Yale Nurse Commits Possible Connecticut Medical Malpractice Through Drug Tampering

Patients at Yale’s Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility clinic were experiencing higher than normal pain after procedures that they had undergone.  As it turns out a nurse at the clinic, was tampering with their pain medications  switching out doses of Fentynal with saline.  This type of drug tampering may be considered Connecticut medical malpractice by the nurse.

While many often think that medical malpractice is most commonly the result of a mistake made by a doctor, it can certainly be the case that a nurse, who is the intermediary between the doctor and the patient can commit malpractice.  In Connecticut, any action that deviates from the standard of care and causes lasting injury may be considered malpractice.

In this case, the nurse was switching out the pain killer for her own personal use which is also a violation of the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s (CT DPH) guidance on drug use among nurses.  The CT DPH requires that medical professionals who fall into the following two categories must be reported;

• Abuse or overuse of drugs, alcohol, chemicals, or narcotics;
• Possession, use, and prescription for distribution of controlled drugs

From June to October during the clinic an estimated 75% of fentanyl was adulterated with saline leaving patients of the nurse in excruciating pain and with lasting emotional scars. 

If you or a loved one believe that you received an injury as a result of Connecticut medical malpractice, contact our office and either our nurse/attorney Gayle Sullivan or or doctor/attorney Bob Messey will conduct a thorough legal and medical investigation of your case.