Anesthetic and sedative diversion cases
14 documented cases, 2014–2025.
Figures are derived from the 931 case records collected on this site, not from any official total. A record counts here when its Drug field names a anesthetic and sedative (ketamine, phenobarbital, propofol).
Monetary penalties stated
Median: $22,112.62
Smallest $1,000 · largest $43,225.24
Median of 2 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 2 of 14 records. 12 records state no dollar amount.
Custodial sentences stated
Shortest: 3 months
Longest: 36 months (3 years)
3 prison or jail terms stated in 3 of 14 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.
Roles named in the records
| Role | Records |
|---|---|
| Nurse (role unspecified) | 4 |
| Physician / surgeon | 4 |
| Not stated in the record or its title | 1 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | 1 |
| Paramedic / EMT | 1 |
| Pharmacist | 1 |
| Pharmacy technician | 1 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | 1 |
From the Role field (2) or, where the record has none, the case title (11).
States with the most records
| State | Records |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 3 |
| California | 2 |
| Nebraska | 2 |
| Colorado | 1 |
| Indiana | 1 |
| Maryland | 1 |
| New Mexico | 1 |
| New York | 1 |
10 states and territories in all; every state.
Settings involved
| Setting | Records |
|---|---|
| Hospital / health system | 6 |
| Other / not classified | 6 |
| Ambulatory surgery / OR | 1 |
| Retail pharmacy | 1 |
Drugs named
| Drug | Records |
|---|---|
| fentanyl | 9 |
| propofol | 7 |
| ketamine | 6 |
| hydromorphone | 4 |
| midazolam | 4 |
| alprazolam | 1 |
| hydrocodone | 1 |
| methylphenidate | 1 |
| morphine | 1 |
| phenobarbital | 1 |
A record naming two drugs counts under both.
Other drugs and classes
Cases
Newest first
- Nebraska Nurse Charged Over Surgery Center Propofol and Fentanyl Theft 2025-04 · North Platte, Nebraska · Ambulatory surgery / OR
- Hospital pharmacist diverted ketamine and falsified destruction records at Mercy Hospital Anderson Pharmacy 2025-04 · Cincinnati, OH · Hospital / health system
- UCSF pediatric anesthesiologist arrested after being found unconscious with a propofol syringe 2025-03-05 · Other / not classified
- Registered nurse removed propofol from workplace for personal use 2025-01 · Other / not classified
- Nebraska Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Nebraska · Other / not classified
- Oklahoma City Anesthesiologist Convicted of Diverting Hospital Opioids 2024-07-11 · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Hospital / health system
- Former Scripps Encinitas anesthesiologist placed on seven-year probation for taking and self-administering propofol and opioids 2024-03 · Hospital / health system
- Hospital nurse anesthetist accused of diverting fentanyl and propofol intended for surgical patients 2024-01 · Las Vegas, NM · Hospital / health system
- Oklahoma Physician Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Oklahoma · Hospital / health system
- Indiana Nurse Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · Indiana · Other / not classified
- Colorado Nurse Stole Fentanyl in Hospital Catheterization Lab 2021-09-18 · Colorado · Hospital / health system
- New York Psychiatrist Pleads Guilty to Diverting Medication Using Patient's Children's Identities 2020-09-17 · Clifton Park, New York · Other / not classified
- Air-Evacuation Paramedic Tampered with Fentanyl and Ketamine Vials 2019-12-09 · Weatherford, Oklahoma · Other / not classified
- Pharmacy technician admitted taking Xanax, Lortab and Luminal without payment from a national chain pharmacy 2014-10 · Baltimore, MD · Retail pharmacy
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Disclaimer
Case summaries are based on public records (DOJ press releases, court documents, licensing-board orders, news reports). Charges are allegations unless a conviction is noted. Analysis is educational, not legal advice.
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