Current:Home > NewsOregon hospital hit with $303M lawsuit after a nurse is accused of replacing fentanyl with tap water -MarketLink
Oregon hospital hit with $303M lawsuit after a nurse is accused of replacing fentanyl with tap water
View
Date:2025-04-14 02:26:51
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Attorneys representing both living and deceased patients of an Oregon hospital filed a $303 million lawsuit against the facility on Tuesday after a nurse was accused of replacing prescribed fentanyl with nonsterile tap water in intravenous drips.
The wrongful death and medical malpractice complaint accuses Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford of negligence. The suit says the hospital failed to monitor medication administration procedures and prevent drug diversion by their employees, among other claims.
A spokesperson said the hospital had no comment.
Dani Marie Schofield, a former nurse at the hospital, was arrested in June and charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault. The charges stemmed from a police investigation into the theft and misuse of controlled substances that resulted in patient infections. She has pleaded not guilty.
Schofield is not named or listed as a defendant in the complaint filed Tuesday. A separate suit was filed against Schofield and the hospital earlier this year on behalf of the estate of a 65-year-old man who died.
The 18 plaintiffs in the new suit include nine patients and the estates of nine patients who died. According to the suit, the hospital began informing them in December that an employee had replaced fentanyl with tap water, causing bacterial infections.
“All Plaintiff Patients were infected with bacterium uniquely associated with waterborne transmission,” the complaint says.
All of the plaintiffs experienced mental anguish, according to the suit, which seeks millions of dollars in damages for medical expenses, lost income and the pain and suffering of those who died.
Medford police began investigating late last year, after hospital officials noticed a troubling spike in central line infections from July 2022 through July 2023 and told police they believed an employee had been diverting fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has helped fuel the nation’s overdose epidemic, but it is also used in legitimate medical settings to relieve severe pain. Drug theft from hospitals is a longstanding problem.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Firefighters face difficult weather conditions as they battle the largest wildfire in Texas history
- NCAA freezing investigations into third-party NIL activities after judge granted injunction
- A man fights expectations in 'I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together'
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Vanderpump Rules’ Brittany Cartwright Posts Cryptic Message on Power After Jax Taylor Separation
- Free People’s Warm Weather Staples Are Up To 66% Off - Plus Get Free Shipping & Deals Starting At $30
- After nearly a decade, Oprah Winfrey is set to depart the board of WeightWatchers
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Biden signs short-term funding bill to avert government shutdown
Ranking
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Free People’s Warm Weather Staples Are Up To 66% Off - Plus Get Free Shipping & Deals Starting At $30
- Powerful storm in California and Nevada shuts interstate and dumps snow on mountains
- Elon Musk sues OpenAI for choosing profits over 'the benefit of humanity'
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- New Jersey businessman pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate in case against Sen. Bob Menendez
- Russian disinformation is about immigration. The real aim is to undercut Ukraine aid
- Clippers guard Russell Westbrook breaks left hand in first half against Wizards
Recommendation
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Colorado paramedic sentenced to 5 years in prison for Elijah McClain’s death
Americans are saving less and spending more. Could that raise the risk of recession?
What is Super Tuesday? Why it matters and what to watch
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
'White Christmas' child star Anne Whitfield dies after 'unexpected accident,' family says
Monarch butterflies are not considered endangered. But a new study shows they are dwindling.
Report from National Urban League finds continued economic disparities among Black Americans