On the evening of February 19, 1994, Gloria Ramirez, a 31-year-old woman from Riverside, California, was admitted to the emergency room of Riverside General Hospital. Suffering from advanced cervical cancer, she was experiencing severe heart palpitations and confusion. The medical staff promptly administered standard treatments to stabilize her condition. However, the situation took an unexpected and alarming turn when several hospital workers became seriously ill after exposure to Ramirez, leading to her being dubbed the “Toxic Lady” by the media.
The Incident
Upon Ramirez’s arrival at the hospital around 8:15 p.m., she exhibited symptoms consistent with her medical history, including tachycardia and Cheyne-Stokes respiration. The medical team administered sedatives such as diazepam, midazolam, and lorazepam, followed by agents like lidocaine and bretylium to address her irregular heartbeat. Despite these interventions, Ramirez’s condition deteriorated, and she went into shock. During defibrillation efforts, several staff members noticed an oily sheen covering her body and detected a fruity, garlic-like odor emanating from her mouth. Registered nurse Susan Kane drew blood from Ramirez’s arm and observed an ammonia-like smell from the tube. She passed the sample to medical resident Dr. Julie Gorchynski, who noted the presence of manila-colored, crystalline particles in the blood. Shortly thereafter, Kane experienced a burning sensation on her face and fainted. Gorchynski also became nauseated and lightheaded before losing consciousness. A third staff member, respiratory therapist Maureen Welch, collapsed after experiencing similar symptoms. In total, 23 individuals present in the emergency room reported various symptoms, with five requiring hospitalization. Ramirez was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m., approximately 45 minutes after her arrival. 
Investigation and Theories
The unusual nature of the incident prompted an extensive investigation. The Riverside County health department enlisted the California Department of Health and Human Services, which assigned Drs. Ana Maria Osorio and Kirsten Waller to the case. They conducted interviews with 34 hospital staff members who had been present during the event. Their findings indicated that those who developed severe symptoms tended to have been in close proximity to Ramirez and had handled her intravenous lines. Notably, the affected individuals were predominantly women, and all had normal blood tests following the exposure. This led the investigators to consider mass hysteria as a potential explanation.
However, Dr. Gorchynski disputed the mass hysteria theory, citing her prolonged hospitalization and development of medical conditions such as hepatitis and avascular necrosis in her knees as evidence of a physiological cause. Seeking a chemical explanation, the Riverside Coroner’s Office consulted the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Scientists there proposed that Ramirez might have been using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a solvent with applications as a home remedy for pain relief. According to their hypothesis, DMSO could have accumulated in her system due to urinary obstruction from kidney failure. Oxygen administered during emergency treatment may have combined with DMSO to form dimethyl sulfone (DMSO₂), which can crystallize at room temperature—consistent with the observed particles in Ramirez’s blood. The electric shocks from defibrillation might have further converted DMSO₂ into dimethyl sulfate (DMSO₄), a highly toxic compound capable of inducing the reported symptoms in the medical staff.
Aftermath and Legacy
Two months post-incident, Ramirez’s body was released for an independent autopsy and subsequent burial. Her family expressed dissatisfaction with the official conclusions, questioning the delay in determining the cause of death and the handling of her remains, which showed signs of decomposition and contamination. Despite the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory’s DMSO hypothesis being endorsed by the Riverside Coroner’s Office and published in the journal Forensic Science International, some experts remained skeptical, citing the need for further empirical evidence to substantiate the proposed chemical reactions. The case of Gloria Ramirez remains a subject of intrigue and debate, highlighting the complexities at the intersection of medical science and forensic investigation.
