The incident happened at the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon. The Medford Police Department said they are investigating the incident following the deaths of several patients due to infection. The erring nurse injected the patients with tap water instead of the painkiller drug fentanyl.
According to several sources, the ICU nurse was trying to cover up opioid abuse, likely by hospital staff. As many as 10 people died due to multiple infections caused by Pseudomonas bacteria. Dr. Robin Miller of KOBI 5's "Docs on Call" warned that Pseudomonas infection can be dangerous for people in poor health.
"It could cause sepsis [and] pneumonia. It could infect all the organs, so it could be a very severe infection," she warned. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pseudomonas can be spread to people in healthcare settings who are exposed to contaminated soil or water – in this case, the non-sterile tap water used in place of fentanyl. The CDC added that those on breathing machines, those with devices such as catheters and those with surgery or burn wounds are the most at risk of serious infection.
The police department declined to provide further details, outside of confirming an ongoing investigation at the hospital operated by the Asante health system. It added that no one has been arrested or charged over the incident as of writing.
Meanwhile, the hospital released a statement saying: "We were distressed to learn of this issue. We reported it to law enforcement, and are working closely with them."
Miller: Drug diversion at Oregon hospital not an isolated case
Fentanyl is used to treat acute, severe pain caused by major trauma or surgery. It is also used to address chronic pain caused by cancer. But according to various reports, fentanyl is one of the most commonly diverted drugs. (Related: Virginia classifies FENTANYL as weapon of TERRORISM in response to rise in overdose deaths.)
Miller said switching out a patient's medication for personal use, just like what the ICU nurse did in this case, is called drug diversion. Despite this, she was puzzled as to why regular tap water was used. There should be sterile options available that wouldn't put patients at risk, Miller added.
"You don't think of medical professionals doing this, but 10 percent of medical professionals divert drugs. Ten percent – that's a lot," said the host of "Docs on Call."
"You can find other hospitals where this has happened, and where Pseudomonas infection has happened as a result. So it's not just here."
According to Miller, one instance of drug diversion that led to Pseudomonas infection in Cleveland eventually involved both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. "I suspect that's what will happen here as well," she added.
In 2023, nurses from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Montana either pleaded guilty or were sentenced for drug diversion while working at hospitals.
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