Additional Coverage:
- Pennsylvania nurse who gave patients lethal or possibly lethal insulin doses gets life in prison (newsbreak.com)
Heather Pressdee, a Pennsylvania nurse, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of three patients by administering lethal insulin doses. The conviction is at the heart of a sobering case that has revealed Pressdee’s involvement in the deaths of at least 17 patients across several health facilities in four counties from 2020 to 2023.
Pressdee, whose victims’ ages ranged broadly from 43 to 104 years old, was reported by colleagues to have shown a clear disdain for those under her care, often making derogatory remarks about them. Initially, she was charged in 2023 with the murder of two patients and the serious injury of another but has since admitted to additional charges.
The prosecution’s case against Pressdee painted a grim picture of her actions, accusing her of exploiting low staffing levels during night shifts to administer fatal doses of insulin to patients, including those with diabetes. This heinous activity led to the suspension of her nursing license, following revelations of a disturbing pattern of abusive behavior towards both patients and fellow staff members across various facilities.
Evidence gathered during the investigation, including distressing text messages, indicated Pressdee’s deep dissatisfaction with her job, her patients, and colleagues, along with discussions about causing them harm. Court documents also underscored Pressdee’s unstable employment history, revealing frequent changes of workplaces among nursing homes in western Pennsylvania since 2018.
This case has cast a shadow over the nursing profession in Pennsylvania, highlighting the urgent need for more stringent oversight and the protection of vulnerable patients in healthcare settings.