Kelsey A. Mulvey, 28, of Grand Island, NY, pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product. Assistant US Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who is handling the case, stated that between July 21, 2016, and July 13, 2018, the defendant worked as a registered nurse at Roswell Park Comprehensive Center. Between February and June 2018, Mulvey tampered with and stole controlled medications, including Dilaudid, from various medication dispensing machines located throughout the hospital, which tracked and held controlled substances meant for Rowell Park patients. She did so to satisfy her addiction. Specifically, the defendant would conduct a transaction at a dispensing machine, quickly cancel the transaction and leave the medication drawer open, open the vial and remove the hydromorphone, replace it with water, and place the vial back into the machine so the total count of vials would not trigger scrutiny. Over time, Mulvey utilized the patient medical record database to search for patients specifically prescribed hydromorphone, because to access the dispensing machine, the defendant had to first access patient profiles. At times, Mulvey would divert vials of controlled medications from the dispensing machine and not administer the medication to any patient.
On June, 27 2018, the defendant had a scheduled vacation day, however, she was observed accessing a dispensing machine, carrying a backpack, and exiting a medication room in which she was not assigned. It was later determined that Mulvey had accessed the drawer for hydromorphone. The defendant was subsequently placed on administrative leave and resigned in lieu of termination. From June to July 2018, there was a spate of waterborne infections at Roswell Park, during which six patients became ill. An investigation by the hospital concluded that tampering of compounded hydromorphone vials was the cause. On June 27, 2018, seven hydromorphone vials were removed from the dispensing machines, which were involved in the defendant’s conduct. Four out of seven grew the waterborne bacteria and had approximately 80% of the hydromorphone removed and replaced. Roswell Park tested another set of vials and concluded that three out of four vials had a substantial percentage of hydromorphone removed and replaced and waterborne bacteria.
