Navy hospital nurse investigated over use of skin products

A nurse at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center could face criminal charges for allegedly forging prescriptions, stealing high-end skin care products and selling them to patients and coworkers, and encouraging unqualified sailors to inject one another with Botox.

One investigator testified at a hearing last week that the medical center's facial plastics clinic couldn't account for more than $48,000 worth of pricey, prescription-strength anti-aging skin products purchased from a company called Obagi Medical Products in 2007 and 2008.

The cleanser, creams, lotions and serums, which are dispensed only through doctor's offices, were stocked at the request of Cmdr. Benjamin Cilento, a facial plastic surgeon, according to Lisa Roberts, a civilian clinic nurse.

At Cilento's request, Lt. Nancy Loving met with company representatives and had them come in for a demonstration, then headed up the effort to stock the clinic, Roberts said. Some of the products were stored in her office, witnesses testified.

The Obagi line was popular with hospital personnel. Nurses, doctors and support staff testified that they spent hundreds of dollars on Obagi products and special face brushes in 2007 and 2008.

"I recommended a ton of friends from my department," said Cmdr. Anna Wright Hurt. "It was, 'Go see her, and she'll get the product.' "

A typical Obagi "starter pack," with cleanser, toner, moisturizers, creams and eye serum, cost more than $200, according to testimony.

Customers and coworkers said Loving sometimes gave them free products, or told them they were getting things at a discount. Some of the products were given away as door prizes at a department Christmas party.

Buyers were supposed to pay for the products at the medical center's billing office, take the receipt to the clinic, then pick up their items.

But according to testimony, Loving regularly accepted cash and checks for the products, including checks that weren't made out to a specific recipient.

She'd turn the money in to the billing office later, witnesses said, to the apparent frustration of billing personnel. Cilento said they made multiple visits to the clinic to complain about direct sales and cash and checks turned in after the fact.

One patient alerted the billing department after noting that Loving had cashed a $256 check he wrote for skin care products.

There were also problems with control of Botox, witnesses testified. Prescription botulinum toxin - used to treat migraines and excessive sweating but better known as a cosmetic fix for wrinkles - comes in a bottle that holds 100 doses, even though far less is typically used for a single patient.

According to testimony, Loving had a prescription for 200 doses of Botox written in her daughter's name and stamped with a physician's signature. The investigation documented six instances in which Loving allegedly used Cilento's signature stamp to forge prescriptions taken to the medical center's pharmacy.

Petty Officer 1st Class Patricia Merical, a corpsman who worked in a different part of the hospital, said Loving suggested she try Botox for migraines, then administered the injections. Afterward, Merical said, Loving asked her if she wanted some in her forehead to reduce wrinkles and told her, "It's just going to get thrown away anyway."

Botox is supposed to be injected by a qualified doctor or nurse, but corpsmen testified that Loving taught them how to do it and had them inject one another for practice.

The Article 32 hearing also raised questions about inventory and prescription controls at one of the Navy's flagship hospitals, as well as basic guidelines for cosmetic procedures.

Deborah Kallgren, a spokeswoman for the medical center, said she could not comment on whether any other personnel were disciplined or face charges as a result of the investigation.

Loving and Roberts have been assigned to different departments; Cilento is in the process of leaving the Navy.

It is unclear whether Obagi products continue to be sold through the clinic. Kallgren said she could not comment, citing the investigation.

Lt. Matthew Anderson, one of Loving's defense attorneys, said Loving has been made a scapegoat.

"If the investigation found anything, the best it found was bad inventory and recordkeeping," Anderson said.

He noted that some of the products Loving gave away were bonuses from the supplier.

It may be weeks before Loving knows her fate. The investigating officer who presided over the hearing will recommend whether Loving should be court-martialed and if so, on what charges.

Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com