A danger to the community and deadly to their family.
That's how a grieving daughter describes Physician Assistant Angela Lorenzo.
"I would say she was like a drug dealer," said Amber Pierce. "Whatever you wanted, she would give you for a fee."
In September, the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners suspended Lorenzo's medical license after finding she posed an "Imminent risk of harm" to the "Health, safety and welfare of the public."
The state's action came too late for Leann Kasper.
"And to this day, I'm in shock." said Pierce, who is one of Kasper's two daughters. "It's like it doesn't even hit me because I just can't believe all this happened for something that just could have been prevented."
A botched cosmetic laser skin procedure left Leann with severe facial burns. Her skin eventually healed, but her family says she became addicted to pain pills during her recovery.
"And then she found herself with Angela because other doctors were telling her, you know, we can't see you any more because you're addicted," said Pierce.
Lorenzo owns Modern Medical. She declined to do an on-camera interview or provide a statement for this story.
The state charged Lorenzo with malpractice and unsafe, unprofessional conduct in connection with Leann Kasper's death.
Board records show Lorenzo prescribed excessive amounts of drugs, including opioids, benzodiazepines, phentermine appetite suppressants, anticonvulsants and antidepressants.
Her family discovered six different prescriptions from Lorenzo's office--all prescribed and filled in the same month--the month that she passed.
Leann died on April 27, 2016 of oxycodone and xanax intoxication.
"Lorenzo--as just a physician assistant--gave her the means to pass away," said Kristine Maxwell, the family's attorney who reviewed the state records which accuse Lorenzo of prescribing the medications without any explanation or documented supporting exams.
Lorenzo allegedly failed to check the Nevada Prescription Monitoring Program and failed to monitor and adapt Leann's treatment plan--despite her family's best efforts to intervene.
As Amber recalls, "I first called her office, then my sister called her office, my grandfather called the office, my daughter called the office and we all expressed our concerns. We told them how my mother had two DUIs, how she had to resign early from the District Attorney's office, and we said, 'She's a drug addict. She's going to die!'
But they all say Lorenzo wouldn't listen.
"First do no harm," said Maxwell, shaking her head as she examined the box filled with prescription bottles from Lorenzo in Leann Kasper's name. "This says terrible harm."
Lorenzo has been evicted from her office.
Her medical license remains suspended and no hearing to reinstate has been scheduled.
But her actions beg an important question.
Every physician assistant requires a supervising doctor to oversee them, so where was the doctor in this case?
Darcy Spears has an exclusive interview with that doctor as her investigation continues tomorrow on 13 Action News at 6 p.m.
