
Inset: Dani Mari Schofield appeared in court on June 14 (KOMO screenshot); Background: Asante Rogue Regional Hospital (Google Maps)
An Oregon medical center is facing a $300 million lawsuit over the alleged actions of a nurse accused of swapping out liquid fentanyl for nonsterile tap water, resulting in the deaths of multiple patients.
As Law&Crime previously reported, Dani Marie Schofield was arrested in June and charged with 44 counts of assault for allegedly stealing liquid fentanyl prescribed to patients and replacing the drug with tap water. Between July 2022 and July 2023, when Schofield left the medical center, dozens of patients were allegedly affected with serious infections, including several deaths, Medford police said at the time.
The wrongful death and negligence complaint, reviewed by Law&Crime, seeks $303 million in damages. Attorneys for the plaintiffs represent the interests of at least 18 former patients — nine patients who survived Schofield’s alleged mistreatment, and the families of nine who did not.
“All Plaintiff Patients were infected with bacterium uniquely associated with waterborne transmission,” the complaint says.