2,000 Vials: The Anesthetist in the Dispensing Machine

A VA nurse anesthetist used patients’ protected information and falsified documents to pull 2,000+ vials of fentanyl, morphine and hydromorphone from VA dispensing machines — sometimes coming in on her days off to do it.

From July 2018 to February 2019, Prophitt used her position as a certified registered nurse anesthetist to steal more than 2,000 vials of controlled substances, including fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine and midazolam.

She used protected patient information and falsified medical documents to make the withdrawals appear to be for patients, then kept the drugs for her own use. She sometimes entered the hospital on unscheduled days or after normal working hours to take vials directly from the dispensing systems.

Originally indicted on 25 counts, she pleaded guilty to five counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, misrepresentation or deceit. VA OIG and DEA investigated.

"We will not tolerate medical professionals stealing controlled substances intended for the care of our nation’s veterans"
— U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan. Case file in the VA Fraud case files — part of the VA Fraud record. Cases are published as the courts decided them; amounts are stated as the Justice Department states them (billed, stolen, or ordered in restitution, as labeled).