Infusion stolen from patients

October 21, 2008

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A registered nurse under suspension infiltrated some of Melbourne’s leading public and private hospitals to remove intravenous pain-relief drugs from patients - including a dying woman - to support her heroin addiction.

The nurse engaged Glenda Saultry, a terminally ill patient, in conversation and, after checking her medical chart, removed her infusion pump, which was connected to her by an extension line, lock and a needle in her arm. She unscrewed the lock and left the hospital with the entire pump and contents that contained an estimated four milligrams of pain relief medication.

Later that same day, posing as a student nurse, she entered Cabrini Hospital in Malvern where she helped bathe a patient recovering from major abdominal surgery. The prosecutor, Ms Swadesir said that the nurse removed the line connected to the man’s analgesic pump, which delivered morphine, and a pain relief line to remove a syringe of morphine.

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