Hydromorphone diversion cases
124 documented cases, 2001–2026.
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 hydromorphone; it also appears on the opioids page.
Monetary penalties stated
Median: $5,129.10
Smallest $1,000 · largest $4,360,000
Median of 14 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 13 of 124 records. 111 records state no dollar amount.
Custodial sentences stated
Shortest: 3 months
Longest: 60 months (5 years)
29 prison or jail terms stated in 29 of 124 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.
Roles named in the records
| Role | Records |
|---|---|
| Nurse (role unspecified) | 71 |
| Pharmacist | 14 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | 14 |
| Physician / surgeon | 9 |
| Pharmacy technician | 6 |
| Licensed practical / vocational nurse | 2 |
| Not stated in the record or its title | 2 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | 2 |
| Paramedic / EMT | 2 |
| Nurse practitioner / APRN | 1 |
| Veterinarian | 1 |
From the Role field (21) or, where the record has none, the case title (101).
States with the most records
| State | Records |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 7 |
| Connecticut | 6 |
| Florida | 6 |
| Minnesota | 6 |
| Massachusetts | 5 |
| Michigan | 5 |
| North Carolina | 5 |
| Oklahoma | 5 |
39 states and territories in all; every state.
Settings involved
| Setting | Records |
|---|---|
| Hospital / health system | 74 |
| Other / not classified | 29 |
| Retail pharmacy | 14 |
| Emergency services / EMS | 2 |
| Home health / hospice | 2 |
| Ambulatory surgery / OR | 1 |
| No setting stated | 2 |
Other drugs and classes
Cases
Newest first · page 5 of 5, 101–124 of 124
- Birmingham Pharmacy Technician Tampered with Opioid IV Bags Prepared for Palliative Care Patients 2018-02 · Birmingham, AL · Retail pharmacy
- Former hospital nurse in Douglas charged with stealing and diluting hydromorphone and meperidine 2017-10 · Douglas, WY · Hospital / health system
- Ogden hospital emergency room nurse charged with diverting morphine and dilaudid and tampering with vials, exposing patients to hepatitis C 2017-07 · Ogden, UT · Hospital / health system
- Registered nurse accused of diverting hydromorphone at Memorial Hospital of Converse County by replacing it with saline 2017-06 · Douglas, WY · Hospital / health system
- Metro Jackson Hospital Nurse Charged With Embezzling Opioids 2017-05-24 · Hospital / health system
- Scottsdale Surgery Center Nurse Surrenders License After Diverting Fentanyl and Dilaudid 2017-05-02 · Scottsdale, AZ · Ambulatory surgery / OR
- Hospital nurse accused of embezzling Dilaudid and morphine for diversion 2017-05 · Jackson, MS · Hospital / health system
- Traveling nurse surrendered license after admitting to stealing fentanyl from Massachusetts hospital 2017 · Newburyport, MA · Hospital / health system
- Michigan Physician Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2017) 2017 · Michigan · Other / not classified
- Casper physician suspended over alleged excessive painkiller prescriptions and oxycodone conspiracy 2016-12 · Casper, WY · Other / not classified
- Illinois emergency room nurse diverted hydromorphone from Pekin hospital 2016-10-06 · Hospital / health system
- New Jersey hospital nurse reprimanded after hydromorphone ampules found tampered with 2016-10 · Hospital / health system
- Nurse diverted hydromorphone from an automated dispensing cabinet system at place of employment 2016-04 · Other / not classified
- Minnesota Paramedic Stole Ambulance Morphine, Replaced It with Saline 2015-07-16 · Minneapolis, Minnesota · Emergency services / EMS
- Twin Falls Pharmacy Technician Sentenced for Selling Stolen Oxycodone 2015-05-19 · Twin Falls, Idaho · Retail pharmacy
- Twin Falls Pharmacy Technician Sold Stolen Oxycodone and Hydromorphone Tablets from Pharmacy Stock 2015-05 · Twin Falls, ID · Retail pharmacy
- Former Trinity Home Health/Hospice nurses accused of diluting and diverting patients' morphine and hydromorphone 2014-09 · Minot, ND · Home health / hospice
- UW Hospital nurse charged in morphine and hydromorphone syringe diversion 2014-03 · Madison, WI · Hospital / health system
- California retail pharmacy technician accused of conspiring with physician to divert opioids; Board decision issued 2013-07-17 · Retail pharmacy
- Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Diverting Dilaudid, Causing Patient Infections — Minnesota, 2013 2013-03-20 · St. Cloud, Minnesota · Hospital / health system
- Nurse Sentenced for Diverting Hydromorphone via Drug Cabinet Login Credentials — Minnesota, 2012 2012-01-20 · Minnesota · Hospital / health system
- Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Siphoning Dilaudid from Patients' IV Bags — Minnesota, 2011 2011-06-29 · Coon Rapids, Minnesota · Hospital / health system
- Former nurse pleads guilty to stealing hydromorphone from Mayo Regional Hospital 2010-11 · Dover-Foxcroft, ME · Hospital / health system
- Rochester nurse admitted diverting morphine and hydromorphone through fraudulent dispensing-cabinet entries 2001-11-09
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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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