A former nurse at a southern Oregon hospital is facing criminal charges for harming nearly four dozen patients by stealing fentanyl and replacing it with non-sterile tap water in intravenous drips. This alarming incident led to serious infections in many patients, with 16 of them tragically losing their lives.
The nurse, Dani Marie Schofield, 36, who worked at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, was arrested and charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault. Despite the severity of the situation, authorities did not pursue murder or manslaughter charges due to challenges in establishing a direct link between the infections and the patients' deaths.
The investigation began after a spike in central line infections was noticed at the hospital, prompting officials to suspect drug diversion by an employee. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, was being stolen, leading to adverse outcomes for patients already in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Schofield, who pleaded not guilty, voluntarily agreed to refrain from nursing practice and had her license suspended pending the criminal case. A civil suit has also been filed against her and the hospital by the estate of a deceased patient who suffered from a treatment-resistant bacterial infection.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Schofield denied negligence or causing harm to patients. However, an attorney representing multiple patients affected by her actions is exploring legal action. While prosecutors did not charge Schofield with manslaughter, civil lawsuits are expected to be filed soon.
The hospital, Asante, took swift action upon discovering the issue, contacting authorities and affected patients and their families. Schofield now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence for each charge, highlighting the serious consequences of her actions.
