Janet Kupka, courtesy of Myrtle Beach police
Myrtle Beach police charged Janet Kupka, 53, with Aggravated Assault Wednesday.
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center contacted police on October 19 in reference to the possible overmedication of William Norman, 63, according to the police report.
William was better known as Bill Norman, a D.J. at The Surf radio station in North Myrtle Beach.
A witness told police that on October 14, Kupka gave Norman 20 mg of morphine, much higher than the 4 mg prescribed and possibly life threatening.
Later that day, the witness saw Kupka go into another patient's room get a bottle of Diprivan, which she also gave to Norman, according to police.
Norman's monitor alarms sounded and the witness told police Kupka admitted to giving the patient the Diprivan.
Norman died.
"Upon report of an alleged incident in October, we immediately notified all appropriate authorities including the the South Carolina Department of Nursing, the DHEC Bureau of Drug Control, and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. We have cooperated with any, and all, law enforcement inquires and requests and will continue to do so. As this is now a pending criminal case, we defer all inquires to the solicitor's office for the 15th Judicial Circuit. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time, except to say that we remain committed to providing a high level of patient care," Grand Strand Regional CEO Doug White stated over the phone.
