Medford Drug Diversion Case: $303 Million Lawsuit Filed against Asante
UPDATE: Civil Case Against Former Asante Nurse Stayed Pending Outcome Of Criminal Trial
MEDFORD, Ore — 18 Claimants have filed a lawsuit in the Jackson County circuit court against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (RRMC) where a nurse may be responsible for deaths allegedly linked to fentanyl replaced by tap water. The plaintiffs are seeking damages of over $300 Million.
Claim Against Asante Rogue For Fentanyl Replaced With Tap Water
The Medford law firm, Shlesinger, and deVilleneuve, filed a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of 18 victims in the Asante drug diversion case, 9 of which are dead.
Claiming a total of $303,285,000 from Asante Rogue Regional, the plaintiffs allege that Asante had a duty of care to use the appropriate level of care, skill, and diligence to prevent drug misuse and bacterial infections but was negligent in several ways, including:
- Failing to adequately screen employees
- Failing to prevent drug diversion
- Failing to train and monitor employees
- Failing to administer pain medication as required
- Allowing tap water to have unreasonable levels of bacteria
- Failing to properly warn and control the use of unsafe tap water
- Replacing pain medication with tap water
- Failing to follow infection investigation, prevention, and control protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Acted vicariously through the acts of its employees
The complaint also implies Asante hired a nurse prone to drug misuse and because Asante experienced repeated drug misuse in the past, it knew or should have known of the high likelihood of drug misuse by its employees.
The lawsuit follows another civil lawsuit filed against Asante earlier this year.
Medford Nurse Arrested Following Deaths At Asante Rogue Hospital
Dani Schofield, the Medford nurse arrested in the Asante drug diversion criminal investigation, was not named in the lawsuit but is facing 44 counts of second-degree assault in connection with the alleged drug diversion at Asante.
Medford police indicated that Schofield diverted patients’ liquid fentanyl for personal use, replacing it with tap water. The tap water caused serious infections and resulted in the deaths of several patients.
After her arrest this summer, Schofield was arrested and charged earlier this year and is currently out on bail and awaiting trial in the criminal case.
See also: Asante Drug Diversion Arrest Could See More Victims Coming Forward