Wisconsin Nursing Home Employee Accused of Stealing Narcotic Pain Patch From Resident
Bridget Pierce, an employee of St. Clare Meadows nursing home in Baraboo, Wisconsin, faces charges of felony possession of narcotics after reportedly stealing the pain patch from a defenseless resident.
A manager at St. Clare Meadows called the police due to the possible theft and advised police that the facility had a problem with Fentanyl patches (a powerful painkiller) being removed from residents who were unable to speak or communicate. The patches are designed to release the painkiller gradually over a period of three days.
In one instance, a resident had a Fentanyl patch in place, but 45 minutes later the patch was gone. A security camera recorded only Pierce and another employee entering the room during that time. As the patch was applied to the resident's back, only another person could have removed it. When questioned by police, Pierce admitted that she removed the pain patch and flushed it down the toilet when she discovered that the manager was looking into the theft.
Pierce is to appear before the Court on February 18, 2010. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of three years, six months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
