Oregon Hospital Faces $303M Lawsuit Over Nurse's Fentanyl Theft and Patient Infections

The families of nine patients who died and nine who survived after contracting bacterial infections at a southern Oregon hospital are taking legal action against the hospital, alleging that it failed to prevent a nurse from tampering with patients' intravenous drips.

The former nurse, Dani Marie Schofield, was arrested and charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault after a months-long investigation discovered that she had replaced liquid fentanyl with tap water for numerous patients in the intensive care unit. The lawsuit, filed in Jackson County Circuit Court, claims that the hospital, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, failed to detect the thefts, leading to patients experiencing unnecessary pain and exposure to bacteria. The plaintiffs are seeking $303 million in damages.

Allegations of Tampering and Legal Response

The lawsuit's allegations against the hospital and the actions of the former nurse have resulted in a legal response, with the victims and their families seeking substantial damages for the pain and suffering endured.