man, or woman. Please try to get an education before you spew your hate….Maybe go get a hug, you need one, Idiot…..
Held* responsible
Just me, yes she should. …that’s my whole point. I think everyone has overlooked the fact that, that is all I’m really saying. She should be help responsible just like all the people of limited means in Lewis county. But they all got too busy talking trash. Oh and hometowner idk if ur basing ur tepid remark on what emts can do around here but in many many many many cities they can and do administer narcotic pain meds. And they can’t administer oxygen?! Good god they even do that here in this town. Please stop embarrassing urself.
I never seen any drug dealers down at the tracks and I have lived here for 62 years.. and I agree she should be prosecuted the same as everyone else.If she done the crime she got caught well then do the time…..RIGHT???
EMT’s cannot administer anything for pain. A lot of EMT’s cannot even administer oxygen. Sounds as tho you are unfamiliar with the roles of EMS.
Oh and one last thing common sense…yes EMTs can administer narcotic pain killers…where do u get ur informatin from? U truely are a shining example of the great minds that come out of Lewis County. Bravo. U have successfully once again without my help made urself look completely incompetent.
Also common sense…u keep taking my words and changing them slightly to use as ur own pathetic attempt return fire. I’m sure I’m not the only one who noticed it. Ur not very good at this trash talk u started are u? I’m done with it and u because as I said u have already made urself look ingorant and inept. Good luck to the people u come near with a hypodermic. Also I say synthetic heroin because that is what morphine truely is…just as destructive and just as addictive. With ur limited vocabulary I suppose u certainly would need to resort to indirectly calling me a junkie. However did u pass the boards? Oh that’s right…ur not a doctor. Enough said. Good day to u.
Like I said I’m not going to get into a posting war with u. U obviously condone her conduct because u can’t/won’t do any better for people. U have already made urself look stupid I don’t have to do it for u. I just hope in the future some medics that are worth a shit are hired and this stupid bitch never gets her license back. As for u I hope u never treat anyone I care about because u are clearly as incompetent as u are ignorant. I hear McDonald’s is hiring. ..maybe u and Nixon could apply ur superior knowledge there.
Yeah SMH, I bet you do know a little, very little. I have a relative that was an EMT once. You sound like you are an expert. What county are you talking about? Oh yeah, EMT’s cant give narcotics, so at least get educated. I have given more that the allowed amount many times, but I have always made the appropriate phone call to my doctor…..Like Bob said, I am sure a medic who has saved lives for 15 years did it to harm people….I also like the way you like to use the term heroin, is that the drug you are more comfortable with? I am on here because this medic put her life at risk helping patients for 15 years and people like you, idiots, feel they can judge with the information poted in a few paragraphs… I hope you go back to, or stay in that better county. If the county is Thurston, just a guess, i hope you need pain medication. As an EMT in that county I drove a many screaming pt’s to the ER after they were declined pain management for broken arms, hips, legs, and backs. Oh, and finally, I have never had to give narcan to reverse too much of a narcotic, but I have watched every hospital in 4 counties around us do it…..So, maybe we should start arresting doctors. If you knew anything you would know, some little old ladies can take huge amounts of narcotics without it helping, and some big tough men are out with the smallest amount…
A medic of 15 plus years……yes I am sure she chose this line of work to kill people with narcotics or to overdose them.
Sounds like there is much more to this story! Would be nice to know all the facts.
@ common sense…u really shoukd change ur name on here its becoming more and more of an oxymoron every time u post.
Get all high and mighty* (what did my slider do?! Sorry people!)
Need* ambulance services
Yes common sense lets overdose people then give them MORE drugs to bring them out of it! Your idiocy is showing more and more with each comment so please keep talking. With medics like you out there setting the standard its no quandary why Nixon’s gross incompetence was overlooked then given a wrist slap. ..look what they have to compare it to around here! I hope I never moved ambulance services in this town! Since you want to get all high savings might with your C- average intelligence I thought you should know I do know a little something about what competent medics do in emergency situations: my sister was an EMT in a respectable county for 10 years and she never shot anyone up with extra synthetic heroin to make them “comfortable” or had ttyl use Narcan to fix a screw up like that. (You clearly have) she saved plenty of lives and never broke the rules to do it. Go back to school and brush up. .. especially on ethics and morals…I think that was sophmore year of highschool
SMH, I have been around the block a few times…I have worked in emergency medicine for the lat 14 years, and know the medic involved. I think I know a little…I also know if a medic gives too much of a narcotic they can fix it with 5 cents worth of narcan..Also, so you can be educated, if all her patients arrived at the hospital breathing, which is the first thing to go with a narcotic overdose, they didnt receive too much…Why don’t you go to facebook instead of wasting time talking about something you know nothing about….
Oh and btw “common sense” (lol) we don’t really know what happend to the missing morphine now do we? That’s just her official statement about where it went. And no one unless they are dying needs 20+ milligrams of intravenous morphine in which case they should have been on their way to harborview not Centralia Providence. Maybe apply a little experience and a little education and a bit less of ur “common sense”.
@ common sense. She could have killed people with her negligence. U can attack my opinion if it makes u feel all warm and fuzzy inside and call me slow if it makes u feel superior, but I’m not juvenile enough to get into a “posting war” with u just because u can’t find enough drama on facebook.In case u didn’t know morphine is synthetic heroin. Ever seen someone overdose on heroin or morphine? I have. U sound a little naive to me. Maybe u should use ur google bar and find out what happens when someone overdoses or gets hooked on that crap. Or maybe u just shouldn’t open ur mouth if u don’t know what ur talking about.
So committing forgery and overmedicating people with morphine is cool because she meant well? Sheesh. And we’re the “IDIOTS”…
Really people? Yes, because giving people in pain, while doing her job, extra narcotics to make them comfortable, is the same as as selling drugs for money on the side of the street, IDIOTS….We all know drug dealers are out saving people lives and helping them in their time of need, not, IDIOTS. Oh, SMH, Do you need some to read the article to you? You sound a little slow…..
I think you guys are misinterpreting the statement made she gave patients morphine which she was allowed to administer she just didn’t go through the proper channels before giving them more than her preset amount of 10 mg.. Its not like she was saying hey kids walking down the street want some of this….she failed to follow the proper chain of command and apparently lied about disposal to cover that up. This hardly makes her a drug dealer. a 500 fine and retraining on prodical seem like appropriate discipline to me.
I know someone who did one drug deal one time and got 114 months. True story. Then again she wasn’t a cop or a medic or another member of the corrupt system in Lewis county. They all make me sick and so does this town.
My my my how interesting…and here I thought drug dealers and drug addicts went to jail. But I guess u have to be poor for that to happen.
The documents state that if she seeks to reinstate her paramedic credential, she would be placed on probation for at least two years with monitoring to ensure public safety. She also would be required to complete a number of classes beforehand, as well as pay a fine of $500.
This is how cops work also, they get caught at their job breaking the law and they get a slap on the wrist and end up working in a law enforcement position in another town. The same goes for Medics it looks like also. If Joe Blow obtained illegal drugs like this they would face jail time.
Lets go drive along the railroad tracks and see who the real drug dealers are and worry more about them.
So, she illegally distributed narcotics on more then 4 occasions, and I do believe a class 2 narcotic. She confessed to doing so, and signed a written statement admitting so, with dates. Hmmmm, why is this not considered delivery, or distribution? Not to mention theft. Did she not get any fines at all? and if she tries to reinstate her license only then she will have to pay a $500.00 fine? Wow, forgive me if I seem ignorant, but the only difference between her and a drug dealer is, she was an Official with clearance, and she did not have to pay for her dope. WTF!!!!!!!! There should be “NO” difference with her charges and a drug dealers charges. What if one of those people had died?
This right here people is a perfect example of Our Corrupt Government, be it City, County, or State. Drug dealers, be them real ones or the ones that jackasses like Lewis County try to entrap, are the same as this Nixon, or vise versa. Nixon is the same as, no better then or different then a Heroine dealer, after all isn’t that what morphine is? A synthetic Heroine! Yes I think it is………….sad country, sick people, especially the so called “Normal” ones…….NOT SO NORMAL, AVERAGE, ORDINARY, NOW ARE THEY? Nope, NOT SO VERY DIFFERENT!