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Native American Health Facilities 'Horrifying' Practices: Woman dies on floor of hospital room after staff causes her to overdose

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'What we've found is simply horrifying and unacceptable.'

During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, several witnesses stepped forward to ask the federal government to fund the struggling Indian Health Service, only to be told that government officials were unable to procure the necessary resources.

Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - During the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing, several witnesses shared horror stories that took place at run-down and underfunded Indian Health Service facilities.

"What we've found is simply horrifying and unacceptable," Wyoming Senator John Barrasso - who chairs the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs - stated.

"The centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - another agency within the Department of Health and Human Services - has confirmed no only that these same problems continue to fester, but that they pose immediate risk to patient safety. In fact, they have led to multiple patient deaths."

In 2011, 45-year-old Debra Free died on the floor of the Winnebago Hospital in Nebraska due to a heart attack paired with undertrained staff and the lack of proper equipment.

Victoria Kitcheyan, Free's niece, spoke to the committee and sad: 

"I am not talking about unpainted walls or equipment that is outdated. I am talking about a facility which employs emergency room nurses who do not know how to administer such basic drugs as dopamine; employees who did not know how to call a Code Blue; an emergency room where defibrillators could not be found or utilized when a human life was at stake; and a facility which has a track record of sending patients home with aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs, only to have them airlifted out from our Reservation in a life threatening state."

Kitcheyan continued, specifying: "what our family learned, Debra was overmedicated and left unsupervised, even though the nursing staff at the Hospital knew that she was dizzy and hallucinating from the drugs and should be watched closely. After her death, a nurse at the hospital told my family that Debra had fallen during the night.

"She said that nurses from the emergency room had to be called to the inpatient ward to get Debra back into bed because there was inadequate staff and inadequate equipment on the inpatient floor to address that emergency.

"While the hospital insisted they did everything possible to revive her and save her life, we question just how long she remained on the floor and what actually happened. My Aunt Debra Free left behind a nine-year-old daughter and a loving family. She should not have been allowed to die like this."

Several other stories were voiced at the committee meeting, with most of the issues pointed toward incompetent staff and lack of funds.

Despite the federal government requirement to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations, an agreement dating back to 1787, NBC News reported the Indian Health Service has been receiving about half the promised funds.

Barrasso spoke of the issue and stated: "The administration is responsible for providing and delivering health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives across the country. Their federal obligation mandates that they promote health and safe Indian communities while honoring tribal governance. This is not happening."

Various tribes have met with the Indian Health Service to voice concerns and get involved, but they are preaching to the choir.

Robert McSwain, the principal deputy director for the Indian Health Service said the agency has been working to recruit staff and to find ways to help people in isolated areas, as well as attempt to receive and utilize mobile technology.

The situation is so dire that former Senator Byron Dorgan, chairman of The Center for Native American Youth, said: "The IHS is severely underfunded compared to other federal agencies. You may have heard the phrase 'Do not get sick after June,' because if you do, you will not be able to get care.

"This, to me, is a rationing of health care - care that is guaranteed by treaty. If we start funding IHS at levels commensurate with need, I believe we will solve a lot of the issues."

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