Attorneys representing both living and deceased patients of a hospital in Oregon have filed a lawsuit seeking $303 million in damages. This legal action comes after a nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford was accused of substituting prescribed fentanyl with tap water in intravenous drips. The lawsuit, which alleges wrongful death and medical malpractice, claims that the hospital was negligent in monitoring medication administration procedures and preventing drug diversion by its staff.
The former nurse, Dani Marie Schofield, was arrested in June and faces 44 counts of second-degree assault in connection with the theft and misuse of controlled substances leading to patient infections. Although Schofield is not named as a defendant in the recent lawsuit, a separate suit was previously filed against her and the hospital on behalf of the estate of a deceased patient.
The new lawsuit involves 18 plaintiffs, including nine patients and the estates of nine deceased patients, who were informed by the hospital in December about the fentanyl-tap water substitution that resulted in bacterial infections. The complaint states that all affected individuals were infected with a bacterium typically associated with waterborne transmission.
Seeking redress for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering of those who passed away, the lawsuit highlights the mental anguish endured by all plaintiffs. The hospital declined to comment on the matter.
Medford police initiated an investigation after a rise in central line infections between July 2022 and July 2023, during which hospital officials suspected an employee of diverting fentanyl. Fentanyl abuse is a concerning issue contributing to the national overdose crisis, although the drug also serves a critical role in managing severe pain in medical settings. Drug diversion from healthcare facilities has long been a significant challenge.
