In a shocking turn of events, an investigation has been launched into the alleged theft of medication at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon. It is believed that as many as 10 patients may have died as a result of a nurse swapping out fentanyl in IVs for tap water. The hospital officials alerted the police early last month after suspecting that a former employee had stolen medication.

According to sources at the hospital, nine people have died from infections caused by the tampered medication, while other sources claim there were 10 deaths in total. The nurse responsible for the alleged swap reportedly injected the patients with non-sterile tap water in an attempt to cover up their misuse of the hospital's supply of pain medication, specifically fentanyl. Shockingly, this misconduct had been occurring since at least the fall of 2022, as reported by the Rogue Valley Times.

Families of two patients, Samuel Allison, 36, who passed away in November 2022, and Barry Samsten, 74, who died in July, were informed by hospital officials that their loved ones' deaths were a result of infections caused by the replacement of their pain medication with non-sterile tap water.

Medford police Lieutenant Geoff Kirkpatrick stated, "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." However, he did not confirm whether the deaths were directly caused by the medication theft or tampering. The police department has informed the affected patients about the swap, but they have not disclosed the exact number of deaths or individuals impacted.

The hospital expressed their distress regarding the situation and confirmed their cooperation with law enforcement. They stated, "We reported it to law enforcement and are working closely with them." The Oregon Health Authority has also launched an investigation into the incidents, confirming that they are looking into reports of severe injuries and potential deaths caused by healthcare-associated infections resulting from the tampering.

As of now, it remains unclear if any arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the full extent of the harm caused by the alleged medication theft and tampering. The police statement indicated that they have received numerous calls from concerned individuals who fear they may have been affected by the tampered medication.

Relatives of Samuel Allison and Barry Samsten have yet to respond to interview requests from The Associated Press, leaving many questions unanswered. This shocking incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns about patient safety and the integrity of healthcare providers. The investigation will undoubtedly shed more light on the extent of the harm caused by this alleged misconduct.