Nine patients who survived and the families of nine other patients who died have filed a $303 million lawsuit against a Medford hospital, claiming it didn't follow proper safety protocols that would have prevented a nurse from stealing their prescribed fentanyl and replacing the painkiller with bacteria-laden tap water.
The Oregonian reports the medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit represents the largest claim so far against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for the alleged acts of former nurse Dani Marie Schofield in 2022 and 2023.
Schofield has been charged with assaulting 44 patients for allegedly stealing their painkillers. Asante did not immediately return a request for comment about the lawsuit.
Previously, only one suit had been filed – seeking $11.5 million for the death of a 65-year-old man whose family claims he developed a life-ending infection after Schofield allegedly swapped his painkillers with non-sterile tap water.
The latest suit states that all of the 18 former patients listed as plaintiffs developed bacterial infections after an employee took their fentanyl and replaced it with tap water. The suit doesn't name Schofield or list her as a defendant who may be financially liable, but the suit's lawyers had previously identified her as the employee at the center of this case.
The lawsuit shares little detail about the patients' ordeals, but the suit seeks millions for their past and future medical expenses, prolonged hospital stays and lost wages. It also seeks compensation for the "pre-death" suffering of those who died and the pain endured by those who lived.
The suit claims Asante "knew or should have known of the high likelihood of drug misuse by its employees given that Asante had had repeated instances of drug misuse by its employees in the past."
