Coroner Unable to Link Toxics to Mystery Death

A final toxicology report on the death of Gloria Ramirez did not identify any toxic chemicals that would explain why half a dozen emergency room attendants fell sick as they treated the dying woman in February, the Riverside County coroner’s office said Tuesday.

The toxicology report noted that Ramirez’s blood contained elevated levels of certain chemicals, including urea nitrogen and creatine, which are consistent with renal failure. The coroner’s office previously said Ramirez, who had cervical cancer, died of cardiac dysrhythmia and acute renal failure as the result of cancer.

“Based upon analyses on the body fluids and tissues obtained from Ms. Ramirez, there is no indication of any volatile, toxic compounds or hazardous vapor materials associated with the samples,” said the toxicology report, issued by Chief Deputy Coroner Dan Cupido.

Cupido said Tuesday that the toxicology examination provided no new enlightenment on what afflicted the hospital staff and prompted the evacuation of the emergency room at Riverside General Hospital while Ramirez was being treated.

“We are unable to identify an agent or toxic chemical responsible” for the so-called mystery fumes that felled the emergency room staff, Cupido said. In the absence of positive findings, Cupido said, his office is unable to determine whether Ramirez was the source of the odors or fumes that made the staff sick.

Previously, Cupido said “the disease process . . . may cause certain odors to be produced.”

Several attendants said they smelled an ammonia-type odor after they drew blood from Ramirez that caused them to fall ill. Several were hospitalized and one, Dr. Julie Gorchynski, underwent surgery after losing blood circulation to her knees after the incident.

The toxicology examination specifically screened for various pesticides and found none in Ramirez’s body. Air samples taken at the hospital several hours after the incident also found nothing unusual, the coroner’s report noted.

Cal/OSHA, which investigates injuries in the workplace, and the state Department of Health Services are each still preparing their own reports on the incident, spokesmen for both agencies said.