Why Did a Mass. Nurse Allegedly Replace a Patient’s Oxycodone with Household Cleaner? By Liam Quinn

A New Hampshire woman working as a nurse in Massachusetts is accused of replacing a patient’s liquid oxycodone with household cleaner.

A federal indictment filed in the district of Massachusetts charges Lori Robertson with one count of tampering with a consumer product.

Robertson was arrested by authorities on Oct. 31.

Authorities claim that Robertson was working at a rehabilitation center and was responsible for treating multiple patients with oxycodone.

One of the patients treated by Robertson has dementia and is non-verbal, per the indictment, and was prescribed oxycodone.

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The indictment alleges that Robertson removed the patient’s liquid oxycodone from the bottle and replaced it with household cleaner.

“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 indictment alleges.

Federal court records indicate that Robertson was released from custody and is due back in court later in November. She pleaded not guilty.