Authorities have accused a nurse of stealing narcotics and exposing patients to Hepatitis C. The allegations against the nurse are connected to two reports of Hepatitis C reported to the local health department.
What triggered the public health department to investigate? The public health department will generally investigate any new case of Hepatitis C. The agency confirmed two new cases of Hepatitis C. The investigations of these two cases resulted in the discovery that both patients received an injectable narcotic from the same nurse.
Further testing of the patients appears to indict the virus came from the same source.
What are the details of the allegations? The public health department alleges the emergency room nurse took some of the narcotics for her own use and then used the same needle to inject patients with the remaining medication. The public health agency’s investigation pointed specifically to this nurse. The agency’s allegations against the nurse were allegedly supported by evidence she removed “higher-than-normal amounts of narcotics” and admitted to keeping these medications from their intended recipients.
The hospital has notified over 2,000 patients about potential exposure. The exposure window spans eight months, from August of 2017 through March of 2018.
The nurse tested positive for Hepatitis C. She has retained legal counsel and states the allegations against her are false.
Those who face similar accusations are wise to build a case to defend their innocence. A failure to do so can result in the loss of your nursing license and potential criminal charges. An attorney experienced in licensing issues can build a case and better ensure a favorable outcome.