Autopsy Fails to Explain Medical Reason for Fumes

A midnight autopsy that resembled a science fiction scene more than a medical examination produced no obvious explanation for the death of Gloria Ramirez and the illness of six medical personnel stricken by mysterious fumes while attending her.

“To the best of my knowledge, there is no clear-cut evidence that it (Ramirez’s body) was contaminated with anything,” said Dr. Jeffrey Simons of Riverside Community Hospital, where the pathologists and industrial hygienists who conducted the unusual autopsy were kept under observation for 12 hours.

The four autopsy participants were in good health and apparently unaffected by the procedure, during which they wore extensive protective clothing and breathing apparatus. They were released from the hospital Friday afternoon.

An unidentified firefighter who apparently suffered an anxiety attack while operating air hoses outside the autopsy room remained in the hospital for observation, but Simons said he was not injured.

“He has an upset stomach and feels nauseated,” Simons said. “I think it’s just nerves.” The firefighter was wearing protective clothing.

Blood and tissue samples from Ramirez’s body, as well as air samples from the aluminum case in which it was stored, were collected and shipped to laboratories around the country for analysis. Riverside County spokesman Tom DeSantis said it could be weeks before tests results are available.

County officials had no other comment on the autopsy findings.

The consensus among scientists not directly part of the investigation seems to be that Ramirez and the emergency room personnel were exposed to organophosphates, chemicals that are among the primary ingredients of nerve gas and many agricultural pesticides.

Tests on enzymes in the blood of Dr. Julie Gorchynski, who remains hospitalized at Loma Linda University Medical Center after passing out in the emergency room during the incident, and a nurse strongly suggest that they were exposed to a chemical in the organophosphate family.

Further tests failed to show the presence of the organophosphates in their blood, but that was not surprising because such chemicals are normally present only in very small concentrations and are very difficult to pinpoint, said Dr. Ashok Jain of the Los Angeles Poison Control Center.

“Normally, we don’t even bother to look for it (the organophosphate) in the blood,” Ashok said. “That’s not relevant. The relevant thing is to look for its effects and they were there.”

The fact that the nurse responded dramatically to an antidote for organophosphates is very suggestive as well, he added.

“We still think that there was exposure to organophosphates,” said Jain, who is a consultant to the Riverside County coroner’s office in the case, “but we don’t know how it came about.”

Ramirez’s family has hired Newport Beach attorney Stephan Otto to represent the family and to pursue possible legal action related to the treatment given her Saturday night. Ramirez was taken by ambulance to Riverside General Hospital, vomiting and complaining of difficulty breathing.

Otto did not return calls Friday.

Ferrell reported from Riverside and Maugh from Los Angeles.