A nurse at a hospital in Oregon is under investigation for allegedly replacing fentanyl in IVs with tap water, which may have resulted in the deaths of up to 10 patients, reports the NY Post.

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford reported the theft of medication to the police after suspecting a former employee. 

Some sources claim that nine people died from infections caused by the misuse of pain medication, while others say the total number of deaths is 10. The nurse allegedly injected non-sterile tap water into patients to conceal the theft. The hospital had been aware of this issue since at least the fall of 2022, according to the Rogue Valley Times. 

“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,”

Medford police Lt. Geoff Kirkpatrick said in a statement. Kirkpatrick did not confirm whether the deaths were a result of the medication theft or tampering.

“We’re investigating whether or not that behavior led to adverse patient care, which could be death, could be all sorts of other forms or things. … We don’t know that that resulted in deaths,”

he said. Law enforcement has chosen not to disclose the specific number of individuals who have been affected or lost their lives.

“We were distressed to learn of this issue,”

the hospital said in a statement.

“We reported it to law enforcement and are working closely with them.”

It is unclear if any arrests have been made.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?