A $303 million lawsuit has been filed against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon, alleging that a nurse replaced prescribed fentanyl with non-sterile tap water in intravenous drips, leading to patient infections and deaths. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, accuses the hospital of negligence, claiming it failed to adequately monitor medication administration procedures and prevent drug diversion by its employees.
The lawsuit includes 18 plaintiffs, comprising nine living patients and the estates of nine deceased patients. The hospital began notifying them in December 2023 that an employee had potentially replaced fentanyl with tap water, resulting in bacterial infections. The complaint states that all plaintiffs experienced mental anguish and seeks damages for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
The accusations stem from the arrest of Dani Marie Schofield, a former nurse at the hospital, in June 2023. She was charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault after a police investigation into the theft and misuse of controlled substances. While Schofield is not named as a defendant in the new lawsuit, a separate suit was filed against her and the hospital earlier this year on behalf of the estate of a 65-year-old man who died.
The investigation began late last year when hospital officials noticed a concerning surge in central line infections from July 2022 to July 2023. They suspected an employee was diverting fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid used for severe pain management. Fentanyl theft from hospitals is a persistent issue, underscoring the need for robust safeguards to prevent drug diversion.
The hospital has not issued a comment on the lawsuit. However, the allegations raise serious concerns about patient safety and highlight the importance of stringent drug management protocols within healthcare facilities.
