Two nurses had set out to take a trip together. Upon their return, airport authorities flagged the two for a search. During the search, authorities claim to have found approximately 700 Tramadol pills.
Discovery of pain pills leads to serious penalties
The allegations result in two potential avenues for penalties for the nurses:
- Criminal charges. Houston police arrested the two and the nurses currently face charges of second-degree felony possession of a controlled substance. Depending on the details of the allegations, second degree felonies in Texas generally can come with up to 20 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
- License investigation. The arrest also led the nurses’ employer to report the nurses to the Texas Board of Nursing. The hospital has suspended the nurses pending results of an investigation. This could lead to the loss of their current jobs and potential revocation of their license, making it essentially impossible to practice their profession in the future.
The court agreed to release each nurse on a $10,000 bond.
Options are available, may vary depending on details of case
Fortunately, those who face these penalties have options. Nurses who are accused of crimes such as this have options. An attorney can review the allegations and discuss the best course of action.
In these situations, it is often wise to seek legal counsel that is familiar with nurse specific issues. Legal counsel with experience dealing with the Nursing Board may have a better understanding of the options compared to those who do not have this experience.