MEDFORD, Ore. – Two separate lawsuits have been filed this week against Asante and a former nurse accused of diverting drugs and replacing them with unsterile substances, including tap water. The complaints allege serious misconduct at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (RRMC), leading to infections and, in one case, the death of a patient.
The first lawsuit, filed on April 10, 2025, lists the plaintiff as Benjamin Callesen, a man who claims to have contracted a waterborne bacterial infection after undergoing an appendectomy at RRMC. Callesen, who sought treatment at the hospital on April 13, 2023, was reportedly discharged after the surgery, only to return five days later with severe pain that was eventually confirmed to be caused by an infection from tap water.
According to court records, Callesen alleges that former nurse Dani Schofield was regularly present during his stay while he was sedated and vulnerable. The lawsuit asserts that Schofield’s actions, as well as the hospital’s negligence, led to Callesen’s prolonged suffering. The plaintiff was reportedly hospitalized for four days and treated with antibiotics.
In the complaint, Callesen claims that Schofield’s actions constituted negligence and abuse of a vulnerable person. The suit demands $7.2 million in damages, with $7 million designated for pain and suffering, and an additional $200,000 to cover medical expenses.
Just one day later, on April 11, 2025, another civil suit was filed on behalf of Patrick Bartlett, representing the estate of his deceased relative, Robin Bartlett. The suit alleges that Robin Bartlett, who was admitted to RRMC on May 21, 2023, was administered fentanyl and other drugs by Schofield while sedated and intubated in the intensive care unit. Bartlett died the following day.
The lawsuit claims that Bartlett displayed clear signs of infection, allegedly caused by the unsterile substances administered by Schofield or other Asante staff members. It further alleges that Asante knew or should have known about the risk of drug diversion by hospital personnel, citing previous incidents of drug diversion within the facility.
Excerpts from the legal filing state: “The Defendant Asante knew, or should have known, of the serious risk of drug diversion by hospital staff. This is particularly true in light of the high incidence of drug diversion in facilities where surveillance systems and strict compliance with mandatory safety checks were not implemented or enforced, including at RRMC, where drug diversion by Asante nurses had been discovered before.”
The complaint goes on to allege that Robin Bartlett’s pain medications and sedatives were stolen and replaced with bacteria-laden substances, leading to an infection. The Bartlett family is seeking $7.1 million in damages, with $7 million earmarked for pain and suffering, and $88,430.02 to cover medical bills.
Both lawsuits accuse Asante of failing to implement adequate safeguards to prevent drug diversion, a practice that allegedly jeopardized patient safety. The complaints highlight a pattern of negligence, with one suit specifically noting that the hospital’s failure to enforce proper surveillance systems contributed to the ongoing risk.
Schofield, who is named in both lawsuits, faces accusations of negligence and abuse of a vulnerable person. The lawsuits assert that Schofield’s alleged actions were not only harmful but also criminal, as the patients were unable to protect themselves due to their incapacitated states.
Asante has yet to issue a public statement regarding the lawsuits, but these legal actions have sparked renewed concerns about patient safety in healthcare settings. The cases bring to light the troubling issue of drug diversion, which has previously been discovered at RRMC, and raise questions about the adequacy of the hospital’s internal controls and oversight.
The lawsuits, filed by the law firm Andersen & Linthorst, P.C., are ongoing, with both plaintiffs seeking significant compensation for pain, suffering, and medical expenses. The outcomes of these cases could have wide-reaching implications for hospital practices and patient safety standards in Oregon and beyond.