Kentucky ER Doctor Dies After Home Fall

Dr. James Turpin, a 53-year-old emergency room physician in Stanford, Kentucky, died Wednesday from injuries sustained in a fall at his home. A friend and colleague said Turpin got up during the night to use the bathroom, mistakenly opened the basement door and fell down the stairs. He worked at Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital and served as medical director for EMS in Lincoln and Casey counties, after progressing from nursing roles through medical school. Turpin was also recognized as the Eastern District of Kentucky’s EMS Medical Director of the Year in 2017. Hundreds of emergency responders, colleagues, friends and former patients lined the route as his body was transported from the hospital where he was treated, honoring his impact on the community.