Massachusetts nurse accused of tampering with oxy intended for dementia patient

A nurse treating a hospice and dementia patient is accused of tampering with oxycodone, according to the feds who arrested her this week.

Lori Robertson has been charged with one count of tampering with a consumer product, reads the court filing from the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office.

The registered nurse licensed in the Bay State worked at a long-term care and rehabilitation facility in Amesbury. The center provides long-term chronic care and post-acute care to patients.

Robertson, 65, as a nurse had access to oxycodone and other opioids prescribed to patients at the rehab facility.

“While working at the Rehabilitation Facility, Robertson treated multiple patients, including Patient 1, a non-verbal hospice and dementia patient, who was prescribed oxycodone,” the feds wrote in the indictment.

The alleged incident involving the dementia patient happened on March 31 this year.

“Robertson tampered with the oxycodone by removing oxycodone from the bottle with a syringe and replacing the removed liquid with a household cleaner,” the feds wrote.

The oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, was produced outside of Massachusetts.

“Lori Robertson, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death and bodily injury, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk, did tamper with a consumer product that affected interstate commerce,” the federal indictment reads.

The charge of tampering with a consumer product can lead to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Robertson was arraigned on Friday in front of Judge Paul Levenson in federal court.

She pleaded not guilty, and the feds did not move for detention — agreeing instead to release conditions. Those conditions include: no drug or alcohol use; no contact with the alleged victim; and no employment in which she can access prescription meds.

The court scheduled an initial status conference for Nov. 24.

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