A Florida ICU nurse, Leslie Ann Pope, 54, was arrested on October 8 for allegedly stealing fentanyl from a critically ill patient's IV infusion at the Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in Port St. Lucie. The incident reportedly occurred on June 24, when a family member of the patient observed Pope using a syringe to withdraw fluid from the patient's fentanyl IV infusion. Investigators stated that Pope pocketed the syringe and left the room.
The following evening, Pope allegedly returned to the patient's room and attempted to access the IV equipment again, but was stopped by a family member. Police reviewed footage showing Pope manipulating protective caps on the IV equipment, but they could not confirm if she took additional medication during this second attempt. According to police, Pope was not assigned to the patient from whom she allegedly stole the fentanyl.
Pope claimed that an alarm, referred to as an "upstream occlusion," required her to intervene with the IV. However, the patient's significant other, who had a medical background, disputed this assertion, noting that Pope had no justification to be in the room. The family member raised concerns with the hospital's chain of command, prompting an internal investigation.
The Cleveland Clinic contacted the Florida Department of Health, which then notified law enforcement. The police investigation began in August, leading to Pope's arrest on October 8 with assistance from the Palm Beach Marshals Task Force. She faces multiple felony charges, including grand theft of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Pope has denied the allegations, and investigators have not determined her intentions regarding the drugs. The Cleveland Clinic stated that they take such allegations seriously and confirmed that Pope is no longer employed at the hospital, but did not provide details about the circumstances of her departure.