Incident 40102
Incident 40102
Michelle Brown, a Lakewood, OH nurse was accused of stealing pain medication from patients while working at a nursing home.
Michelle Brown, 43, was indicted on two counts each of tampering with drugs, illegal processing of drug documents, drug possession and theft in May, 2019. Cuyahoga County prosecutors said Brown removed bottles of morphine and hydromorphone from a medication cart on March 1 and March 7. The drugs were prescribed for patients at the Crestmont North Nursing Facility on Detroit Road in Lakewood.
According to prosecutors, Brown removed some of the liquid opiate medication and added water to the bottles to conceal the theft, diluting the drugs.
“This defendant took advantage of her position as a nurse to illicitly obtain drugs and tried to conceal the evidence. In doing so, she placed innocent patients at risk by tampering with their medication…we will seek an appropriate punishment,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley, in a statement.
Prosecutors said none of the patients reported any adverse effects from the diluted medicine.
Brown pleaded guilty in January, 2020 to theft and drug possession.
Approximate date(s) of the diversion:
05/01/2019
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Crestmont North Nursing Facility
13330 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44107
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Nursing & Rehabilitation Home
Person Diverting:
Michelle Brown
Profession of the person diverting:
Nurse
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Local Law Enforcement, , and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
