This post was originally published on this site
A former registered nurse at Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center has been sentenced to two years probation and a fine of $100 for stealing patient medication, according to a Tuesday press release from the United States Attorney’s Office.
Brittany Anne Enstad, age 40, of Tea, was charged with eight counts of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge. She was sentenced Friday.
From July 1-Dec. 20, 2022, Enstad, obtained blister packets containing OxyContin for her own use and replaced the medication with pills such as melatonin and acetaminophen, according to court documents.
According to the federal indictment from June 2023, Enstad then resealed the blister packs, knowing medical center patients would be receiving the wrong medication.
The pain medications Enstad obtained consisted of OxyContin, Hydrocodone Bitartrate, Oxycodone Hydrochloride and Oxycodone and Acetaminophen.
Enstad pleaded guilty to these charges on March 6. It is unclear how many OxyContin pills were stolen and replaced at the medical center.
As of Thursday, Enstad’s nursing license was still suspended according to the South Dakota Board of Nursing website.
This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigation and the DEA.
“Patients deserve to have confidence that they are receiving the proper treatment from those entrusted with providing their medical care. Those who knowingly tamper with medicines for patients put those patients’ health at risk,” said special agent in charge Ronne Malham, with the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. “Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice healthcare professionals who take advantage of their position and compromise patients’ health and comfort by tampering with needed drugs.”