Medford hospital nurse replaced fentanyl with tap water, killing patient
The estate of a 65-year-old man who died while hospitalized at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center sued the hospital system and a nurse on Monday, alleging the nurse replaced his prescribed fentanyl with tap water.
"Replacing it with water killed him"? All I hear every day is " Even a microscopic amount of Fentanyl will kill you...Water is the magic elixir. Ya gotta hydrate, hydrate, hydrate or you'll die"! The nurse was simply truing to be compassionate.
As a nurse, it's plausible that someone would steal drugs meant for a patient. It would be easy for someone to do, but easily caught when the patient doesn't have fentanyl in their system. Stupid. There is a reason why there are multiple inventory controls for strong painkillers, but a smart and resourceful person can find workarounds. It's just the nature of criminals.
It's not plausible that they would replace those medications with tap water when there are literally dozens of vials of injectable saline and sterile water all over the place.
It's also not plausible that, if someone were doing this, that the attorneys involved would have proof that this is what happened. This is, IMO, a made up story because someone whose fentanyl was diverted wouldn't die from lack of Fentanyl. They need the extra dimension of "replaced by tap water" so they have legitimate grounds to claim the death was caused by the hospital. That's how ambulance chasing douchebag lawyers make their money.
While you have a good point about douche bag attorneys making shit up in order to get money, I think you're underestimating the idiocy of drug addicts.
He probably thought that the sterile stuff was being counted, would be my guess. I've heard stupider shit.
Not saying the attorney is right, mind you, just that we don't have all the facts, and it's stupid enough to be true.
No. I mix drugs all of the time. For example, Rocephin and Cefepime are both powders that get mixed with saline or sterile water flushes. Then there are the patients whose IVs get flushed every 12 hours.
As a nurse.(Retired) Yes, this does happen. Just haven't seen anyone die from it. Tap water injected intramuscular into a pediatric patient in one instance when the ER doctor was swapping out meds. Too many other stories of drug addicted health care people stealing from the patients.
Reports are the nurse did this to multiple patients resulting in multiple deaths. The hospital is likely facing numerous lawsuits with this being the first. And yes...a smart nurse would have replaced the Fentanyl with sterile Saline. But his nurse was a junkie...and desperate junkies do stupid things.
When a nurse stole fentanyl meant for my wife it was as part of a three drug cocktail, so they simply left it out, figuring the other two drugs would take care of business. They did, she was fine, and the hospital reduced her $10,000 bill by something like $35 after they caught the nurse.
Just another reason to stay the hell away from medical facilities. You don't have doctors anymore you have drug dealers looking for their next boat payment.
"Replacing it with water killed him"? All I hear every day is " Even a microscopic amount of Fentanyl will kill you...Water is the magic elixir. Ya gotta hydrate, hydrate, hydrate or you'll die"! The nurse was simply truing to be compassionate.
ReplyDeleteAs a nurse, it's plausible that someone would steal drugs meant for a patient. It would be easy for someone to do, but easily caught when the patient doesn't have fentanyl in their system. Stupid. There is a reason why there are multiple inventory controls for strong painkillers, but a smart and resourceful person can find workarounds. It's just the nature of criminals.
ReplyDeleteIt's not plausible that they would replace those medications with tap water when there are literally dozens of vials of injectable saline and sterile water all over the place.
It's also not plausible that, if someone were doing this, that the attorneys involved would have proof that this is what happened. This is, IMO, a made up story because someone whose fentanyl was diverted wouldn't die from lack of Fentanyl. They need the extra dimension of "replaced by tap water" so they have legitimate grounds to claim the death was caused by the hospital. That's how ambulance chasing douchebag lawyers make their money.
While you have a good point about douche bag attorneys making shit up in order to get money, I think you're underestimating the idiocy of drug addicts.
DeleteHe probably thought that the sterile stuff was being counted, would be my guess. I've heard stupider shit.
Not saying the attorney is right, mind you, just that we don't have all the facts, and it's stupid enough to be true.
John G
Yep. Nailed it.
DeleteNo. I mix drugs all of the time. For example, Rocephin and Cefepime are both powders that get mixed with saline or sterile water flushes. Then there are the patients whose IVs get flushed every 12 hours.
DeleteOh goody. Now the government is going to get involved. Watch them make up new laws that will have zero effect.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the govt will finally, oh never mind, they will get it wrong...
DeleteAs a nurse.(Retired)
ReplyDeleteYes, this does happen. Just haven't seen anyone die from it.
Tap water injected intramuscular into a pediatric patient in one instance when the ER doctor was swapping out meds.
Too many other stories of drug addicted health care people stealing from the patients.
Reports are the nurse did this to multiple patients resulting in multiple deaths. The hospital is likely facing numerous lawsuits with this being the first. And yes...a smart nurse would have replaced the Fentanyl with sterile Saline. But his nurse was a junkie...and desperate junkies do stupid things.
ReplyDeleteWhen a nurse stole fentanyl meant for my wife it was as part of a three drug cocktail, so they simply left it out, figuring the other two drugs would take care of business. They did, she was fine, and the hospital reduced her $10,000 bill by something like $35 after they caught the nurse.
ReplyDeleteJust another reason to stay the hell away from medical facilities. You don't have doctors anymore you have drug dealers looking for their next boat payment.
ReplyDelete