A lawyer for the Central Wyoming Hospice has threatened legal action if Natrona County Coroner Dr. James Thorpen does not stop taking blood samples and narcotics from dead hospice patients.

In a letter to the County Commission dated March 22, Casper lawyer Judith Studer writes that last fall, hospice officials noticed the coroner's office was taking blood samples and drugs from patients who died under hospice care.

"They do not tell the distraught family that they are investigating a murder or a suicide," Studer writes. Later she writes, "Apparently, the coroner wants to treat these fine professionals, volunteers and the bereaved families as potential murderers in all cases."

Studer argues that patients who die in hospice, where to receive care people must have less than six months to live, do not qualify as coroner's cases as defined in Wyoming statute.

County Attorney Eric Easton said Thorpen is collecting fluids from any person who dies outside of the hospital and the practice is not exclusive to hospice care. Thorpen takes the samples in case there are questions about the death later.

Last week, Thorpen said he plans to explain his policies and procedures to the commission. He was not available for comment on Tuesday.

District Attorney Mike Blonigen likened Thorpen's actions to those of fire investigators, who can look into fires without probable cause or reasonable suspicion that a crime has taken place.

He said both he and Thorpen want to make sure "the elderly don't fall between the cracks."

Studer did not return repeated phone messages. Hospice Executive Director Marilyn Connor refused comment earlier and was not available on Tuesday.

Studer writes, however, that when they met in the fall with Thorpen, Easton, then-District Attorney Kevin Meenan, Deputy Coroner Gary Hazen and Connor, everyone agreed hospice patient deaths did not meet the definition for coroner's cases.

"At the meeting, we were assured the coroner's office would stop treating Hospice deaths as potential criminal investigations," she writes.

Easton agrees with Studer's recollection of the events. But he says Thorpen decided to continue with the practice after further reflection and discussion with Blonigen.

Studer sent the letter to the commission because, she writes, the coroner's office has not been trustworthy.

Easton replied: "The commissioners have limited authority in this since Thorpen is an independently elected official."

Thorpen will meet with the commission on Thursday.