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| Escambia County has seen an all-time record number of deaths in the month of July, 2021. The number of death investigation cases in the D1 Medical Examiner's office is up nearly 70% over July, 2020. |
The members of the board of county commissioners recieved an email report of conditions at our District 1 Medical Examiner's Office in Pensacola at Sacred Heart Hospital. The Medical Examiner's office has seen a dramatic increase in deaths throughout the four county district, with a notable spike in Escambia county in particular. July has been particularly rough in Escambia County.....From her email:
Gentlemen,
July has been quite
a month at the District 1 Medical Examiner's Office. We hit an unfortunate
record with 130 postmortem examinations, the doctors signed over 160 death
certificates, and the office investigated about 300 deaths. It's not even the
end of the month yet. We've never, ever had a month like this and the staff are
working the equivalent of 2 people.
Escambia county is
almost entirely responsible for this July crush we are feeling. Compared
to July 2020 -- Escambia had 70% more cases in July 2021. (Walton county has
also had a substantial increase in percentage but their relative number is
still low.)
Escambia's increase
in non-natural deaths is a substantial outlier. Of the 6 homicides I had this
month, 5 were from Escambia county (there is likely a true total of 7
homicides, 2 cases are currently pending more information). In 2020 Escambia
had 2 homicides. (of note: I personally had the unlucky week with 6 homicides)
Most of our July
autopsies for Escambia are pending toxicology testing -- this means that
the increase in cases is most likely from drugs (but also homicides, pedestrian
fatalities, and child deaths). Which is the same trend of a 60-65% increase in
drug deaths that I cited a couple of months ago. I also signed a couple of
death certificates this month that were sequelae of long term intravenous drug
abuse -- bacterial endocarditis / sepsis.
The workload from
Escambia county is so rapidly increasing in case load -- that it alone needs 3
doctors and 25 staff to adequately and effectively investigate these
deaths.
Our current
situation with regards to the facilities has significantly degraded since the
Chair and Vice Chair last visited. These details are best shared in a
conversation rather than in an email.
On a positive note
-- Sacred did agree to the $1k a month rent adjustment for the remaining space
that we need to operate the morgue ($14.55 SF vs. $23 SF). They are also
waiving the first 2 months of rent in our new lease.
We really need that
building. I sincerely hope that the Chair and Vice Chair can help me get the
other counties on board. Whatever you need me to do. But at this point, I need
your help getting some action and financial commitment from the other
counties to go forward.
Thank you for
passing the budget amendment and the help you all have given us thus far.
We are looking
forward to working with Mr. Gilmore as our new DOMES board member.
As always, I am
available any time to discuss. I am the doctor on service again next week, so
afternoons are always best.
Thank you,
DAO
13 comments:
It’s Fentanyl and opiates commissioner Bergosh. It’s going to get even worse because fentanyl is replacing heroin. If our sheriff’s department doesn’t quit hiding the addiction crisis here and give addicts the help they really need instead of arresting them every other month, you might as well recommend a 2nd or 3rd morgue. That’s not an exaggeration. You might as well prepare for that scenario anyway with the upcoming covid deaths on top of the overdose deaths. Ask hospital officials how many patients they’re seeing with infections from dirty needles, then research the success of harm reduction programs. It’s going to get worse if we don’t start treating the issue with a more progressive approach.
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/what-harm-reduction
I would just say commissioner that I know you used that picture to get attention, and it probably is a stock photo, but people may see that and think that’s my loved one in the bag just piled up among other people in bags. Maybe a more tasteful picture?
Maybe they don't need to investigate so many deaths.
Who cares what open society foundations has to say? They are ruining the USA and other countries. Funded by George Soros.
If someone want to die from injecting themselves than that's their own choice or problem. Don't even need an autopsy.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist or even medical professional to recognize cause of death in some cases. Although that does pay themselves well on taxpayers dime.
Can FL have a coroner?
There is a recent NE article the people don't even believe the medical examiner when chances are the drunk fell flat on his face and busted his head on the asphalt.
The picture is fine, could have been worse.
I’ve never come across anyone locally that knows much about harm reduction. Reading the above comment was a surprise. Unfortunately, we live in a predominantly conservative area and I don’t have high hopes for the implementation of harm reduction programs for that very reason. Despite the proven success. This is another humanitarian crisis that’s been politicized, which has resulted in more deaths. It’s a travesty that people can’t put politics aside and focus on proven programs because those programs don’t align with their political beliefs.
People think if the drug dealers are arrested and sentenced with harsh penalties the problem will end. It doesn’t work that way though. For every dealer taken off the street, 10 more are waiting and willing to take their place. Arresting addicts then releasing them without a plan and viable help is a waste of tax money, because they’re usually rearrested in 4 months or less. Once they’re in the system it creates a cycle that normally only ends in death.
Big pharma created the opiate crisis knowing how highly addictive opiates are. ***Knowing what it does to the brain receptors, creating a dependency that doesn’t just get you high, but it becomes a dependency to feel normal.*** There’s a big misconception about opiate addicts. Most addicts keep using because when they withdraw, it takes most people over a year for their brains to heal and start releasing dopamine normally. Dopamine is the chemical in the brain that mediates pleasure (happiness and feelings of normalcy), without it we don’t experience any pleasure. That’s why opiate addiction has such a high relapse rate. Most will die before they recover. Try going a year without being able to derive true pleasure and happiness from anything, and see how long it takes you to use again, to just feel normal.
We all know by now the kickbacks big pharma was giving their reps and doctors to push opiates even for the most minor pain, despite the fact it was created for end stage cancer pain. Therefore it created addicts from all walks of life, addicts that have such a strong addiction they end up doing things way out of their normal character to feed their addiction.
If the settlement money from big pharma was allocated to harm reduction services, and transition homes, we could really make some progress. The Lakeview Soboxone program that some of the previous settlement funds went to has a lot of flaws the director can’t fix. Addicts aren’t getting the real counseling they need and a life plan, so they’re selling their suboxone and buying cheaper fentanyl to keep from withdrawing and to have extra money to survive. Most opiate addicts aren’t high functioning addicts like most cocaine addicts and alcoholics are. Holding down a job is extremely difficult for severe opiate addicts. Suboxone is just a crutch and another way for big pharma to keep the customers/addicts they created.
Pensacola needs to address this growing problem in a different way. It can happen to anyone. Addiction doesn’t discriminate.
10 years ago I took my daughter to our Gulf Breeze family physician for a fractured bone. Little did I know that day would be the beginning of a horrible nightmare.
Its time to get on our and pray I hear alot who say they dont believe or care about God its might be time to rethink.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
And to those who refuse the vaccine.
Proverbs 16:18
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Someone who is haughty is arrogant and full of pride. When you're haughty, you have a big attitude and act like you're better than other people. A haughty person acts superior and looks down on others. Haughty people are disdainful, overbearing, prideful, swaggering, and obnoxious.
Thank you so much for engaging on this topic, Commissioner Bergosh. We are so lucky to have somebody of Dr. Oleske's caliber and integrity in this position now. Her candor and her obvious care for every aspect of her work was really refreshing to see when she was at the podium.
She addressed so many things that tend to be the typical barriers to smooth operations in our area government, including the astonishing lack of awareness about potential grant monies, and not gearing an operation to be able to go after them all. Still, I was shocked when she mentioned--hello, out of the blue!--that our examiner's office lacks some official capacity. I can't remember the category she referred to--was it accreditation or some sort of licensure? I'm blanking on the term she used, but it certainly seemed like a glaring lack that had never even made it to the status of "elephant in the room" under previous directors.
What a shame that so much money was lost and so many resources starved under the previous administration there. Thank you for being the Escambia lead on dragging that into the light, as well. I've had two experiences with people contacting me to see if I could help them advocate for better (any) response out of the previous examiner's office concerning a loved one's death, the status of an investigation in one case and a refusal to investigate in the other. It was impossible--I had to contact ECSO to get anywhere at all on it.
So it was a really reassuring thing to hear the majority of the Board voice support for what she is trying to get accomplished during the most perfect storm of crises--opiates, major hurricane, and a pandemic needlessly running out of control here. Nobody should be surprised if her initial projections on need end up being too low. But those numbers she presented seemed to be a pretty bare minimum, and Doug didn't even manage to get any traction on ECW when he tried to get something going on his peers for recognizing the need for more funding for this office. Please do hold the line on the other counties, though. They don't need to continue to benefit from Escambia taxapyers' largesse and should be paying sufficiently for what services they receive, particularly if the new office is going to be moved over to Santa Rosa.
Commissioner Bergosh, Did you know some Louisiana hospitals are at capacity with covid patients they’re having to transfer patients to other hospitals outside of Louisiana? Sacred Heart received 2 patients yesterday from a North Louisiana hospital because they didn’t have room for them. What happens when our hospitals are at capacity because the new variant is much more contagious? Where will the heart attack patients, cancer patients, and auto accident patients be put? Mask mandates are our only hope to save lives and our economy, until the vaccine is approved by the FDA. But that won’t happen because God forbid any Republican stands up against Desantis and fights to save lives and our economy.
The spread of covid now fueled by the Delta variant, lawmakers and prominent health experts have urged the FDA to expedite full approval of Pfizer’s vaccine, saying it would be a powerful tool in convincing the unvaccinated to get their shots and in giving businesses and other entities a stronger legal foundation to impose vaccine mandates. But we need a plan NOW to get us through until the vaccine has the FDA approval.
What’s Escambia County’s plan?
Thanks for taking the time to tell your stories and share verses of wisdom.
I looked up harm reduction and found an article on a psychology today site. That does make more sense than forced abstinence.
Yes we have to try to stop polarizing every issue.
We each come at things from different angles and life stories and world views. I would hope people would to be able to talk and/or celebrate the differences and learn from one another.
Personally, I got sick and tired of an addict and moved hundreds of miles away from said person and let them hit rock bottom. It was a hard thing to do. They seemed to have risen above it.
I know of other family members who got murdered by an addict, another family member, that they had given their all to, over and over.
Others may have more compassion. More power to them. Really.
Love is a wonderful thing.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/harm-reduction
A lot of Fentanyl comes across the border. Illegally.
Personally I hate opiates, they make me nauseous. My spouse has chronic pain but we use natural methods to alleviate it.
I had another family member with late stage cancer and Fentanyland morphine helped him have a better death.
It really irritates me to see able bodied young people waste their life.
I don't see why people can't take a little bit of opiates after a surgery then just stop. I took a couple for a back injury them put them up in the cabinet in case it happens again because you have to jump through hoops to even get a few days worth because of others abusing a good thing.
I find I'm not a "bleeding heart liberal" in my older age.
I used to take in puppies and children and think everyone can be rehabilitated but am not in that stage now, perhaps it's ok to have the old crotchety person say, get up, get a job..get off the couch.
But now that younger addict is staying with my older parents who are alcoholics and all seem to be OK and getting along.
Maybe I'll learn to bend again..
People go through cycles and learning stages, all their lives.
Rather than blame big pharma I would think responsibility belongs to the person who made the choice to "pick up the rattlesnake"
Reference old fable. "You knew what I was when you picked me up", said the rattlesnake.
Caution:ary tale about addicts and addictive drugs:
"There’s a native American tale of an old rattlesnake who asks a passing young boy to carry him to the mountain top to see one last sunset before he dies. The boy was hesitant, but the rattlesnake promised not to bite him in exchange for the ride. After that concession, the boy carried the snake to the top of the mountain where they watched the sunset together.
Upon carrying the snake back down to the valley floor, the boy prepares him a meal and a bed for the night. In the morning the snake asks:
“Please little boy, will you take me back to my home now? It is time for me to leave this world, and I would like to be at my home now.” The little boy felt he had been safe all this time and the snake had kept his word, so he would take it home as asked.
He carefully picked up the snake, took it close to his chest, and carried him back to the woods, to his home to die. Just before he laid the rattlesnake down, the rattlesnake turned and bit him in the chest. The little boy cried out and threw the snake upon the ground. “Mr. Snake, why did you do that? Now I will surely die!” The rattlesnake looked up at him and grinned:
“You knew what I was when you picked me up.”
The plot thickens on the Northescambia page about 2 brothers who were apparently beaten, or not, depending on who is telling the story.
The Medical examiner said the one from the parking lot at Odom's bar died from natural causes. It looks like the other brother was battered on the day before and also died. It is a coincidence.
I don't know the law about death but does every unattended death have to have an autopsy? That can get pricey. Some counties/districts have coroners, not medical examiners.
I guess insurance needs to know whether it's accidental, natural, self induced.
Then the legal agencies have to have their sign off and close cases, or not.
Things can be so complicated.
Back in the day, Dead was Dead.
People do need to be careful about wearing their politics on their sleeves and their public loud voices on comments. They aren't interested in the community, they are interested in their politics.
Stories do convey necessary info that can bring us together. (or apart)
Comm Bergosh I believe your wife is involved with the Hope and Health clinic so I can see that you support it. You also seem to weigh out facts and balance between your world view and other's, yet are able to learn new things as you go. Good qualities.
For instance, I see people on another blog talking bad about Matt Gaetz and an email he sent to us, his constituents. Well guess what? We sent him to Washington DC and as far as I can tell, he is doing what we sent him there to do. Also he in FL doing what he should be doing. Some of us don't need him here holding our hand.
True story, I have a cousin in SF, California who posted on facebook that if any "FOTHER MUCKERS" change {intentional} {didn't vote the way she did} to unfriend her, so I did.
Now she is hitting my filtered messages list on private messages..too bad.. deleted.
She must want something. Well she can get her fat ass on a plane and fly here to be by her own family member's side or what ever she now wants this "fother mucker" to do.
Have a little respect.
As far as the deaths, ME may have to adjust their way of doing things.
August 1, 2021 at 10:53 AM
Good question
Of note, I was on a Countrywide chat/not facebook site and put the simple sentence that "Florida was spiking and setting records on COVIDand that I took the Moderna in the spring and was fine."
You wouldn't believe the pushback I got.
Saying it was fake news, I was a troll, hope I enjoy my next few weeks to live from taking a jab... and on and on..
Finally a few others spoke up after five hours... after I ignored the worst.
There are some really hard headed people out there in internet land..
It is nuts.
I think some people are just going to have to learn the hard way.
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