Plaintiffs sue Medford hospital for $303M over former nurse's alleged drug misuse

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Plaintiffs are seeking more than $303.2 million from the Medford hospital whose previous employee is suspected of replacing patients’ intravenous fentanyl drips with water.

On Tuesday, multiple representatives filed a lawsuit against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center on behalf of 18 patients — some deceased — who were impacted by the alleged actions of a former nurse.

The latest complaint names Asante as the only defendant. According to the court documents, the medical center started notifying patients and their relatives that an employee had replaced IV drips with tap water in December 2023.

The lawsuit accuses the company of being negligent for numerous reasons, including failing to monitor and prevent drug diversion among staff, and “allowing [a] culture that fostered inattention to medication administration protocols that prevent drug misuse.”

“Defendant Asante knew or should have known of the high likelihood of drug misuse by
its employees given that Asante has had repeated instances of drug misuse by its employees
In the past,” Attorney Shayla Steyart wrote in Jackson County court documents.

The attorney added that that many of the affected patients experienced “additional pain, suffering, and mental anguish” due to the hospital and the nurse’s actions.

According to a press release from the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, the former nurse was indicted on 44 counts of second-degree assault in connection to the case in June. The office referred to a Medford Police Department investigation, which found multiple instances of serous infections among Asante patients from July 2022 to July 2023.

The medical center has declined to comment.