Bill Meyer Show Podcast - Sponsored by Clouser Drilling www.ClouserDrilling.com - 05-23-25_FRIDAY_7AM_2_BronsonPickett

Episode Date: May 23, 2025

Bronson Pickett, one of the RRMC Asante Drug diversion victims, talks about his experience, need for a kidney transplant, frustration with lack of criminal trial action.

One call dispatches the Klauser team and taps into their vast experience. Visit Klauserdrilling.com. The Bill Myers Show is on. News Talk 1063 KMED. Rumor has it that the trial against the former Asante nurse at RRMC accused of drug diversion and putting tap water in the main line there. There's talk about it maybe happening next year, next week rather. Don't know if it's going to happen or not. It's been delayed quite a few times. But I did want to make note of a gentleman, Bronson Pickett, who

joins me right now from Canyonville. He's a former barber and he's been written up in today's Rogue Valley Times, RV Times. and Buffy Pollock writes about it. The title of it, by the way, former barber vows to keep fighting for justice in the Asante case. And Bronson, it's a pleasure having you on. Good morning. Good morning. It's a pleasure being on. All right. What is going on in your world right now

ever since what happened a couple of years ago here? It was like two years ago here is like two years ago that this ended up happening. Yeah it's been quite a rollercoaster. You know I went into kidney failure due to this so and I'm now dealing with dialysis three times a week. It's been a life-changing. It's altered a lot of things besides for time and just the health overall. And from what I understand, you were actually, I mean, this was kind of like a wrong place, wrong time, and you were working on a truck from what I understand, right? You were working on a truck and taking it out on a test drive, isn't that right? Yeah,

truck and taking it out on a test drive. Isn't that right? Yeah, yeah. I built a little full drive pickup for my boy and so we decided to take it for a run up on the hill and you know, the accident happened and brakes went out and sadly we rolled over down in Canyon and that's kind of what got me where I'm at. Yeah and your son was with you at that time too, right? Yeah, super fortunate that he didn't end that time too, right? Yeah, super fortunate that he didn't end up with more injuries. And then just on another note, he got sent to Mercy, the hospital, you know, I mean the fear of if he was injured worse or dealt with what I did, you know, or where things could be if we're both at the hospital with what happened. And he didn't have to go to the hospital? He did.

He did. He had, you know, lots of cuts and bruises, banged up pretty good, but no major, major injuries like I did. He was very, very fortunate. Yeah, what happened to you? And did you end up being transferred to RRMC for that reason? How did that go? Yeah, they actually life-slided me there. I ended up having punctured lung, broken ribs, and I severed the tendons in my hands. All of these things they told me were, you know, I would overcome and been just fine, you know, once the healing process, but when they found the bacteria in my blood, they were kept questioning why and how it got there and had no answers, and hence that's what sent everything over the top and put me in complete kidney

failure. And so ever since that time then, you've had to go in for dialysis what, two, three times a week, right? So for a while, we were keeping my levels, even though I was in failure, just kind of at needing dialysis. But my kidney doctor had medication that was keeping me off of it for a small period of time. Finally, we couldn't get my numbers up. And that went ahead and put me all the way in to using the dialysis. So we were struggling for a little bit and failure before I

went on and then not getting my numbers up, I ended up having to go on. That's too bad. It's too bad. Do you know if you were treated directly by the nurse alleged to have done the drug diversion and putting the tap water. This is the accusations that are you know in the criminal case right now. Right. Do you know were you were you treated directly? I was incubated when they brought me in and of course she was an ICU nurse and that's you know the critical time when you're in. Being out of it I don't recall all that. My wife, my family are the ones that told me things. I do know I came out of sedation at one period of time, freaking

out, and not knowing I wasn't receiving medications and stuff is why I came out of the coma. But I had a sister-in-law that was sitting there, and she was worried. She's like, why has he come out of this? And they didn't give an answer, but hence now looking back, you know, not receiving stuff and coming out of sedation due to that, you know, it's kind of a scary situation. Has there been any settlement made yet in this? So unfortunately about a week ago they did call us to the table, the hospital attorneys, but when we went in with our attorney it was sadly kind of insulting and a waste of time. They didn't even offer us a quarter of my medical bills. I don't know if it's just the game they play or how, but it's really discouraging and upsetting

with all the struggles and then to be kind of insulted in the sight of not even given enough for medical bills to be taken care of. All right. So your family's been able to confirm that you were treated during that time and you had the bacteria and it blew your kidneys out is in essence what happened, right? Yes, yes. Okay.

And the offer was a one fourth of just your medical bills? Yeah, it was quite pathetic. I mean, I've got quite a stream of stuff built up, but overall I was quite shocked about that. So hence, we'll probably be going to trial, and I mean, I'm willing to fight and do whatever it takes because I don't think this is right and fair, and they're not doing the ethical thing

to take care of victims, so we'll go in the next step I guess. Bronson Pickett's with me and of course he's a former barber so when it says former barber that must mean you're not working any longer or are you? Yeah no unfortunately I own a barber shop but I've been so sick from the dialysis. I've been having a really time getting acclimated, as well as I've got neuropathy in my hands. So I've been real worried about dropping scissors and clippers, you know, for my job. And so we're really trying to get a handle on this to hope that maybe I

could go back to some time as things ease up. So hence, I've got another barber run in my shop right now. Yeah. How's it been with your family? How are they handling this? It's been a roller coaster for them too. I mean, emotionally, it's been rough for everyone. I don't feel well often, so, you know, just even the mood around the house sometimes can be downed as not feeling good and it prevents us from going many places or doing many things. You know, you're pretty well set on a schedule to deal with dialysis. So everything's affected all the way around from my family members to, you know, even my friends.

It's something how this overwhelmingly can broad spectrum not just one person. You know Bronson, the part about this which strikes me is that this is horrible what's happened. What's happened to you. And I can imagine everyone listening is just, their heart goes out to you. Something like this said, here it is, you have an accident, anybody can have an accident. Thank goodness your son didn't have to go in for serious treatment at that time. Otherwise, we might have been talking about two people in a situation like this. What are your thoughts about the... Now here it is going on two years and still I don't think we've really had a trial start. There's talk that there may be a start of it next week.

What are your feelings about that? Well, quite frustrating that they just keep, as I would say, kicking the can. They keep bumping it further along. I just think it's unfair to all the victims, especially the ones that lost loved ones, you know, that died, as well as just me and other people that maybe have an ongoing issue. You know, I think it's almost even more unfair for the ones that died. They can't get closure if everything keeps getting drug on. And you know, I don't understand why the court systems do this and don't speed up for the sake of victims sometimes rather than

this process. I mean, they say due process, but the due is don't in a lot of ways. I imagine what I'm told from people in the legal world who've been taking a look at this, Bronson, is that it is very frustrating, but it is one of the most complex trials apparently that has ever been planned to do here in southern Oregon because of all the testimony and all the data that has to be sifted, but that doesn't make you feel any better, I guess. No, not at all. I mean there were so many people affected. I've read some other things of similar stuff that's gone on in the nation.

And that's what's scary is this is a big, you know, what do you call it, epidemic or whatever, it's going on not just here, it's going on all through the nation with this drug diversion stuff. So it's a scary thought. And I kind of want people just to think what if that was me? It's so easy that someone could be in an accident and be in this situation and just think what if that was me? If it was, look at how hard of a time these people are having per se so it wouldn't be any easier for anybody else to go through

any kind of situation like this and expect to get results when we're not obviously getting them now. So... Bronson, what happens when now you're on the kidney transplant list because like I said your kidneys have failed and so that's why you're having to go in for dialysis. So there's no coming back from that apparently. There's no other treatment other than a transplant, isn't that right? Yeah, yeah, no. Generally whenever you go to get your function low enough for failure, it's very hard to get back. Okay. And that's kind of the goal is for a transplant. I do know I've gotten some

fair support from friends and family and as well as customers that are willing to possibly go and get checked. So that's a that's a hopefulness. All right. Did you have medical insurance when this accident happened? I do have insurance through my wife. Yeah, being a business owner myself, I didn't have my own medical insurance. It was all through my wife's work. And does that cover a transplant or is there more to it? I don't know what happens when you go on the list and where and what that procedure is how that how that works so Unfortunately, my wife's insurance will not cover anything to do a transplant. It's it's very very frustrating It doesn't make sense that they would cover years of dialysis, but they won't cover a transplant would save money in the long run. But now that I've been on dialysis for over four months, I believe,

I just got my Medicare kicked in and Medicare will start getting things moving forward in the transplant. Are you on disability now because of what happened? Yes, I am. I'm on disability and I get the Medicare which will help tremendously with a lot of expenses and stuff that the insurance doesn't quite cover. So, and TransplantSide is one of them. Are there expenses though that you need covered? That's what I'm wondering. Yeah, that's why I got a GoFundMe and as well as I've put some jars and stuff around a few of the businesses, Winston and Merrick Creek and such. So from what is all new, we're learning as we go. And part of what we've learned is to have like 40,000, to be able to afford staying

up. So, if I was to go to OHSU in Portland, you have to stay within 30 miles from the hospital for up to a month. And so that's quite an expense for that, right? Yes. Yes. And you have to have one or two caretakers with you all times as well, which is another expense.

But the whole process, you have to be close to the hospital in case anything happens for that duration. I'm glad I asked you about this because I never considered that. I'd be willing to bet a lot of people who have never had a loved one involved in a transplant like that have even considered that, you know, unless you're having it done in your local community hospital, which apparently they're not doing here, right? They

don't do that. You have to go to OHSU, the big dog in the state. Yeah, you're going to have to essentially pick up, move, and you're going to have to be there almost through not only the pre-op but then also the post-op and the making sure there's not rejection and seeing how everything else... this is huge. Yeah, there's a lot to it and you know another thing is generally they have you an anti-rejection medication and that's something you take the rest of your life. Something also we learned is once you do get a transplant, you usually will come off of Medicare, and so you still have to pay

for those anti-rejection medication that's not covered. So I mean, there's constant expenses on all different sides. I mean, we're learning as we go, like I said, and it can almost be overwhelming, but that's one of the reasons why we're trying to ask for donations and ask for a little help to get that all geared up and ready for when they say. I'm going to find your GoFundMe. I want to get some dollars in there too because this is one of those things that... Yeah, there are many people who died in this alleged drug diversion situation, but there are also many people who have, I mean, are

there any other people who have had lifelong damage like what you've taken after this drug diversion deal? I'm not real for certain. You know, I know my attorney has quite a few clients I haven't inquired or been told a whole lot about other victims. You know, I know there's various ones that had death cases and stuff. One thing I was told is I am definitely one of the ones that has been, you know, permanently and long-term affected and so hence, you know, there's a lot more to it. But I'm not for certain about

other victims. I hadn't really inquired or been told a whole great deal. But I was gonna note, I just did read Buffy's article in the Rogue Valley Times. She did put my info for the GoFundMe on there as well for just people that would like to inquire. Yeah. And was there a reason why you wanted to come forward and do this talk? A lot of people just kind of want to shut up on these things. I know, yeah, you're needing to raise some money, but I think there's probably more to it than that, Bronson. Yeah, I mean, and it's not all about the money. I don't want people to feel sorry for me. It might be a rough road. I just, again, I want people

to kind of put themselves in the position of, boy, this easily could be me. And if so, you know, to think of what's happened to other people could easily be the same thing happening to me. So I'm just kind of reiterating that because it's so simple to have something happen on an accident and then be put in this position. And so you know with the way the hospital's been treating things and us, that's the thing I'm really trying to emphasize is if you were there and you were dealing with this, this is what I'm dealing with then it would be the same. So people need to be aware and it's you know maybe a

little pressure to the hospital wouldn't make them actually step up. I don't know. I'm just I'm hoping so. Yeah I'm surprised a couple years down that there hasn't been some reach out but I don't know. You know you hear what happens in legal strategies and drag it out, drag it out, drag it out, you know, and you ever wonder if sometimes they hope you die? I'm sorry, but yeah, we've talked about that numerous times. You know, I have a port in my chest and it's a high infection rate and I've been waiting to get what they call a fistula in your arm to connect to because it's a lot safer. Well, I'm a wreck whenever I go in to do anything medically anymore.

I mean, my anxiety is above and beyond. I've lost that completely. Gee, I have no idea, Bronson, why you might have a little bit of anxiety going into a medical situation. Yeah, I'm a wreck when I go in, you know, and it's just the scary thought that anything goes a little bit wrong or someone does something accidentally wrong. Yeah, I could easily be down the road. And maybe it'd be easier for them in the long run too. I don't know, you know, I mean it's sad to look that direction, but it makes you wonder. Definitely.

It does. I'm speaking with Bronson Pickett, injured in a rollover crash a couple of years ago. It's almost been two years now, but you're caught up in the Asante RRMC case, the drug diversion case, which has yet to go to trial. All right. Bronson, I have been able to clear the call. I don't know if someone has a question for you. Hello, caller, did you have a question for Bronson this morning? Hello? Not really a question, but a comment about his case and the medical community at large.

Okay, all right. Can you keep it clean? Oh yeah. Okay, yeah go ahead. You're on. Go ahead. My wife had a hip replacement three years ago. Doctor completely screwed it up, complete infection. Seven surgeries later she's finally got a new hip, but talking with lawyers they said that the organ malpractice laws are some of the worst in the nation. In what way do they say they're the worst? Just curious caller. First of all settlements are abysmal. Doctors easily go past the statute of limitations, which happened in my wife's case. And several lawyers—it wasn't just one—stated that it is so tough to do a malpractice case in Oregon that a lot of lawyers won't even touch it.

And to make matters worse, you can't get a lawyer in the Rogue Valley to sue for malpractice against a doctor in the Rogue Valley. Is it one of those things where then you end up in the hospital and you got that doctor with you? Yeah. It's kind of like how you you'll never get an attorney that wants to run against a sitting judge too for the same reason, right? Exactly. Yeah, yeah. Small pond,

small pond. You got to be careful. Wow, I'm glad your wife's okay now, but boy what a long twisted tortured road to get there, okay? Thanks for the call. I appreciate that. Bronson, thank you. Bronson, we're all pulling for you on this one. I'm hoping that you're able to get your kidney somehow. And by the way, is there even a... What are the odds of even getting a match? I'm just curious. I know you're on the list. It may take years for that, huh? Yeah, it can. You know, I know I've been dialed with a couple people. One guy's been on there for I think almost five years waiting. So it varies. Like I mentioned

earlier, the upside is besides for family members, I've gotten friends and even customers that have made a point to say they'd like to check. So I've got some possibilities more than just the guy waiting for that list, you know. All right, by the way, I've just been told by a source this morning that there has no date been set yet for the asante or the trials. No date. Next week it was only a pre-trial conference. That's a... The nurse, right? Yeah, yeah, that's where we are at this point. I'll tell you, it is grinding slowly, isn't it? Yeah, it is. It's kind of sad that we've got to wait out the nurses ordeal before we

could go further with the hospital. You know, the thing is, they let it go on for such a period of time. It's not just like a little accident. It went on for quite a duration. That's why it upsets me to no degree that you think they would just deal with the victims instead of drag it on more since everybody's Went through this for a duration Marantzen picket once again Canyonville resident We appreciate you joining the show this morning and sharing some of your story tough road it really is and and like I said, we feel for you keep you on our prayers along with the other this morning and sharing some of your story. Tough road, really is. And like I said, we feel for you. Keep you on our prayers along

with the other victims here. And we will get you, I'll find your information on GoFundMe and put that up and post it on social media too. And I'll share that in. I wish you the best and I hope you get a settlement. I hope you can get a kidney too. I'd like to see you be able to get back productive. Do you think that, or you have the point I hope you get a settlement. I hope you can get a kidney too. I'd like to see you be able to get back productive. Do you think that, or you have the point that if you had a kidney you might be able to go back to work or is there still too much damage from the infections that you ended up getting? No, that's definitely the goal and the hope is I get back to some normalities.

Yeah, I mean you love being a barber. I know that, right? Yeah, I do. I'm a bullshitter. Excuse me. I'm quite a talker. You know, that goes hand-in-hand with that with being in the old barber shop, kind of an old traditional barber shop we run. So yeah, we love those old traditional barber shops. We really do. Bronson, appreciate. Good meeting you, okay. Thanks again. Thank you for your

time. All right, a couple minutes after rate. This is KMED, KMED, HD1, Eagle Point, Medford, KBXG, Grants Pass. At Grover Electrical and Plumbing, I'm on KMED. I appreciate you listening here as we head into a long Memorial Day weekend. Well, that was quite a story from Bronson Pickett. And I wanted to make sure that you knew that Buffy Pollock, one of my favorite reporters over at the Rogue Valley Times, actually they're doing good journalism over there. Even though we may disagree on editorial content, I get this and I can say that about many of our Southern Oregon papers, Daily Courier, all the rest of it, hey, we do this.

Of course, then there's the Oregon Eagle, of course, I'm a fan of their editorial POV, as we well know. But, you know, she has a great story in here in detailing out everything that happened with Bronson. Former barber vows to keep fighting for justice in a Sante RRMC case of alleged drug diversion. Still, no trial, no trial yet. And boy, that's a life getting real for someone who just out there doing a test drive on a truck, doing some work, you know, and I've done things like that. You know, done things like that. You do some work on the truck

and you take it out for a test drive and things go wrong. And then you're down the ravine, you're life flighted in and then it happens to be your number is up there with the alleged wrong medical person in charge of something. Boy, I wonder if we'll ever really get the truth about this, do you? We can talk about that and more. It is Open Phones. We're gonna have some also fun. We're gonna have a Diner 62 quiz.

I made up a really good one and I based it off of a guest that I had on last week, Dr. Mark Skousen, who is a relative of Benjamin Franklin. So we're gonna have a great bit of a history involving Ben Franklin, I think. And we'll have a Diner 62 quiz. We're also gonna have a pair of, row, of, pardon me, I'm having,

anyway, we're gonna have jet boat tickets too. I'm ready to cough. I'm sorry, I'm having just a little bit of that. I'm right up against the hacking cough of getting over the creeping crud. So it finally hit me a little bit after two hours here, but we'll talk more about that coming up. Hang on.