An Oregon nurse faces assault charges that she stole fentanyl and replaced IV drips with tap water

Associated Press

MEDFORD, Oregon (AP) — A erstwhile caregiver astatine a confederate Oregon infirmary is facing criminal charges that she harmed astir 4 twelve patients by stealing fentanyl and replacing it pinch non-sterile pat h2o successful intravenous drips.

Many of nan patients developed superior infections, and 16 of them died, but authorities said they did not prosecute murder, manslaughter aliases criminally negligent homicide charges because investigators could not found that nan infections caused those deaths. The patients were already susceptible and being treated successful nan hospital’s intensive attraction unit, nan Medford Police Department noted.

Dani Marie Schofield, 36, a erstwhile caregiver astatine Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center successful Medford, was arrested past week and alternatively charged pinch 44 counts of second-degree assault. She pleaded not blameworthy connected Friday and was being held connected $4 cardinal bail, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

“After reappraisal of infirmary records, diligent records and pathology reports, MPD consulted pinch aggregate aesculapian experts, who each agreed that questionable deaths associated pinch this lawsuit could not beryllium straight attributed to nan infections,” nan constabulary section said successful a news release.

The investigation began precocious past twelvemonth aft infirmary officials noticed a troubling spike successful cardinal statement infections from July 2022 done July 2023 and told constabulary they believed an worker had been diverting fentanyl, starring to “adverse” outcomes for patients.

Fentanyl is simply a powerful synthetic opioid that has helped substance nan nation’s overdose epidemic, but it is besides utilized successful morganatic aesculapian settings to relieve terrible pain. Drug theft from hospitals is simply a longstanding problem.

Schofield voluntarily agreed to refrain from practicing arsenic a caregiver and to suspend her nursing licence pending nan result of nan criminal case, Clark R. Horner, Schofield’s civilian attorney, said successful consequence to a pending civilian suit revenge successful February against Schofield and nan hospital.

The suit was revenge by nan property of Horace Wilson, who died astatine nan Asante Rogue Medical Center. He had sought attraction astatine nan infirmary connected Jan. 27, 2022, aft falling from a ladder. He suffered bleeding from his spleen and had it removed.

But doctors past noted “unexplained precocious fevers, very precocious achromatic humor compartment counts, and a precipitous decline,” nan title said. Tests confirmed an infection of treatment-resistant bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis. Wilson died weeks later.

In consequence to nan lawsuit, Schofield denied she was negligent aliases caused wounded to Wilson.

David deVilleneuve, an Oregon attorney, said he has been successful touch pinch astir 4 twelve erstwhile patients aliases their representatives who are exploring whether to writer complete their curen by Schofield. Only 15 of them appeared connected nan database of victims authorities named successful nan indictment. He said he expects to record his first lawsuits wrong astir 3 weeks.

DeVilleneuve said he was amazed that prosecutors did not complaint Schofield pinch manslaughter. But he noted that proving she caused nan deaths would beryllium much difficult successful a criminal case, wherever nan modular is beyond a reasonable doubt, than successful a civilian one, wherever it is simply a preponderance of nan evidence.

“Their load of impervious is higher than mine,” he said.

Asante past December contacted Medford constabulary regarding a erstwhile worker “that they judge was progressive successful nan theft of fentanyl prescribed to patients resulting successful immoderate adverse diligent outcomes,” nan title said.

That month, infirmary representatives “began contacting patients and their relatives telling them a caregiver had replaced fentanyl pinch pat h2o causing bacterial infections,” it said.

Schofield for each complaint faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and 10 months successful situation pinch a imaginable maximum condemnation of 10 years.