A former nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon, has been arrested and charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault for allegedly harming nearly four dozen patients by stealing fentanyl and replacing it with non-sterile tap water in intravenous drips. The nurse, 36-year-old Dani Marie Schofield, pleaded not guilty and is being held on $4 million bail.
The investigation began after hospital officials noticed a spike in central line infections from July 2022 through July 2023, leading them to suspect that an employee was diverting fentanyl, resulting in adverse outcomes for patients. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is commonly used for pain relief but has also been linked to the nation's overdose epidemic.
