Questions Raised on Care Given Artist Before His Death : Warhol Nurse Undergoes Investigation

The New York State Health Department announced Thursday that it will question the private-duty nurse who cared for pop artist Andy Warhol, as part of a continuing investigation into the medical care Warhol received before his death in a Manhattan hospital.

Warhol, 58, entered the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center for gallbladder surgery last month and was reported in “stable condition” after the operation. But his condition worsened and he died of a heart attack, according to the hospital, early on the morning of Feb. 22.

Nine days later, the Health Department said it had launched an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the artist’s death. On Wednesday, New York Hospital disclosed that it had first suspended and then barred the private-duty nurse who had been assigned to Warhol.

Performance Questioned

“The hospital’s review of the medical records raised questions concerning the overall performance of Mr. Warhol’s private-duty nurse,” said Myrna Manners, one of New York Hospital’s public affairs officials. “Therefore, on Monday, Feb. 23, the hospital informed the private-duty nurses registry that pending further hospital investigation it would not call upon her to care for patients at the New York Hospital. The hospital has completed its investigation, and it does not intend to have the nurse work at the hospital again.”

Manners declined on Thursday to reveal the name of the nurse or what the hospital’s review of its medical records had found.

Peter Slocum, a spokesman for the state health department, said that state investigators had begun to review Warhol’s charts and records and had started to interview physicians and other personnel at the hospital.

“They don’t have a report or full picture yet . . . or a conclusion,” Slocum said. “We will follow what seem to be some pretty obvious leads . . . . We will interview the nurse.”

One of the things the Health Department investigators will be focusing on is whether the symptoms of Warhol’s heart attack were apparent and whether there was any delay by the nurse in notifying physicians to institute emergency measures.

Medical Studies Awaited

The New York City medical examiner also is scrutinizing the circumstances of Warhol’s death. An initial autopsy was performed, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Elliot Gross is still awaiting further studies, an official of his office said.

Frederick Hughes, the executor of Warhol’s estate, said the private-duty nurse had been hired from the night nursing desk at the hospital. New York Hospital said the nurse was assigned to the artist by an agency that provides private nurses to New York Hospital and other medical institutions.

In originally announcing Warhol’s death, New York Hospital said “sometime after 5:30 a.m.” Warhol went into cardiac arrest and his private-duty nurse summoned the hospital’s staff. The cardiac arrest team worked for almost an hour to revive the artist, to no avail.