Oregon Nurse Swapped Fentanyl for Tap Water, Killing Multiple Hospital Patients: Report

A nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Oregon allegedly swapped medication with tap water, resulting in the death of approximately ten patients, NBC5 reported.

Citing several anonymous sources, NBC5 reported that at least ten patients at the Medford hospital were allegedly injected with tap water in an attempt to cover up a nurse’s misuse of fentanyl, a pain medication. 

According to NBC5, sources within the hospital said that the tap water, which is not sterile, led to Pseudomonas infections.

“It [tap water] could cause sepsis, pneumonia, it could infect all the organs, so it could be a very severe infection,” Dr. Robin Miller, host of NBC’s Docs on Call said. 

The process of switching medications is called “drug diversion,” Miller said, noting that about 10% of medical professionals do so.

Fentanyl is one of the most commonly diverted drugs.

As of this report, no one has been charged with a crime. Police are still investigating the incident. 

While the number of patients has not been confirmed, The Oregonian/OregonLive confirmed a police investigation into the incident of drug diversion is in its “early stages.”

A spokesperson for the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center also confirmed with Oregon Live that the issue was reported to law enforcement. They declined to confirm the number of people who may have died or been impacted.