Concerns expressed about apparent drug problems

After the medical testimony ended about 2:30 p.m., the prosecution's witnesses began testimony about Carter's apparent problems with prescription drugs in the weeks before his death.

Osprey Cove security guard Sharon Palmer said she was working on Dec. 6, when two men drove Carter home in a pickup truck.

One of the passengers asked if Carter would have any problem driving into the residential community. One of the men expressed concern about Carter's well being. She asked for someone to check on Carter.

"I called Dr. Chua to advise him what happened," she testified. "I told him the young man was brought home and there was some concern about the young man taking pills. I expressed concern for his safety."

Linda Amos, a student advisor at the Coastal Georgia Community College where Carter attended classes, described a problem he had weeks before his death.

She said Carter began acting incoherent and was slurring his words at school. She told jurors she brought him to see a nurse and college officials found two syringes and two prescription bottles in his possession.

The medication in the syringes was "to make him feel better," Carter told the nurse, Amos said.

She said the drugs in the bottles were prescribed by Chua. She said Carter did not want her to call Chua about the apparent problem.

Another witness, Christa Cox,.a nurse who worked at a St. Marys hospital in November 2005 when Carter was admitted as a patient.

She said Carter was admitted for severe headaches, nausea and vomiting. During his 2-day stay, he was prescribed morphine and later requested Demerol, saying the morphine was no longer effective.

She testified she believed Carter might be addicted to pain killers and expressed her concerns to Chua.

Cox said she expressed concerns about Carter's apparent drug problem in his medical files while he was hospitalized.

Chua ordered Carter a dose of Demerol by injection at 6 p.m., 45 minutes before he was discharged from the hospital on Nov. 18, 2005, Cox said. Another nurse had given Carter an injection of Demerol at 3:30 p.m., she said.

Cox said the doctor's order was unusual because patients are typically given oral pain medication before they are discharged, she said.

Defense attorney Donald Samuel questioned Cox about Carter's assessment of pain when he specifically asked for Demerol for relief.

"You were concerned about the patient because he talked about the type of drugs he wanted," Samuel said. "Dr. Chua basically told you to mind your own business."