WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Access to the Public Records of the Reports of Decisions

This Reports of Decisions document was retrieved from the Wisconsin Department of Department of Safety and Professional Services website. These records are open to public view under Wisconsin’s Open Records law, sections 19.31-19.39 Wisconsin Statutes.

Please read this agreement prior to viewing the Decision:

The Reports of Decisions is designed to contain copies of all orders issued by credentialing authorities

within the Department of Safety and Professional Services from November, 1998 to the present. In addition, many but not all orders for the time period between 1977 and November, 1998 are posted. Not all orders issued by a credentialing authority constitute a formal disciplinary action.

Reports of Decisions contains information as it exists at a specific point in time in the Department of Safety and Professional Services data base. Because this data base changes constantly, the Department is not responsible for subsequent entries that update, correct or delete data. The Department is not responsible for notifying prior requesters of updates, modifications, corrections or deletions. All users have the responsibility to determine whether information obtained from this site is still accurate, current and complete.

There may be discrepancies between the online copies and the original document. Original documents

should be consulted as the definitive representation of the order's content. Copies of original orders may be obtained by mailing requests to the Department of Safety and Professional Services, PO Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708-8935. The Department charges copying fees. All requests must cite the case number, the date of the order, and respondent's name as it appears on the order.

Reported decisions may have an appeal pending, and discipline may be stayed during the appeal. Information about the current status of a credential issued by the Department of Safety and Professional Services is shown on the Department's Web Site under “License Lookup.”

The status of an appeal may be found on court access websites at:

http://ccap.courts.state.wi.us/InternetCourtAccess and http://www.courts.state.wi.us/wscca .

Records not open to public inspection by statute are not contained on this website.

By viewing this document, you have read the above and agree to the use of the Reports of Decisions subject to the above terms, and that you understand the limitations of this on-line database.

Correcting information on the DSPS website: An individual who believes that information on the website is

inaccurate may contact the webmaster at web@drl.state.wi.gov

STATE OF WISCONSINBEFORE THE BOARD OF NURSING

.'. ~,~

W~[[-~@~~____________________________ .w _

IN THE HATTER OF DISCIPLINARYPROCEEDINGS AGAINST FINDINGS OF FACTS

CONCLUSIONS OF LA\,/HA1~Y LYNN LA\i'LESS,R.N. , AND ORDER____________________~~~~~~~:~=~ Q-'~~D_~_[QQ Q-'_I~ ~ _The parties to this proceeding for the purpose of Section 227.16,

Wis. Stats., are:

Mary Lynn Lawless602 East Cassidy StreetWausau, Wisconsin 54401

State of WisconsinBoard of Nursing1400 East WashingtonP.O. Box 8936Hadison, Wisconsin 53708

On , 1982, the State of \Hsconsin, Board of Nursingreceived a signed stipulation from the parties to the above-captioned matter.Having read and considered that stipulation and the exhibits appended thereto;and having accepted the stipulation, the Board makes the following findings offact, conclusions of lm'1and order:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Hary Lynn Lawless (La\'1less)was, at all times relevant to the eventsset forth herein, duly registered under the provisions of Chapter 441, His.Stats., to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Wisconsin(certification #70361, issued May 12, 1978).

2. Lawless' address is 602 East Cassidy Street, Hausau, Wisconsin 54401.

3. Lawless was employed by, and practiced as a registered nurse at,Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Inc., (Waukesha Memorial), Waukesha, Wisconsin, fromNovember 13, 1978 until February 26, 1981.

4. Beginning in approximately January, 1979, and until the approximatetime of her termination by Waukesha t-lemorial,Lawless did, on a regular basis,procure from medication carts, possess and self-administer apprximat.ely 744 .doses of various controlled substances, including morphine sulfate, Merpergan,Demerol, Percodan and Tylenol #3. Said controlled substances were not procuredor possessed pursuant to a valid prescription of a practitioner.

5. No patient of Waukesha }lemorial was affected by Lawle:"s' actions. Themedications were procured from emergency room stock supplies and fictitiouspatient names were entered on the narcotic records.

."

6. Lawless' performance as a registered nurse at Waukesha Memorial wasuniformly excellent throughout the term of her employment. A copy of a letterdated June 16, 1981, from Rexford W. Titus, III, commenting upon her work per-formance at Waukesha Memorial is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

7. Immediately following her discharge from \vaukesha Memorial, Lawlesswas admitted to a 28-day inpatient treatment program at Keystone Treatment Center,Canton, South Dakota. Copies of the discharge summary and referral forms fromKeystone are attached hereto and made a part hereof.

8. Following her discharge from Keystone, Lawless entered the impairednurses program at DePaul Rehabilitation Hospital and remained in that and relatedprograms at DePaul until her husband's employment transfer to Wausau necessitatedtermination of treatment. A copy of a letter dated September 16i 1981 fromDr. Richard Hauser 8.nd Glen ~1ue.lle:'('; R.l'-.1.. , of De.Pa.~ll) comr1er:t.in.g lIpan Li.~~.vlessttreatment is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

9. In conjunction with her treatment at DePaul, Lawless accepted employmentat DePaul Belleview extended care unit and practiced there as a registered nurseuntil her move. A copy of a letter dated June 17, 1981, from Lucy Motley,Director of Nursing at Belleview, is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

1. The State of Wisconsin Board of Nursing has jurisdiction to takedisciplinary action in ths proceeding pursuant to Section 227.07(5), Wis. Stats.

2.withoutconductSection

Procurement, possession and self-administration of controlled substanc.esthe valid prescription of a practitioner constitutes unprofessionalas defined by Section N 11.04, Wis. Adm. Code, and in violation of441.07, Wis. Stats.

ORDER

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the license of Nary Lynn Lawless topractice as a registered nurse in the State of Wisconsin be, and hereby is,suspended for a period of thirty (30) days.

LC IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED tilat following re ins tell:unent , the license ofMarv Lynn Lawless to practice as a registered nurse shall be, and hereby is,limited for a period of one year as follOl<1s:

(a) Lawless shall, within 30 days of the effective date of this order,submit to the Board of Nursing evidence of her participation in anoutpatient treatment program at North Central Healtllcare Facility, Wausau,\Yisconin, which program duplicates to the extent possible the treatmentprogram in which she participated at DePaul Rehabilitation Hospitalbetween April 9, 1981 and August 25, 1981.

(b) Six months after the effective date of this order, Lawless shallsubmit to the Board a treatment summary and evaluation performed by amember of the medical staff at North Central Healthcare and reflectingthat Lawless has no physical or psychological problems which would preventher continued succsssful and competent practice as a registered nurse.

.J;

II { 7'1 i '0 \/'1; t~~_, 1982.

t\ / ,j'JDated at ~ladison, Wisconsin, this >:dJ./,;,Ai~'9ay of

(c) One year after the effective date of this order, Lawless shallsubmit to the Board a second treatment summary and evaluation performedby a member of the medical staff at North Centeral Jlealthcare andreflecting that Lawless has no physical or psychological problems whichwould prevent her continued successful and competent practce as a registerednurse.

STATE OF WISCONSINBOARD OF NURSING

1u9-254

..'-" .•..~-----

c; '.~('. .~)

725 J~\;n("rjcan :\\'enueWauKc,IL1, \\'i:;cons:n 53186Telephone -iI.t 5-i-1-2011

---_._----~------------------- - ~--------~ ..-. ----_ _--_ _--- ..__ ..---_._----_._--_. __ _.- _ __ .--- _ _.__ ._------_._ ..-

Jtme 16, 1981

Yrr. \-JayneAustinNursing BoardDeparrrnent of Regulation and LicensjngState of \'JisconsinP.O. Box 8936l1adison, \\11 53708

Dear l1r. Austill :

l1rs. LYllii J..x=r;.]less\Vas el.Trployedby us in our EImrgency Deparbllentas a registered nur.se fro.n November, 1978 until February, 1981. .She "\vorkedas a team leader, \'Jhich :eeans that she \vClS responsiblefor much of the activity il1 the departnlent cluritig her tour ofduty. During the SalT'P-period of time, she i.'Jasemployed by theCity of \,laukesha as the inservice coordinat.or for the HaukeshaFire Departrnent. Paramedic Program.

In both roles l'-SLS. Lcf\:Jlessproved herself to be an excellent nurse.She has fine clinical skills, is energetic, all.d d2.i.llcnstratcd goodjudgrr!?nt.

As you knovJ) she -.;vasdischarged by us in February of 1981 vken itwas discovered tIlat she had stolen controlled substances fromlocked ID2.dicatio~1carts in the departrrs21.1t. Our investigationrevealed that the theft ivas for personal consu:rnption an.d that theID2.thodused in no '.\'ay affected the care of any pat.ieLlt treated inthe departr"ent. In fact) there is no evidence that ~Trs, u1\vless'probl2.i.'TIever diminished her ability to fUIlction as a professionalnurse. She "l,vasone of our top pl2rforrners.

If I can provide you "l,vithany further inforrr.ation on this matter)please do not hesitate to contact n~.

Sincerl2ly,. J ~. ~A ~ -=--v-/lj~--. //" ~ .. ---.Rexford H. Titus, III .Vice Preside~l.t/ Admit'l.istration

RHT/jjcc: }vIr.Patrick F. Bnl\.J' •...!

DejJt 0' ""-Ul ,. 0 I'.' I h •..~; .J .:on {;l ...recnsing

J"l;,:. 01 Cr;~::L;;.::~r r.c~.-.: <-:._~------_._---_._---_ ....._-----_._- --- ._._---_._._ .._----------_._----. ---------~._.- -----_ .•_-_ ...• _.- ' .. -------------_._. __ ._--_ ..~--------.-._--.-~ ---

_\ .,!

,',.•..,''''

ADDRESS: '

chemical Iv: deo.endent ~persol1. ,.',As he,I: eJucati,cm "in,this."cirea, . '-" ..-','/'

the '":1ore o'ositLve ..she oec2:,'e v:hich helDed. herdea'l::\vith her'f~iEtaT

guilt. ::h."'_' can ._.f'...lllvurrdersta ..:-td the dis. ec:\se .. con. ce.....D.:t '0. f..' ,.the'I", ....--' L _n~,ss •.

b. ,. j . . , • 1r1 ,-l ~, 11 ..elng aDuseu as a cnL u a~~ tlna _v ~2S able to •.disc.ussthings :;S12

he.d never !:eve,alec ..toanvcl',i..'.:- - -'-~--.'"

IPriest and he he~Ded he::- £L~rtheL.

quiteh::>ppy QlTll(~ t11arria£e ..aDDeaT s ..to be", . - - -. " --' -, . " w,,' . -. _ . - "-.. '

"b'" '-'0'0'."'; .co' M""""1~ .."pL"1.'on' ~D""tl;.n''''l' t:l'1;~ITi",',"'T"., ~_" ',f:>- ,_,' .j,!",J., __ ' _.', _.~~_ldl'~,U,....L,"-'-'-l: . ..t., _ ,e "','.":'".~:'~,_. l __L~,.:~';.:~_ :"i:,.

. . . - .. ,- '.

lea'st,twj,ce.:aw'eek&.thrtt'sl1e::rer1tuin in contac,t\ ....wLthat~rapls.t,.. l;.,':-::j. ., '- .• ~ - '. -' ~.' _ .. -" - -- . ...--:-0.....,.. .•.•..:

kncjwledg2ble. inchemical.,dependehc-ec'ounselingr Another pLDble~. c:.;:~.~l;Sher .splr:.[.yal~vutTuO~';<S.t~d.ha~. GliVe. lOved. d d#Ll,ypl'06~t\m ".cUT.ing

.......treatment ..L ho?eruL~Y\07il1. keep it. up and. atb:nd'church'i.;eeklyr. ThiS'wiITnq.douD:-T,n;ro,\re t-:erspI.r:ttudl3,ydt:10.u~~. 'Sheolu nm:.\~xperLence'any-withdrawal SVT;',otOCl1S \\'hich had our-" st'affbaff:Led"&, ~tehave. i:lOtCO~.2.wit halo gical"r'eason'.,dlY sn'eOldn1t.' -.

. :and"ta\" clean and soDer.', ...

.. ; -.';,... .... ~..

a.b.

.', ..

IX~

,Abstin~nce ' ... '.' .AA/P/vAt~endc.!1c8>:, , ,;,'

1ridividcial<'counsel ii1g.IV~:~,'.Reinstaited in"r;ursing7P~,o,f€ssioti:

- .Iinp,rove:" fa::1ily ..r;::Lati.o'r:~~~Jps.'.-':(_"IC1?rOvem~nt,l,.,'l tn Er:rot19y};;.ladj,ustment.3Se~f-A~tual~za~iort~ ~. ' .,.

Improvespiri tuaL'concep.ts'Dai l~;r P:-0 t;:r- am:.:, ~At t'eD'a >1!:2et'ings "

c\. ,Chu:reh at t endanceAlanonfor 'husband

.PltR 1'1Gl PJ1.,r--: T

D.t\TE

----._-------

Hatch. 26, 1981-- -~,---~.:...7"'.--- •...""",.,-.~..-- -"..---- - __

. 7,25l.:7,erican A',le a--,":,""-~'-.:---:-~~" _ ..•. - - - -- - -.-- - -.' -~. - _.- - - --- ,----

t\:GE1'';CY OR IT?'iTI

~ ._~~~a.~~~~e_~~~_,~_!L~s ~_9..~.~_~r.::i...• 53 l.~ EJ.__ ._,\DDRESS

FROM .... ~_~ .~a_~_~~~!~~c:~~,_~,L":~~.2~.•.. ~~~.~_,_,N~a ....------. --~~X~~-'~:0~___c __ ~~..: ~ __

AGENcY ORlrSIT

_ ... S~~T}~.9:.~! . _L~_°_12~_. _~7_~]13ADDRESS .

This is to 1".o:i1''!'.vt:u that the ebo .....e r.:;rr.cd p:micipc.rl! i3: 'refated to )'C'u.iDT. ,essis:ance .

.REPLY OF AGENCY ORL~IT'REFERREDTO>tribilted .mon::thanher sha.re. ingrougs •..'. . --als cr- 'gc~e~m:OTJg\,:e-:tl~~ ~L11 uLheiS.: __.LLE 2-~~

gIvenso:ne time to balance .out, .t:lier,t •..;c..:~:-:~~--'- --'~-~'--'---. ----~~-'-- ~'--~b--'e~pnpl-r:;u~UTsirt6 -'aga~Il~i.LL •r::~S--~Di'S::'::~:":.

'.,.'-...;.'(_.;..,..........,.....,....._.,......-'--__ .,......,.....~-.,.....__ ..;. ..;..,.....~andirn:.egretiy .•....I hope she: .Ls, givsn the. ...~.Cffi~:e:. -c~;S~e'\-j~ ~~,ut: .,dt~.~L~r~.(;;d:.tr~i;i.~~:-~

...... do,n.d",-¥.,.a •.ch .jYL.O and p~aI!s.oI1ta."".Ln6 2.'--'-""---~-------'---'-~firgh:tt-h~:1e- tharttay; . .

' ....~". ".

j.: ~ ,-'r" ...

. ,,'.'

j.'-7.-.fl:::-'.~e.r.\;'C'2r-:~>:~:-r

,..v.

-:.-?QS""<1..h1~:~~j~.5:F: \~?:

"f" -,,-. r"< ••••. J.-~ ..:;-;.~~.,~~~

irl. 'ai'j. r'ccrj::;~;:'e~:!,~..l'{!:E-~}:t"f~"3.:~':~'<:~~l~0'_.'

l).i7":~::/;.,i'~=-.l•.? i""".r.::,_~.,~~:": c "':.~.l~?~,"",\.:-:'t'T)~.'.t:'i~"~1..t,1~1':-:.T7. '.?l,rc.~::'",=::1_",:,':-::--: ;::~ ~;c(:~.:L t ~::-:t"'.~" ~~u'r;':S.-33 ~ :-,..;(::.~:..~,:.:>:-\.i~.~.,i:.-tirl0"i 'S'~~~c2

.('}'~1-=1'C:">:~.--:'.8~br:e ,~),::t-:}i'''s

: '

1"", _.'

.J 1 .

.:_.~~?:.t :="1;;; ~"-'".-:::..t: i ~::.:-;.t . r:~ :-1t ~::.~~:.>':1.~:'r.: ~~~.i.":8~1.~_:{-~;.~r..:~.~

~"" '""! • - y. ,....-.w •• " ~J ••••• ~

=.- .:.~ o. }. ~,:':~~~,r":':.;.2.-2 ..:~'~:)~~C~:'l.J..t.~r ::'~'~-c:'.::~..:=:-~:"~,::1t. '. ',:= __ :,~:~;,:'~~'i'-c.l-O--;',:, .'::'.?.r.~''.:C ~..l~.reT':.-;:.

:-,:~.i.I'..~\.f.'J.l.~~!~3.~:;l.r~.-3~-2..1..ii~ ..iI~:~,:~'l:i>~:.:--:.'~.-e~:,i',rl~".~;t::::~.(C-,: ::-'.~2,0 :=',':t::{c':Ja.r3.c (~s,

. ?-::" .~j::(~}~" '.J2t;. "J.:S'" '.O.1.,~,'."t7

:' ~,?'~;>,~"~-:'ri~~'ri~"..,~ 2:.,t.'i::;:; ~}"t;'.>J~~.\.'~':i':~~.t:,:,.t:~~~~(~:".D.r(~J0c~'(~s ::L:;'...~~.;i:."tj:-::rl,r;:'0: ..;~~

.1--_;.-::,"

.::h:-CO':~10~::'\'"i~'~'~('.,~'~~,J;~~:~__O'lJ):: ~:'"~:.()"J?~' ?I.t .. 's:~~e_;~<"!i._}.. ~ .~~.'~'.?.6',,,f.tflJ.:d\".:<:.:..:t~'t:~'0't~'011'

T) j_'2~~1'..TJ'r~ i] i 0 L1S l~:!(~,i'~'Cltl:'~'S 2<-~ ~ ~ r.••:." ..+-'1 ~"J-, S218.': ..~~,;l..l ~.r~ t\lr:;.to: 't;~2; -= ~1J:1 ,:,:c2,c~ i cc::qf n i..::c~~~s,:i:r~;:::t2'.:2

0'-:." ~-~-::;r6-r'6'~~0'SS:' tC)- ,t:'l~is' :;Oi'T"f.t. ::.'.'

=2,:'):-:",~::::: :=:',',1.

__~i~{~' "-()"::O,::,<:~'::}:.~:'C'~~:-:-"~:::/:::-:.?~1'~":.•CC,~r~:'2<::-:.. :1~~~\~~~:~'~~-H-i

C'.'_:~-~'.'i.ti~3.r:~

-:':12 n;,~~c1 Eir'i's'e .. fo.::: a:C~.cTi.t.io'h_ClI~~n~jc,t.,.tlS~t:.~0~:

.,•...

....~

~ Givision of De PauliZeh"bil:tlltion H05pitill, Inc.1'1\)4 E. Eklievicw r'b.>ce'.~i!waLlkee. Wisconsin 53211~14 .CjG4-8200

John E. Stager, NHA;\dminLstr~tor

June 17, 1981

,\ beili!y oHIT-ng compreh<>nsive:;:t:diclll bnu rehab'!;tative S€r-:,(e5 to pcrsv:15 nceding long-:',.':'1n Chrc ~s po::::: ()~ tl,l.cir,,:~overy from OiCone;:,sm or;(:me other drug dependency.

t\. Bela lvlaroli:':>rcsident

:::Olill1d E. Herrington, M.D."1edic..<,,1Director

::'dward 1. Hidacyccutive Vice President

\~,.drles J. Dreher, CPA,'ice President - Finance

,I'-.

Brown~ Phillips & DavisAttorneys at LawAttention: Patrick F;Brown, Esq.Post Office Box 676241 Wisconsin AvenueWaukesha, Wisconsin 53187

RE: 1.,J,ary Lynn HcGinnis La\'lless

Deal'Sir:

l1rs. Lynn La\'lless is employed at De Paul Belleview and isa valuable employee \..;ith high professional standards. Shehas perforlTlc,'d herdut.i es \'ii th qual i ty performance.

Lucy Motley, R.N.Director of Nursing

Lf~: ch

. " .

,.1":"