Andrew Griffith, 26, has been given probation for depriving residents of their prescribed pain medications, while he was employed in 2010 as a licensed nurse practitioner at Wexford House in Kingsport, as reported by Times News on February 11, from Kingsport, Tennessee.
The now former nursing home employee also pleaded guilty to the willful abuse of an adult, fraud and theft in a Blountville courtroom.
Griffith was sentenced to five years of supervised probation – with many conditions – by Sullivan County Criminal Court Judge Robert Montgomery.
Montgomery also denied Griffith’s request for judicial diversion. The allowance would have cleared the way for Griffith to apply to have his record expunged when he completes his sentence.
But due to the circumstances of Griffith’s offense – specifically that he took advantage of vulnerable individuals without remorse for whatever pains he may have caused them – gave Montgomery enough cause to deny the request.
While working at the nursing home, Griffith stole his patient’s medications and then falsified records in a cover-up scheme.
The Tennessee Department of Health has since revoked Griffith’s nursing license
Griffith blamed his deeds on his drug addiction – that stemmed from pain he had been combating from a root canal that he couldn’t afford to have treated.
The tooth problem began with an abscess. Griffith was given antibiotics for the infection and told to return for root canal therapy once he completed the prescription.
Griffith didn’t schedule for the procedure once the infection cleared up.
A year later, when the tooth flared up again, he began the task of gaining the pain medication from his patients.
He was self-medicating first with Lortabs, then he moved on to Percocets and Oxycontins. He gave himself three pills a day by the time Wexford House fired him on April 11, 2010.
Montgomery has ordered Griffith to abstain from all dugs and alcohol during his probation. Additionally, he must seek his probation officer’s approval for any types of prescription medicines.
Griffith is not to contact Wexford House in any way, or seek employment at any establishment where he might have access to medication. He is also forbidden to provide care to vulnerable individuals.
Griffith is expected to find full-time employment or enroll in school. He is also required to perform a minimum of 250 hours serving his community.
Laura Rayment, the Sullivan County Assistant District Attorney, said that Griffith’s name will now be added to the Tennessee Department of Health Elderly or Vulnerable Abuse Registry.
On the registry’s website, it states that those individuals listed have all abused, neglected or misappropriated personal property from either a minor child or otherwise vulnerable person.
A vulnerable person is classified as someone of advanced age, or has a physical or mental condition that requires the care of a state agency, or care from another licensed entity regulated by the state.
If someone you love has been neglected or abused while under the care of a nursing home, contact a nursing home abuse lawyer from our directory, to help you with your case today!
