The estate of a 65-year-old man who passed away is suing for up to $11.5 million in the first case, which was filed in the wake of accusations that a nurse at a hospital in southern Oregon substituted tap water for intravenous fentanyl infusions.
According to a report by The Oregonian/OregonLive, a wrongful death suit was filed on Monday against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. It also identifies nurse Dani Marie Schofield as a defendant, as per ABC News.
Asante Rogue Faces Wrongful Death Suit
A wrongful death suit has been filed against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, according to a report by The Oregonian/OregonLive. The legal action, initiated on Monday, also includes nurse Dani Marie Schofield as a defendant.
Last month, the Medford police revealed an ongoing investigation into potential crimes against patients related to the theft of "controlled substances," possibly resulting in adverse outcomes for some individuals. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, known for contributing to the nationwide overdose epidemic, was mentioned as a substance of interest.
While Fentanyl is legitimately used in medical settings to alleviate severe pain, theft of drugs from hospitals has long been a recognized issue. Specific details about the ongoing police investigation were not disclosed, but nurse Dani Marie Schofield voluntarily suspended her nursing license in November, as confirmed by Oregon Board of Nursing records.
The suspension was described as pending the completion of an investigation, and as of now, no charges have been filed against Schofield. Southern Oregon lawyer Justin Idiart stated that he represents nine clients whose medication was allegedly tampered with by Schofield.
He added that five others have reached out for potential representation, encompassing both survivors and loved ones of patients who died. All the clients received treatment from Schofield. Other local law firms are also exploring potential litigation, with expectations of up to three dozen cases being filed.
Attempts to obtain comments from Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. Contact information for Schofield was not immediately available, and it remains unclear whether she is represented by an attorney, according to Independent.
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Hospital Responds to Wilson's Death Lawsuit
In response to the emerging issue, Asante, the hospital's management, released a statement last month expressing distress over the situation. The hospital reported the matter to law enforcement and affirmed its collaboration with authorities in addressing the matter.
The lawsuit, filed by Idiart in Jackson County Circuit Court, centers around the death of Horace E. Wilson in February 2022. Wilson, the founder of Decibel Farms, a cannabis company in Jacksonville, Oregon, was treated at the hospital after a fall from a ladder resulted in bleeding from his spleen, leading to its removal.
However, Wilson's health deteriorated with "unexplained high fevers, very high white blood cell counts, and a precipitous decline," as per the complaint. Tests revealed an infection of treatment-resistant bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Wilson eventually succumbed to multi-system organ failure.
Idiart asserted that patients who were deprived of medication suffered due to the alleged medication tampering. In Wilson's case, the family believed he was in pain despite supposed sedation.
The hospital had alerted Medford police in December about a former employee believed to be involved in the theft of fentanyl, resulting in adverse patient outcomes. Hospital representatives began notifying patients and their relatives in that month, stating that a nurse had replaced fentanyl with tap water, causing bacterial infections, CTV News reported.
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