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Thousand Oaks Doctor and Husband Arrested After Death of a Patient
 (l-r) Dr. Ellen Crowe, Thousand Oaks, 54 and Paul McQuillan, Thousand Oaks, 61 By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, May 18th, 2015
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On May 13, 2015, Investigators from the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit and the Health Quality Investigation Unit of the California Division of Investigation (formerly the California Medical Board) arrested Dr. Ellen Crowe and Paul McQuillan for multiple felonies relating to the death of an elderly patient. Dr. Ellen Crowe and Paul McQuillan own and operate a business known as House Call Doctor Thousand Oaks (HCDTO). Polly Duntley was a patient of HCDTO. On July 31, 2014, McQuillan, who has no official medical training, responded to the home of Duntley in Camarillo. This was a follow-up visit from the day prior where a HCDTO doctor other than Ellen Crowe attended to Duntley. McQuillan injected Duntley with morphine, provided by Dr. Crowe, and ordered by the other doctor. This injection was done just prior to a planned x-ray and ultrasound that was to take place at the residence. Duntley fell into a deep sleep within minutes after the injection was given. McQuillan then left the residence to treat another patient in the neighborhood. In his absence, a technician from another company arrived at the residence and performed the ultrasound on Duntley. McQuillan returned to the residence while the ultrasound was being conducted. During the ultrasound, McQuillan realized Duntley no longer had a pulse and called 911. He then attempted to provide first aid. Emergency responders resuscitated Duntley, but she never regained consciousness. Duntley died in the hospital on August 2, 2014. McQuillan was arrested at his home in the 100 block of Los Padres, Thousand Oaks. A search warrant was also served at his residence where evidence relating to the crime was located. Dr. Crowe was located in Bakersfield and arrested. McQuillan was booked into the Ventura County Jail for practicing medicine without a license and furnishing morphine. Dr. Crowe was booked into the Ventura County Jail for conspiracy to practice medicine without a license and conspiracy to furnish morphine. Additional charges and enhancements of elder abuse, great bodily injury or death occurring in the commission of a felony, and weapons violations are also possible. An additional arrest is expected in this case. Both Dr. Crowe and McQuillan secured bail and are scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on May 27, 2015. Anyone with information similar to this type of activity is encouraged to call the task force at (805) 383-8700. The Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is a task force comprised of members from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Simi Valley Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation, and the California Highway Patrol. The primary mission of the task force is combatting the transfer of legal prescription medication to the illegal market. In addition, the task force works to identify and stop new trends of abuse among the younger population and investigates overdose deaths due to both prescription medication and illicit drug use. Anyone with information regarding these topics, or this case in particular, is encouraged to contact the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit at (805) 383-8700 or via e-mail at pharm.tip@ventura.org. Nature of Incident: Thousand Oaks Doctor and Husband Arrested After Death of a Patient (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age |
