Surgery Tech Gets 30 Years for Infecting 36 Patients

Kristen Parker, a former Rose Medical Center surgery “scrub” technician, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver.  Parker, age 26, of Elizabeth, Colorado, was named in a 42 count indictment charging product tampering and obtaining controlled substances by deceit.  She remains in federal custody, being held without bond pending a resolution of her case.

Kristen Parker was originally charged in a three count Criminal Complaint in U.S. District Court in Denver on July 2, 2009.  She made her initial appearance in federal court on July 6, 2009, where she was advised of the charges pending against her.  On July 9, 2009, Parker waived her right to a preliminary hearing.  She did, however, contest her detention.  U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer found at that hearing that Parker was a danger to the community.  He ordered her held without bond.

Parker was a surgery “scrub” technician at Rose Medical Center in Denver and then at Audubon Surgery Center in Colorado Springs, where she assisted in surgical procedures.  She had Hepatitis C while she worked at both facilities.  Parker is accused of stealing a powerful narcotic drug, Fentanyl, from surgical patients.  She would inject herself with a syringe containing the narcotic.  She would then fill the same dirty syringe with saline and put it back on the surgical tray.  Patients who needed the pain medication during surgery did not receive it.  What they did receive, however, was exposure to Parker’s Hepatitis C.  To date 19 patients at Rose Medical Center have tested positive for Hepatitis C that can be linked back to Parker.

The indictment charges Parker with 21 counts of tampering with a consumer product and 21 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit, or attempt.  All of the indicted conducts relates to when Parker worked for Rose Medical Center.  None of the charged conduct involves Audubon, although testing is only halfway complete at both places, and additional charges via superseding indictments are possible.

According to the indictment, between October 22, 2008, through April 15, 2009, Parker, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person will be placed in danger of bodily injury, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk, tampered and attempted to tamper with consumer products, namely the removal of Fentanyl from a syringe, and replacing it with other substances.  Further, the indictment alleges that she knowingly and intentionally obtained, and attempted to obtain, Fentanyl by deceit.

Parker faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for each count of tampering with a consumer product.  If serious bodily injury occurred, she would face not more than 20 years in federal prison.  If death of an individual occurs, she would face up to life imprisonment.  If convicted of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit, or attempting to do the same, Parker faces not more than 4 years imprisonment, and up to a $250,000 fine for each count.

Parker, who worked at Rose Medical Center in Denver and Audubon Ambulatory Surgery Center in Colorado Springs, was told her first week at Rose — after a pre-employment screening — that she probably had the disease. Still, Parker stole fentanyl laid out in operating rooms in preparation for surgery. She injected herself with the painkiller up to two or three times a day for several months, refilling the syringes with water or saline solution for patients.

To date, tests have confirmed at least 18 people who had surgery at Rose contracted the potentially deadly liver disease from Parker.

Eight additional people also are presumed to have the disease because of her drug theft.

“I know everyone is waiting for me to answer the million-dollar question: why?” Parker said in court, pausing often to wipe tears. “I won’t sugarcoat it. I was a drug addict.

“I am certainly not looking for pity or sympathy. There is no doubt in my mind where I deserve to be: jail. It’s time to reap what I have sown.”

Several of the victims, as well as Parker’s boyfriend, also blamed the hospital.

“It’s Rose’s negligence, and they should be sitting right here next to Kristen Parker for her sentencing,” said Michael Moody, Parker’s “significant other.” “The criminal here should be Rose Medical Center.” Rose released a statement later, saying the hospital has improved policies to protect narcotics.