"Nurse Betty" Plays Pretend
By MONICA BUCHANAN
Updated 2:53 PM EST, Fri, Aug 7, 2009
She claimed to be “Nurse of the Year” and even threw a party for herself. But it turns out, 56-year-old Betty Lichtenstein wasn’t even a nurse, police said.
Lichtenstein worked as a registered nurse at Dr. Gerald Weiss’ practice in Norwalk, but she wasn’t licensed with the state, police said. According to an arrest warrant, Lichtenstein gave patients intramuscular injections, medical care and advice.
Police launched an investigation earlier this year after a patient complained that Lichtenstein injected medication too quickly, causing pain.
"I knew about the investigation several months ago. I'm shocked and dismayed, but at the advice of my lawyer I can make no further comment," Dr. Weiss said.
According to the warrant, Dr. Weiss and his staff believe Lichtenstein was a registered nurse but couldn’t find her license for police. The doctor was further convinced after the Connecticut Nursing Association named Lichtenstein as the “2008 Nurse of the Year.”
Apparently, there’s no such thing as the Connecticut Nursing Association, but the warrant says Lichtenstein paid for a celebration dinner in which Dr. Weiss was a guest speaker.
Lichtenstein was arrested earlier this year in an unrelated case, accused of using a forged prescription to try and get 96 Oxycodone pills.
She’s charged with illegal use of the title “registered nurse,” reckless endangerment and criminal impersonation.
Lichtenstein could face up to five years in prison if convicted. She’s due back in court later this month.
First Published: Aug 6, 2009 10:10 PM EST
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