In a deeply disturbing incident widely shared on social media, more than 10 patients lost their lives as a nurse is suspected of replacing Fentanyl IV bags with tap water.
The tragic event unfolded in the state of Oregon, USA, where ten patients at a hospital succumbed after a nurse allegedly swapped Fentanyl intravenous drips with tap water, prompting investigations into medicine theft.
Several sources claimed that the nurse in question had been administering non-sterile tap water to patients, concealing the misuse of the hospital’s pain medication, specifically Fentanyl. The reported substitution is believed to have affected patients since at least the fall of 2022, according to the Rogue Valley Times.
Families of two deceased patients, Samuel Allison (36) and Barry Samsten (74), were reportedly informed by hospital officials that the deaths were a result of infections caused by the substitution of their pain medication with non-sterile tap water.
Medford Police Lieutenant Geoff Kirkpatrick stated, “There was concern that this behavior resulted in adverse patient care, though the extent of the impact on those patients is yet to be determined.”
Kirkpatrick refrained from confirming a direct link between the deaths and medication theft or tampering, highlighting an ongoing investigation into potential adverse patient outcomes.
The police department has notified affected patients of the medication swap but has not disclosed the exact number of deaths or individuals affected. The hospital expressed distress over the situation and affirmed its collaboration with law enforcement in a statement.
The Oregon Health Authority acknowledged an investigation on Wednesday, focusing on “reports that the incidents led to healthcare-associated infections that severely injured, and may have caused the deaths of, several patients.” Whether any arrests have been made in connection to the incident remains unclear.
