Summary

A CRITICAL-CARE NURSE CHARGED IN ONE PATIENT'S DEATH AND UNDER INVESTIGATION IN 17 SIMILAR GEORGIA CASES SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES THURSDAY. 34 YEAR-OLD JOE AKIN OF MARIETTA, GEORGIA WAS CHARGED WEDNESDAY WITH MURDER IN THE MARCH 27 DEATH OF ROBERT J. PRICE AT COOPER GREEN HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM. AKIN ARRIVED AT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL WITH HIS ATTORNEY, PETE SHORT. NEITHER WOULD COMMENT. BOND WAS SET AT $350,000. AKIN WOULD BE CONFINED TO JEFFERSON AND WALKER COUNTIES IF HE POSTS BOND. HIS FAMILY LIVES IN WALKER COUNTY. POLICE IN GEORGIA ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATHS OF 17 PATIENTS AT A SUBURBAN ATLANTA HOSPITAL WHERE AKIN WORKED. AUTHORITIES SAID THEY HAVE FOUND SIMILARITIES IN THE CASES, BUT AKIN HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED IN GEORGIA. PROSECUTORS AND POLICE DECLINED TO RELEASE THE CAUSE OF PRICE'S DEATH. BUT ALVA CAINE, A BIRMINGHAM LAWYER REPRESENTING PRICE'S FAMILY, SAID THE MAN WAS POISONED WITH THE DRUG LIDOCAINE. AKIN CAME UNDER SUSPICION IN THE DEATHS AT HOSPITALS WHERE HE WORKED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH NUMBER OF SO-CALLED ``CODE-BLUE'' EMERGENCIES HE HANDLED. OFFICIALS IN BOTH STATES HAVE SAID AKIN TRIED TO REVIVE THE PATIENTS WHO DIED.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 102336
Story Slug NURSE SURRENDERS (1991)
Location BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Format VO/SOT
Date 08/23/1991
Archive Time 44:31
TRT 2:14
Supers JEFFERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, BIRMINGHAM, AL PETER SHORT, AKIN'S ATTORNEY TERESA TANNER PULLIAM, JEFFERSON COUNTY ASST. D.A. SGT. PATRICK CURRY, BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPT.
Video Description AKIN WALKING INTO PRISON AREA, PICTURE OF AKIN, PRINCETON HOSPITAL, SOTS...
Description A CRITICAL-CARE NURSE CHARGED IN ONE PATIENT'S DEATH AND UNDER INVESTIGATION IN 17 SIMILAR GEORGIA CASES SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES THURSDAY. 34 YEAR-OLD JOE AKIN OF MARIETTA, GEORGIA WAS CHARGED WEDNESDAY WITH MURDER IN THE MARCH 27 DEATH OF ROBERT J. PRICE AT COOPER GREEN HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM. AKIN ARRIVED AT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL WITH HIS ATTORNEY, PETE SHORT. NEITHER WOULD COMMENT. BOND WAS SET AT $350,000. AKIN WOULD BE CONFINED TO JEFFERSON AND WALKER COUNTIES IF HE POSTS BOND. HIS FAMILY LIVES IN WALKER COUNTY. POLICE IN GEORGIA ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATHS OF 17 PATIENTS AT A SUBURBAN ATLANTA HOSPITAL WHERE AKIN WORKED. AUTHORITIES SAID THEY HAVE FOUND SIMILARITIES IN THE CASES, BUT AKIN HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED IN GEORGIA. PROSECUTORS AND POLICE DECLINED TO RELEASE THE CAUSE OF PRICE'S DEATH. BUT ALVA CAINE, A BIRMINGHAM LAWYER REPRESENTING PRICE'S FAMILY, SAID THE MAN WAS POISONED WITH THE DRUG LIDOCAINE. AKIN CAME UNDER SUSPICION IN THE DEATHS AT HOSPITALS WHERE HE WORKED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH NUMBER OF SO-CALLED ``CODE-BLUE'' EMERGENCIES HE HANDLED. OFFICIALS IN BOTH STATES HAVE SAID AKIN TRIED TO REVIVE THE PATIENTS WHO DIED.
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Keywords

ABUSE
HEALTH CARE
CRIME
}