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Connecticut Department of Public Health Hearing Opens in Case Against Nurse Charles Odow
Summary
A public hearing opened June 16 before the Connecticut Department of Public Health over allegations that nurse Charles Odow abused alcohol and may be impaired; the department asked for a three-year probation with monitoring while the respondent denied most charges and presented testimony about treatment and sobriety efforts.
A public hearing convened June 16 at 10:11 a.m. before a hearing officer for the Connecticut Department of Public Health to consider a complaint against Charles Odow, RN (Docket No. 2025-147). Hearing officer Aiden Bal said he will prepare proposed findings for the Board of Examiners for Nursing, which will issue the final decision.
Department attorney Julian Kataya told the hearing the department will present evidence that "the respondent, nurse Odow, has abused alcohol or used it to excess and that such use or abuse impacts or may impact his ability to practice nursing." Kataya said the department will show a long history of alcohol-related incidents, including an instance in which Odow missed a scheduled nursing shift, and asked that, if the hearing officer finds a risk to public safety, Odow's license be placed on probation for three years with mandated urine screening, continued therapy and employer reports of safe practice.
Respondent counsel (identified in the record as David Hog) denied most of the charges and said the defense will present witnesses, including Odow, the respondent's wife and colleagues. Hog acknowledged "a couple of bad decisions on a couple of days years ago" but said the evidence will show that Odow has changed and has taken steps since being referred to Haven. He asked that the charges be dismissed.
Respondent witness Edward Langford, a licensed professional counselor, was called and sworn. Langford identified himself and described his practice: "I provide cognitive behavior training, CBT," as well as dialectical behavior therapy and a person-centered approach. He said he has been an LPC since 2018 and trained at Cambridge College and Post University.
Langford testified that Odow contacted him around the same time Odow contacted Haven and that Langford's intake was October 19 (Langford also referenced October 26 on a document). He described Odow as "somewhat anxious" during intake and confirmed he was aware that Haven required Odow to take a leave of absence from work.
During questioning the department objected that several questions were leading. Counsel and the hearing officer discussed sealed medical records; the hearing officer said that certain exhibits are being kept under seal because they contain protected medical information and that, if parties intended to discuss treatment details, the hearing would move into executive session. Administrative staff (identified as Miss Karpusa) was noted as handling the technical link for executive session.
The hearing officer reviewed exhibits on the record. He entered department exhibits 1–10 as full exhibits and sealed them; those exhibits include an investigation report and multiple medical records and treatment notes dated between 2023 and 2025. Respondent exhibits 1–9 were also entered as full exhibits, with respondent exhibits 8 and 9 sealed; the parties raised objections and the hearing officer ruled on relevancy and sealing where appropriate.
No final decision was announced at the session. The hearing officer set the procedural order — openings, testimony (with Mr. Langford permitted to testify out of order), the department's case in chief, the respondent's case and closing arguments — and indicated the hearing would recess for about 30 minutes at midday and was expected to end at 4:00 p.m. The hearing record will be used by the hearing officer to prepare a proposed memorandum of decision for consideration by the Board of Examiners for Nursing.
