Doctor insists I use expired Dilaudid on patients

[Buffy31]

Let me state that I have desperately been looking for a new job. I am a single mother and have been staying at my current job out of necessity.

I work at an oral surgery office, doing conscious sedation. We had some dilaudid expire November of 2013. I alerted the doctor to this, and he told me several times to use it, or find another job. We also have midazolam that expired last month, I asked if I could toss it, and he said to keep using it.

Further, we prescriber hydrocodone in the office. A couple months ago, a bottle of it went missing. I insisted that we report it to the DEA (as recommended by the DEA), but he specifically told me not to.

My question is: as soon as I can get the hell out of this office, after I report this, can I lose my RN license for using this expired stuff? Even though I was only working there to support my family?

[trishmsn]

I can only state that I would do exactly what you are doing, and then report this. I would know that I was eligible for unemployment if I was fired, or even if I resigned due to legal and ethical issues, at least in my state. I was once in a position where I was pressed to do illegal things because they knew that my husband was a student and I was the sole income....I still reported them and ran, and had no trouble getting unemployment until I got a new job....and this was in a different state.

Of course, your mileage may vary, and you should check with legal aid or something similar!

[nurse3131, RN]

You need to leave that job ASAP! the MD is too shady!!

[emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN]

What state are you in???

[Buffy31]

I am in Washington. Applying for jobs and I've contacted a temp agency. The tough part is that I just have 2 years of experience doing conscious sedation.

As soon as I'm out, I am making calls.

Oh, and I found out that my last day might be sooner than I thought. The doc's girlfriend's daughter just graduated from nursing school. She is taking her boards this month sometime. The doc apparently interviewed her a week and a half ago, and told 4 coworkers specifically to not tell me. Because this chick will be my replacement. Good luck to her working in this shady place.

[trishmsn]

The doc apparently interviewed her a week and a half ago, and told 4 coworkers specifically to not tell me. Because this chick will be my replacement. Good luck to her working in this shady place.

Sadly, she is too new and too emeshed with the "family" dynamics to even know how deep the muck she is settling into really IS!!!

Good riddance to bad rubbish....some paychecks are simply NOT worth the myriad of other problems they bring. It is 100 times easier to get a new job than to re-gain a lost license!

[emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm so sorry to hear that Buffy. I work in a dental school, and have been in dentistry for the past 18 years. I am shocked and disgusted that a provider would do that. I work with a lot of materials that expire such as implants and I would NEVER allow anyone to have something expired. I discard it immediately even if only a day over the date. I hope you report him, especially to the DEA.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

be careful, you may be being set up to look like you are trying to get back at him....for getting let go. I would leave now, and report, and file for unemployment....good luck.

I am in Washington. Applying for jobs and I've contacted a temp agency. The tough part is that I just have 2 years of experience doing conscious sedation.

As soon as I'm out, I am making calls.

Oh, and I found out that my last day might be sooner than I thought. The doc's girlfriend's daughter just graduated from nursing school. She is taking her boards this month sometime. The doc apparently interviewed her a week and a half ago, and told 4 coworkers specifically to not tell me. Because this chick will be my replacement. Good luck to her working in this shady place.

[Heliantus]

be careful, you may be being set up to look like you are trying to get back at him....for getting let go. I would leave now, and report, and file for unemployment....good luck.

Exactly! Act now or forever hold your tongue.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I am no legal expert but I am not sure I would report to the board that I had knowingly been giving patients expired medication, regardless of the excuse or situation. The board of nursing might pull your license while the board of medicine slaps the doc on the wrist.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Oooh, it just occurred to me that this guy might want you to help orient his niece to her new position before he fires you. Be sure to reinforce the idea of quality control of the med stock.

(I really agree that you should wait until he lets you go, so you can collect unemployment....for which he will have to pay).

[morte, LPN, LVN]

but if he is smart, he will fire her....

Oooh, it just occurred to me that this guy might want you to help orient his niece to her new position before he fires you. Be sure to reinforce the idea of quality control of the med stock.

(I really agree that you should wait until he lets you go, so you can collect unemployment....for which he will have to pay).

[morte, LPN, LVN]

this is, of course, a problem. a lawyer is needed no matter what course OP takes.

I am no legal expert but I am not sure I would report to the board that I had knowingly been giving patients expired medication, regardless of the excuse or situation. The board of nursing might pull your license while the board of medicine slaps the doc on the wrist.