Documents name former pharmacy technician in drug-switching case – KCCI Des Moines

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DES MOINES, Iowa —

An addendum from the Iowa Board of Pharmacy has named the former pharmacy technician who admitted to watering down the opioid prescriptions of hospital patients and stole the powerful painkillers.

Van Cleave then replaced the missing medication with sterile water, according to the document.

KCCI first broke the story last October after a viewer, who was a patient at Methodist, wondered why the pain killers she was prescribed after spinal surgery did nothing to help. The hospital employee’s name, however, was not revealed until it showed up in Pharmacy Board documents obtained today by KCCI.

Officials with Methodist Medical Center told KCCI that Van Cleave was terminated immediately and that they apologized to patients who were affected by the drug diversion.

Hospital officials said that as many as 731 people could have received nothing more than salt water due to the drug-switching.

Over 100 patients filed lawsuits against the hospital in February. An attorney representing the patients told KCCI that more than 200 former patients reached out and indicated their desire to file a lawsuit.

This story is developing. Check back for details on KCCI-TV, the KCCI mobile app and KCCI.com.