Drug Theft among Nurses in Hospitals

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses several instances where nurses have been involved with stealing drugs. The writer points out that some accidental deaths and injuries on account of medical errors, neglect and incompetence are never reported to the authorities. The writer notes however, that the media has sounded the alarm about hospital management and patient care as it relates to this crisis within nursing where nurses have been caught stealing drugs. The writer concludes that a hospital nurse who is caught stealing drugs, intended for cancer patients or patients of any kind of illness, for her own use should be immediately dismissed and then prosecuted.

From the Paper:

"A former nurse at the Bedford Veterans Hospital was convicted of tampering with a consumer product after removing narcotics from pain patches. Margaret Girouard of Merrimack, New Hampshire also stole other controlled substances, most of them painkillers from the hospital between September 2001 and August 2002. The pain patches were not used on patients, as reported. Girouard pleaded guilty of obtaining them by making false statements. Prosecutors later discovered that the nurse had been fired by a former employer in 1998 on suspicion of stealing her patients' medication. She faced a maximum prison sentence of up to 10 for tampering, four years for each count of the controlled substance fraud charges, and five years for making false statements."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Associated Press (2006). Former nurse convicted of drug theft. 1 page. Boston.com :the New York Times Company
• Berens, M. J. (2001). Medical errors. 3 pages. The IRE Journal : Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.
• Cuomo, A. M. (2001). Nurse admits to narcotic theft at Long Island Hospital. 2 pages. Office fo the New York State Attorney-General : New York State
• Hart, S. (2006). Nurse admits stealing powerful drugs. 2 pages. Herald on Sunday : NZHerald.co.nz
• Miletic, D. (2005). Nurse admits drug theft. 3 pages. Fairfax Digital: theage.com.au

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