MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A group of lawyers representing both living and deceased patients from an Oregon hospital has filed a massive $303 million lawsuit against the facility. This legal action follows allegations that a nurse switched out prescribed fentanyl for nonsterile tap water in patients’ intravenous drips.
The lawsuit, which claims wrongful death and medical malpractice, points fingers at the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford for being negligent. It alleges that the hospital did not properly oversee how medications were being administered and failed to prevent employees from misusing drugs, among other accusations.
A spokesperson for the hospital stated that they had no comment on the ongoing case.
Dani Marie Schofield, a former nurse at the hospital, was arrested in June and faces 44 charges of second-degree assault. These charges came about following a police investigation into the theft and misuse of prescription drugs, which unfortunately led to patient infections. Schofield has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
It’s important to note that Schofield is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed on Tuesday. Earlier this year, a different lawsuit was submitted against both Schofield and the hospital regarding the estate of a 65-year-old man who passed away.
The new lawsuit involves 18 plaintiffs, including nine current patients and the estates of nine patients who have died. The lawsuit states that the hospital began notifying these patients in December about a disturbing issue: an employee had replaced prescribed fentanyl with tap water, which led to bacterial infections.
The complaint asserts, “All Plaintiff Patients were infected with bacterium uniquely associated with waterborne transmission.”
According to the lawsuit, all the plaintiffs experienced significant emotional distress. They are seeking millions of dollars in damages to cover medical bills, lost wages, and the pain and suffering experienced by those who died.
The police investigation started late last year after hospital officials recognized a concerning increase in central line infections from July 2022 to July 2023. They reported their suspicions to the police that an employee had been illegally taking fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid. While it has been instrumental in treating severe pain in medical settings, it has also contributed to the country’s ongoing overdose crisis. Unfortunately, stealing drugs from hospitals has been a long-standing issue.
