The Medford Police Department confirms that they're one month into investigating allegations that a former employee of Southern Oregon's largest hospital stole medication from patients, resulting in an untold number with "adverse" outcomes.
In a Wednesday afternoon press release, MPD shared few other details and declined to verify explosive allegations reported by KOBI-5 News in Medford late last week that confidential sources said eight to 10 patients who were treated at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center may have died after an employee they identified as a nurse allegedly stole controlled substances -- specifically fentanyl -- and replaced it with non-sterile tap water that was then administered to patients.
The Oregonian reports tap water may have led to patients' fatal infections, the sources were quoted as saying.
Medford Police Lieutenant Geoff Kirkpatrick declined to comment on any of those allegations, including whether the "controlled substances" believed to have been stolen was fentanyl, the number of patients affected and whether any patients had died. Kirkpatrick said police began looking into what might have happened at the hospital after Asante contacted them with information about potential crimes.
Kirkpatrick asked for the community's patience as police investigate. He said police have received "numerous calls" from community members asking if they or their family members were affected by the theft of medications.
The hospital didn't respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Police, however, said the hospital "has informed MPD that they have identified the involved patients and have notified or are in the process of notifying them or their families."
