Oregon hospital sued for $303M over fentanyl tampering scandal

In Medford, Oregon, a significant lawsuit has emerged against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, amounting to $303 million. This legal action follows allegations that a nurse tampered with patients' medications by substituting prescribed fentanyl with nonsterile tap water in intravenous drips. The lawsuit, filed by attorneys representing both living and deceased patients, claims negligence on the hospital's part for failing to adequately monitor medication administration and prevent drug diversion by staff members. The nurse in question, Dani Marie Schofield, was arrested in June and faces 44 counts of second-degree assault related to the theft and misuse of controlled substances, which led to patient infections. Although she has pleaded not guilty, her actions have raised serious concerns about patient safety and hospital protocols. The current lawsuit does not name Schofield as a defendant, but a previous suit against her and the hospital was filed earlier this year on behalf of a deceased patient. The complaint highlights that the hospital began notifying patients in December about the tampering incident, which resulted in bacterial infections linked to waterborne transmission. The 18 plaintiffs in the new lawsuit include nine patients and the estates of nine deceased individuals, all of whom have experienced mental anguish and seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and suffering. The investigation into the hospital was initiated by Medford police after a notable increase in central line infections was reported from July 2022 to July 2023. This troubling trend prompted hospital officials to alert law enforcement, leading to the ongoing scrutiny of the hospital's medication administration practices and employee conduct.