At 10:00 the CoA will hear State of Mississippi Board of Nursing v. Ann Hobson.
Hobson had a history of substance abuse and was a participant in the Board’s Recovery Nurse Program from approximately 2004 until 2009. In 2014 she was a CRNA at South Sunflower Hospital. On June 10 she was assisting in surgery. She had the keys to the narcotics cabinet and withdrew Demerol which she administered to the patient. Later it was discovered that there were six vials of Demerol missing. Six persons including Hobson were drug tested and Hobson’s urine was found to be positive for Meperidine or Demerol. The other five were negative. A hearing was held and an order was issued suspending Appellee’s nursing license and advance practice privileges as a CRNA for six months as well as ordering Appellee to comply with other conditions. She appealed to the full board which affirmed. Before the Board issued its opinion, Hobson appealed to the Chancery Court which reversed. The Court noted three concerns: A birthday party going on in a room close in proximity where the missing vials were allegedly taken; improper chain of custody regarding the drug screens on which the board based its decision; and the absence of Normeperidine in the urine sample. The Board appealed.
Board of Nursing’s brief
Hobson’s brief
Board of Nursing’s reply brief
Watch the argument here