Police: UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital nurse stole patient's pain medication
A registered nurse at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is accused of stealing a patient’s pain medication.
Tiffany Hafner, 28, of Pittsburgh, faces charges of neglect of a care-dependent person, drug offenses and theft, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced.
Hafner’s arrest resulted from an investigation launched in November after authorities said they learned she was replacing her patient’s prescription Oxycodone pain medication with the sedative Lunesta.
After realizing she was not getting pain relief from her medication, the patient kept a pill Hafner gave her and asked that it be identified by hospital staff.
Authorities determined that the pill was not the medication prescribed to the patient and was brought in from outside of the facility.
“As we’ve seen in this crisis, we owe a debt to the thousands of medical professionals in Pennsylvania who are enduring a prolonged crisis to save lives and keep us safe, but when someone abuses that trust we will hold them accountable,” Shapiro said in a news release.
Hafner was released on her own recognizance following her arraignment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 23, according to court records.
Tony LaRussa is a TribLive reporter. A Pittsburgh native, he covers crime and courts in the Alle-Kiski Valley. He can be reached at tlarussa@triblive.com.
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