The estate of a 65-year-old man who died while hospitalized at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center sued the hospital system and a nurse on Monday, alleging the nurse replaced his prescribed fentanyl with tap water.
The Oregonian reports the wrongful death suit is the first to be filed against the local hospital since the shocking disclosure by Medford police last month that they were investigating potential crimes against patients involving the theft of "controlled substances," which may have led to "adverse" outcomes for some.
It’s not clear how many people were affected -- Medford police and Asante representatives have declined to say. MPD Lieutenant Geoffrey Kirkpatrick on Monday declined to answer any questions.
Justin Idiart, a Southern Oregon lawyer representing the estate of Horace Wilson, said he has nine clients whose medication was swapped out. He said another five have reached out for possible representation. He said the clients include loved ones of those who died as well as people who survived.
The lawsuit was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of Wilson, who was treated at the hospital after he fell off a ladder and died of an infection. Wilson -- a founder of a cannabis company called Decibel Farms in Jacksonville -- was known as "Buddy."
The suit names the hospital and nurse Dani Marie Schofield as defendants. Idiart said Schofield helped care for each of his clients. Schofield lives in Medford and has not been charged. On November 22nd, Schofield voluntarily agreed to refrain from practicing nursing "pending the completion of an investigation," Oregon Board of Nursing records show.
Neither Schofield nor Asante could immediately be reached for comment. State records show Schofield started working at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in December 2015, after working at a rehabilitation center between September and December 2015.
The lawsuit seeks $11.5 million in damages. Idiart said the cases involve patients who were treated for health concerns that were survivable. He accused the hospital system of failing to be transparent with patients and their loved ones.
