Port St. Lucie, Florida — A Florida nurse is facing felony drug charges after police say a patient’s family member reported seeing her remove medication from a fentanyl infusion connected to a critically ill patient at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital.
Leslie Ann Pope, 54, of Jupiter, was arrested following an investigation into the alleged incident inside the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, investigators also reviewed video footage after a family member reported a second encounter involving the patient’s IV equipment.
Authorities have not said whether the patient suffered any medical harm or whether other patients may have been affected.
What Police Say Happened Inside the ICU
According to investigators, a family member of the critically ill patient reported seeing Pope use a syringe to remove fluid from the patient’s fentanyl infusion.
Police said Pope was not assigned to the patient’s care. Investigators allege that she placed the syringe in her pocket before leaving the room. The report prompted an investigation into the handling of the controlled medication and the circumstances surrounding the alleged removal.
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid used in medical settings to manage severe pain. In an intensive care environment, medication administration and monitoring are important parts of a patient’s treatment, making allegations involving an infusion system particularly serious.
The allegations against Pope have not been proven in court.
Family Member Reports a Second Incident
Investigators said the patient’s family member intervened the following evening when Pope allegedly approached the IV equipment again.
Detectives subsequently reviewed video footage from the hospital, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department. Police said the footage showed Pope tampering with protective caps on the machine. However, investigators did not find evidence that she removed additional medication during the second incident.
The reported encounters became central to the investigation as authorities examined the family member’s account and the available video evidence.
Officials have not released additional details about the footage or explained whether other evidence was recovered during the inquiry.
Police and Federal Authorities Investigate
The case involved a joint inquiry by local law enforcement and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to the information provided by authorities.
Investigations involving controlled substances can require officials to establish how medication was accessed, whether it was removed without authorization and what happened to the substance afterward.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed whether investigators believe the alleged medication removal occurred on other occasions. They also have not confirmed whether the inquiry identified any other hospital employees who may have been involved.
Florida Nurse Arrested in Jupiter
Police arrested Pope in Jupiter on Thursday in coordination with the Palm Beach Marshals Task Force.
She faces three charges related to the alleged incident:
- Grand theft of a controlled substance
- Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
- Fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance
The charges concern the alleged handling and removal of a controlled medication. The precise legal consequences will depend on the proceedings and the outcome of the case.
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An arrest and the filing of criminal charges do not establish guilt. Pope is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What Investigators Have Not Confirmed
Several important questions remain unanswered as the case proceeds.
Authorities have not said whether the patient experienced any medical complications or whether the alleged removal affected the patient’s treatment. Investigators also have not confirmed whether other patients may have been exposed to similar conduct.
The hospital’s response to the allegations and any internal review findings were not included in the information released about the case. Additional details could clarify the scope of the investigation and whether further charges or findings emerge.
For now, the case centers on the family member’s report, the video evidence described by detectives and the felony charges filed against Pope.
What steps do you think hospitals should take to protect patients and prevent unauthorized access to controlled medications? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
