Hospice Nurse Faces Federal Charges for Allegedly Swapping Patient’s Medication with Cleaner
By KC Wildmoon | November 4, 2025
A Massachusetts hospice nurse has pleaded not guilty to federal charges accusing her of replacing a patient’s prescription oxycodone with a household cleaning product.
Lori Robertson, 65, who worked at a long-term care facility in Amesbury, Massachusetts, is charged with tampering with a consumer product, according to court filings reported by Boston.com.
Authorities say the alleged incident occurred in the spring and involved a non-verbal dementia patient.
Robertson is accused of using a syringe to remove liquid oxycodone from the patient’s prescription bottle and substituting it with a potentially dangerous household cleaner.
Federal documents state that Robertson acted “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.”
It remains unclear whether the patient ingested the substituted substance or how the swap was discovered.
Robertson has been released from custody under several conditions, including no contact with victims or witnesses, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, mandatory drug testing, and participation in a substance abuse program.
If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $250,000. Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 24.
This case highlights the profound responsibilities healthcare workers carry, especially when caring for vulnerable patients, and serves as a stark reminder of the severe legal consequences for endangering those under their care.