A former nurse at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center files a suit challenging the reason for her termination.

According to documents filed in Boone County Circuit Court this week, Clancy Upshaw claims that she was let go by NARMC in retaliation for reports she had filed addressing concerns she had for the treatment one of the hospital physicians, Dr. Blake Chitsey, had given some of his patients. The court documents list several instances that Upshaw claims she reported concerns to Dr. Chitsey about orders he had placed for patients, concerns she claims went unaddressed. In one instance, Upshaw claims that Dr. Chitsey refusal to transfer a COVID patient for advanced care led to that patient's death. 

Another incident in which Upshaw reported concerns about treatment led to Dr. Chitsey filing a counter safety report against her claiming safety violations. Court documents indicate Upshaw eventually me with the hospital's Human Resources Representative to address the complaint but also allegations made the Upshaw had been diverting narcotics. The suit claims that when Upshaw agreed to take a drug test but refused to sign a form saying she wasn't coerced to do so, those events led to her termination. 

No exact figure for financial compensation was listed in the court documents but it was stated that Upshaw is seeking both back pay and foward pay in the lawsuit as well as other punitive damages. 

The full complaint in the lawsuit can be found on the Arkansas Courts Website.