A staggering $303 million lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon, following allegations that a nurse tampered with patients’ fentanyl drips, replacing the potent painkiller with nonsterile tap water. The lawsuit, which accuses the hospital of negligence, has been filed on behalf of both living and deceased patients affected by the nurse’s actions.
Allegations of Negligence and Medical Malpractice
The lawsuit, which includes 18 plaintiffs—nine living patients and the estates of nine deceased individuals—alleges that Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center failed in its duty to properly monitor the administration of medication and to prevent drug diversion by its employees. The plaintiffs claim that the hospital’s negligence led to bacterial infections caused by the substitution of fentanyl with tap water, resulting in severe harm and, in some cases, death.
The suit seeks millions of dollars in damages for medical expenses, lost income, and the pain and suffering endured by the affected patients.
The Arrest and Charges Against the Nurse
Dani Marie Schofield, a former nurse at the hospital, was arrested in June and faces 44 counts of second-degree assault. According to a police investigation, Schofield allegedly tampered with fentanyl drips, leading to infections in several patients. Despite the serious charges, Schofield has pleaded not guilty.
Interestingly, Schofield is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed on Tuesday. A separate lawsuit was previously filed against both Schofield and the hospital on behalf of the estate of a 65-year-old man who died.
Details of the Complaint
The complaint filed this week claims that the hospital only began informing affected patients in December 2023 that an employee had tampered with their fentanyl drips, replacing the opioid with tap water. This tampering allegedly led to the transmission of waterborne bacteria, resulting in severe infections.
“All Plaintiff Patients were infected with bacterium uniquely associated with waterborne transmission,” the lawsuit states, highlighting the link between the infections and the alleged tampering.
Hospital’s Response and Ongoing Investigation
As of now, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center has declined to comment on the lawsuit. The Medford Police Department began investigating the hospital late last year after a significant increase in central line infections was reported between July 2022 and July 2023. The hospital alerted the police when they suspected an employee was diverting fentanyl.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid used for severe pain management, has also been at the center of the nation’s ongoing overdose crisis. However, drug diversion—where hospital staff misuse or steal controlled substances—is a long-standing issue in medical settings.
