Nurse Steals Oxy

Drug addiction and drug diversion for profit is major problem in health care especially in the nursing home industry. WYFF4 reported South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson had Brianna Michelle Hunt indicted by a Greenville County Grand Jury. Poinsett Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Greenville employed Hunt as a nurse. . The charges include theft of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and breach of trust with fraudulent intent.

Hunt, in her role as a nurse, was entrusted with narcotics. Hunt allegedly stole a significant quantity of oxycodone prescribed to a resident at the facility. Unfortunately, the nurse nor the facility cared to relieve the resident’s pain.

Under federal regulations, the S.C. Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has the duty to investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud; abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting; and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. It is rare they do anything to promote quality of care at nursing homes.

Theft of a controlled substance is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of not more than five years in prison or a fine of not more than $5,000.

Unlawful possession of a controlled substance is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, has a penalty of not more than two years in prison or a fine of not more than $5,000.

Breach of trust with fraudulent intent (less than $2,000) is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, has a penalty of not more than thirty days in prison or a fine of not more than $1,000.