People who had worked within two feet of Ramirez and had handled her intravenous lines had been at high risk. Two months after her death, Gloria Ramirez was laid to rest at Olivewood Memorial Park on April 20, 1994. [2] Sold in gel form at hardware stores, it could also explain the greasy appearance of Ramirez's body. The Ramirez family filed a malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit against Riverside County, as they are certain the hospital is covering up what truly happened. She passed the syringe to Julie Gorchynski, a medical resident who noticed manila-colored particles floating in the blood. While treating Ramirez, several hospital workers fainted and others experienced symptoms such as shortness of breath and muscle spasms. Meanwhile, Gorchynski began to feel nauseated and lightheaded. Here are some of the best options on the market right now! Amazon's Choice for colored manila folders. Grant's conclusions and speculations about the incident were evaluated by professional forensic scientists, chemists, and toxicologists, passed peer review in an accredited, refereed journal, and were published by Forensic Science International. Livermore Labs postulated that Ramirez had been using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a solvent used as a powerful degreaser, as a home remedy for pain. Next, Maureen Welch, a respiratory therapist, also fainted. Gloria, who had been previously diagnosed with cervical cancer, was conscious but confused and unable to answer any questions properly. Shortly thereafter, Gorchynski began to feel nauseated. The most likely symptom to appear first is crying — as if the person had just been sprayed with tear gas.

The ropes were made from Manila hemp (also called abacá) or Musa textilis, which is grown in The Philippines; hence the association with Manila, the capital of that country. Complaining that she was lightheaded, she left the trauma room and sat at a nurse's desk. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Ramirez died from complications related to cancer. The third theory was that it was not Ramirez who caused the widespread symptoms, but the hospital itself. Ana Maria Osorio and Kirsten Waller, from the California Department of Health and Human Services, interviewed 34 staff members. In 1997, the New Times LA published a theory in which they claimed that Gloria’s death and the illness of 23 staff members were caused by methylamine — a precursor drug used in the production of methamphetamines. It is hypothesized that the electric shocks from the defibrillator caused the dimethyl sulfone to breakdown and mix with naturally present sulfate compounds in Gloria’s body, potentially generating dimethyl sulfate — a potent chemical that can cause paralysis, delirium, convulsions, and damage the heart, liver, and kidneys, and central nervous system. Shortly thereafter, Gorchynski began to feel nauseated.

A total of 23 staff became sick after exposure, and 5 were hospitalized. [2], The medical staff injected her with diazepam, midazolam, and lorazepam to sedate her. Manila paper is a relatively inexpensive type of paper, generally made through a less-refined process than other types of paper, and is typically made from semi-bleached wood fibres. This lab hypothesized that a chemical reaction may have caused the mysterious sicknesses. Some fashion schools and people in the fashion industry use large rolls of Manila to create finalised clothing patterns. Content taken from Wikipedia.. A registered nurse named Susan Kane attempted to draw blood from Ramirez's arm and noticed an ammonia-like smell coming from the tube. This led to Gloria’s family believing she died because of the hospital’s poor conditions. According to Cupido, she had been under a lot of pressure. Abacá is an exceptionally strong fibre, nowadays used for special papers like tea bag tissue.