Incidentcase8

The case began in June when the Memorial Hospital’s pharmacy staff found irregularities in the access of hydromorphone/Dilaudid during a routine review of the hospital’s automated medication dispensing system, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Ryan Smith said during a news conference.

The pharmacy staff found more than 400 patients who were given Dilaudid may not have received the medication as prescribed, Smith said.

In September, a grand jury indicted him on these counts:
1. Tampering with a consumer product — 58 vials of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) by removing some or all of the drug and replacing it with saline solution.
2. Tampering with a consumer project — one container of meperidine (Demerol) by removing some or all of the drug and replacing it with saline solution.
3. Acquiring a Schedule II controlled substance — hydromorphone — by removing it from its container and replacing it with saline solution.
4. Acquiring a Schedule II controlled substance — meperidine — and replacing it with saline solution.

Harris reportedly received hydromorphone while he was a patient at the hospital, which led to what hospital officials said became an addiction

Harris admitted to stealing the hydromorphone and cooperated with authorities