What Happened
A licensed practical nurse who worked in the endoscopy unit of Central Vermont Medical Center in Barre is alleged to have fraudulently obtained fentanyl, meperidine, and midazolam intended for patients, for her own personal use.
According to the Vermont Attorney General's Office, the alleged diversion occurred between January and October 2025. The nurse was charged with one felony count of fraud or deceit involving a regulated drug, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' incarceration, a $5,000 fine, or both. The investigation was led by the Vermont Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in Vermont Superior Court on March 5, 2026, and the case is pending.
Hospital officials said an internal review found no evidence that patient care was compromised, and the employee was terminated.
What Went Wrong
Because the case is still pending and much of the record consists of allegations rather than adjudicated findings, the full mechanism of detection has not been publicly detailed. What is documented:
- A nurse in a procedural unit that routinely administers fentanyl, meperidine, and midazolam allegedly diverted multiple controlled substances for personal use over roughly nine months before being identified.
- Detection came through a state licensing-board investigation rather than being described as an internal pharmacy or nursing audit finding.
How It Could Have Been Prevented
- In procedural units where multiple controlled substances are drawn per case, reconcile ordered, administered, and wasted quantities against the medical record for every patient, not just on exception.
- Use automated dispensing cabinet reporting to flag a single staff member's above-average withdrawal patterns across fentanyl, meperidine, and midazolam.
- Ensure state licensing-board investigations and hospital internal reviews are cross-triggered, so a diversion referral in one unit prompts a broader look at that employee's access history.
Related Guidance
- Hospital Diversion Prevention Checklist — Hospital self-assessment, 8 sections 63 items, including access controls and dispensing verification.
- 15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators including above-average withdrawal patterns.