MEDFORD, Ore. – A former nurse accused of diverting drugs from patients and replacing them with tap water will have her pretrial conference delayed until next month. Dani Schofield, who worked at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, faces serious charges for allegedly diverting fentanyl intended for patients for her personal use, a practice that resulted in health complications for some and led to the death of others.
Schofield’s defense counsel filed a motion on Tuesday to continue the pretrial conference to May 28, 2025. According to court documents, the request was made in order to allow both parties to discuss scheduling matters on the record with Judge Jeremy Markiewicz. Patrick Green, the attorney representing the state of Oregon in the case, confirmed that the new date was acceptable.
The former nurse is facing 44 counts of second-degree assault after being accused of substituting the powerful opioid fentanyl with tap water, a practice that allegedly put patients at risk and contributed to their deteriorating health. In some cases, the consequences of Schofield’s alleged actions were fatal.
In addition to the criminal charges, Schofield and her former employer, Asante, are also facing nine civil lawsuits. These lawsuits were filed by patients and their families in connection to the alleged drug diversion and its harmful effects.
Schofield, who is no longer employed at the hospital, has not yet entered a plea in response to the criminal charges. The case has garnered significant attention, highlighting concerns about drug diversion in healthcare settings and the potential consequences for patient safety.
As the legal proceedings continue, both the criminal trial and the civil lawsuits will likely keep Medford and the broader healthcare community focused on the case, which is expected to have wide-reaching implications for both hospital protocols and the regulation of controlled substances in medical environments.