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Former RN Dawn Drum Charged in Product Tampering Case
In a shocking turn of events, 54-year-old Dawn Drum, a former licensed registered nurse, has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of product tampering in Wisconsin. According to court documents, Drum tampered with vials of fentanyl in November 2021 while employed at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Janesville.
According to the plea agreement, Drum withdrew the fentanyl from the vials and replaced it with saline, then resealed the vial stopper with what appeared to be superglue. She then put the tampered vials back into a Pyxis machine, an automated medication dispensing system, so that the tampered fentanyl vials would be available for use with other patients at the hospital.
An audit of the Pyxis transactions in Drum’s name revealed that she had an excessive pattern of fentanyl overrides and wastes when compared to other employees in 2021. In November 2021, hospital management confronted Drum with this discrepancy and asked her to take a drug test. Drum refused and instead resigned from her position at the hospital.
The charges against Drum were the result of an investigation conducted by the Food and Drug Administration–Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration–Diversion Control Division. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Daniel J. Graber.
According to the plea agreement, the parties are recommending the Court impose a sentence of 18 months imprisonment and a fine of $30,000 due and payable immediately at sentencing. A date for Drum’s plea hearing has not been scheduled. The statutory maximum penalties for the product tampering charge are 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Drum’s actions raise serious concerns about patient safety and the integrity of our healthcare system. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
In related news, the FDA has issued a warning to healthcare providers about the dangers of product tampering and the importance of verifying the authenticity of medications.
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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