Doctor: Woman may have been smothered
5/3/2001
Testimony continues in civil trial against Dr. Adly in death of Robicheaux.
CROWLEY - A medical expert told a jury Wednesday that a New Iberia woman should have had her throat routinely suctioned while in an Erath nursing home to help prevent her from smothering.
"It should be routine care that people who have oral obstructions need to be suctioned," Dr. Darin Hales, a doctor from New Iberia, testified.
Testimony continues today in 15th Judicial District Court before Judge Jules Edwards in the civil trial of Curtis Robicheaux and his children against Dr. Carman Adly, the Pauline Faulk Centre for Behavioral Health in Rayne - which is owned by American Legion Hospital - and the Morris Lahasky Nursing Home in Erath.
The trial has garnered attention because of the absence of Adly, who fled to his native Iran in 1996 with $1.2 million he allegedly defrauded from state Medicaid funds, according to federal documents.
Adly was a psychiatrist who treated Judy Robicheaux, 47, for mental illness before she died on Dec. 6, 1995.
"It is clear from the records I reviewed that this woman had a problem with oral secretions," Hales told the 12-person jury.
Clayton Burgess, who is representing the Robicheaux family, is alleging malpractice, misdiagnosis, improper administration of medicine and misuse of chemical and physical restraints.
Defense lawyers representing the nursing home, Tom Morrow and Nicholas Gachassin, have said that Robicheaux died from complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gherig's disease.
The progressive neuromuscular disease affects breathing and is terminal.
Another point being debated in the trial is why Adly's certification was not verified by the nursing home or the hospital.
Edward Haney, who was director of Morris Lahasky Nursing Home from 1994 to 2000, testified that Dr. Adly's medical licenses were checked.
"We verify every professional license that comes through our facility." Haney said.
Adly had surrendered his DEA certificate in 1993 in Massachusetts and was being investigated by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, according to court records.
Haney said when he contacted the state he was not aware of any problems with the doctor's credentials.