Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Three Valley Hospitals Sued Over Allegedly Forced COVID Medications
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 2 years ago on
September 13, 2022

Share

 

In what is being called a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, three hospitals are being sued for allegedly prescribing a COVID medication that was supposed to heal.

Instead, three legal complaints say, the medication killed 14 Fresno-area patients, several over the age of 65.

“We have filed lawsuits against three hospitals who have murdered 14 people using a Remdesivir protocol,” attorney Michael Hamilton said.

The complaints against Community Regional Medical Center, Clovis Community Medical Center, and St. Agnes Medical Center, were filed Sept. 7 in Fresno County Superior Court. There are 19 plaintiffs, relatives of the 14 alleged victims who died in the last year.

The hospitals forced Remdesivir against the patients’ will, the lawsuit alleges.

The announcement was made at an event at Adventure Church on Palm Avenue last week that drew more than 150 people.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families during this difficult time. Because this case is pending, we are unable to comment,” said Community Health System spokeswoman Michelle Von Tersch said in an email.

St. Agnes also said it was unable to comment on pending litigation.

Attorney: Battle of the Experts

Plaintiff’s attorney Dan Watkins said the families of the deceased found each other.

“As the community discussed it more and learned more about Remdesivir and its problems, the number of people that died from it grew. Just within Fresno, that group grew. They have their own communication net and they talked,” Watkins said.

Watkins acknowledges this will be a tough case to win.

“It’s going to be a battle of the experts. And we’re going to have experts who will come with mounds and mounds of information to show Remdesivir is deadly. It doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do,” Watkins said.

The attorneys said they hope these cases spark similar litigation nationwide.

Lawsuit: Patients Given Remdesivir Against Their Will

The lawsuits allege that Remdesivir, used to treat COVID patients, “is a dangerous, experimental drug” and “unsafe and ineffective for patients.”

“Many of them were given this deadly, poisonous drug against their will. They said, we don’t want it, don’t give us that. They were given (Remdesivir) anyway. They weren’t told that it killed over 50% of the people that it was given to,” attorney Hamilton said.

The hospitals administered Remdesivir without fully informed consent or revealing what the dangers may be, the lawsuit alleges. Other treatments, such as Ivermectin, could have been more effective, the plaintiffs contend.

Watkins said that people have the right to choose their medical care.

“The personal autonomy that’s associated with medical care, people being able to decide what they want and what they don’t want, that’s at issue. And it’s being taken away. And it’s being taken away with just callous disregard for what has always been the case. It’s a fundamental right,” Watkins said.

The lawsuit says the hospitals had a financial incentive for COVID deaths, and to administer Remdesivir. Hospitals can charge up to 144 times more for an inpatient complex case than an outpatient case.

Hamilton said the official cause of death for the 14 plaintiffs was COVID.

“The reason the hospital says their cause of death is COVID is because the state of California gets $147,000 for every COVID death certificate that a hospital can churn out,” Hamilton said.

Attorney Dan Watkins announces a lawsuit against three hospitals for COVID deaths at a Sept. 7 event. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Why One Woman is Suing

“My mother was killed by Remdesivir at Clovis Community Hospital.” — Danette Gillingham

Danette Gillingham of Prather, lost her mother Judith Kneeland, 74, on Sept. 16, 2021.

“My mother was killed by Remdesivir at Clovis Community Hospital,” Gillingham told GV Wire.

In July 2021, Gillingham said her family contracted COVID. Concerned about her mother’s dehydration and oxygen level, they took her to the hospital.

Gillingham said the family was not allowed to come inside the hospital with her. Kneeland was given an IV and put on oxygen, her daughter said.

“Without consent, (the hospital) began to put her on all of the other medicines, the Remdesivir and steroids and all kinds of other things,” Gillingham said.

As a result, Gillingham said, her mother’s organs started failing.

Gillingham said the hospital “bullied” Kneeland to be placed on a ventilator or go into comfort care.

She did not believe the hospital when it said her mom died of COVID.

Cases Return to Court in January

The plaintiffs sued the three hospitals in separate lawsuits. The only major difference are the names of the plaintiffs and defendants.

The complaints seeks damages but do not specify a dollar amount.

The three separate cases return to court in January for case management conferences.

The lawsuits against Clovis Community, CRMC, and St. Agnes can be read by clicking on the link.

The lawsuits are being funded by Arizona-based medical advocacy nonprofit Truth for Health Foundation.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Shows the Nation How a Peaceful Palestinian Protest is Done

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Digging Into Fresno’s Trash Hauling Fees

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Announces 2024 Undergraduate Deans’ Medalists

DON'T MISS

Duane Eddy, Twangy Guitar Hero of Early Rock, Dead at Age 86

DON'T MISS

Fresno State’s Randa Jarrar Dragged Out of Event Featuring Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik

DON'T MISS

Trump Calls Judge ‘Crooked’ After Facing a Warning of Jail Time if He Violates a Trial Gag Order

DON'T MISS

Federal Reserve Says Interest Rates Will Stay at Two-Decade High Until Inflation Further Cools

DON'T MISS

House Passes Bill Expanding Antisemitism Definition Amid Campus Protests Over Gaza War

DON'T MISS

Trump Awarded 36 Million More Trump Media Shares Worth $1.8 Billion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Trustees Discuss Interim Superintendent Decision. When Will They Decide?

UP NEXT

Politics Killed Deal for Vacant Fresno Building. Now, Who Wants to Move In?

UP NEXT

Mammograms Should Start at 40 to Address Rising Breast Cancer Rates at Younger Ages, Panel Says

UP NEXT

How Did Watchdog Respond to Arias Ethics Complaint on DA Smittcamp?

UP NEXT

Filmmaker Jeff Aiello Is Leaving Valley PBS. Station Is Seeking New CEO/President.

UP NEXT

Earth Day Offers Family Friendly Activities Saturday at Fresno City College

UP NEXT

Video Shows Alleged Porchfest Anti-Palestinian Hate Crime

UP NEXT

California is Joining with a New Jersey Company to Buy a Generic Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug

UP NEXT

Ramirez Defeats Barthelemy in Front of Hometown Crowd

UP NEXT

Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error

UP NEXT

Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Duane Eddy, Twangy Guitar Hero of Early Rock, Dead at Age 86

2 hours ago

Fresno State’s Randa Jarrar Dragged Out of Event Featuring Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik

2 hours ago

Trump Calls Judge ‘Crooked’ After Facing a Warning of Jail Time if He Violates a Trial Gag Order

2 hours ago

Federal Reserve Says Interest Rates Will Stay at Two-Decade High Until Inflation Further Cools

2 hours ago

House Passes Bill Expanding Antisemitism Definition Amid Campus Protests Over Gaza War

3 hours ago

Trump Awarded 36 Million More Trump Media Shares Worth $1.8 Billion

4 hours ago

Fresno Trustees Discuss Interim Superintendent Decision. When Will They Decide?

Local Education /

4 hours ago

Why Wheels on $10M Worth of Fresno Buses Don’t Go Round and Round

4 hours ago

Enough With the Excuses. Are You Part of the Problem With Fresno’s Public Education?

4 hours ago

New Battlegrounds Emerge in California’s Political Guerrilla War Over Housing

6 hours ago

Fresno State Shows the Nation How a Peaceful Palestinian Protest is Done

A peaceful pro-Palestinian sit-in at Fresno State on Wednesday lived up to its billing. “We want a cease-fire, and we just want a free...

15 mins ago

15 mins ago

Fresno State Shows the Nation How a Peaceful Palestinian Protest is Done

1 hour ago

Wired Wednesday: Digging Into Fresno’s Trash Hauling Fees

2 hours ago

Fresno State Announces 2024 Undergraduate Deans’ Medalists

2 hours ago

Duane Eddy, Twangy Guitar Hero of Early Rock, Dead at Age 86

2 hours ago

Fresno State’s Randa Jarrar Dragged Out of Event Featuring Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik

2 hours ago

Trump Calls Judge ‘Crooked’ After Facing a Warning of Jail Time if He Violates a Trial Gag Order

2 hours ago

Federal Reserve Says Interest Rates Will Stay at Two-Decade High Until Inflation Further Cools

3 hours ago

House Passes Bill Expanding Antisemitism Definition Amid Campus Protests Over Gaza War

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend