A registered nurse is admitting to stealing liquid morphine meant for patients at a Worcester County nursing home. Gwen Rider of Northborough has pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
According to federal prosecutors; "From approximately 11:00 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2020 until 7:00 a.m. the following morning, Rider was on duty in a unit specializing in care for residents suffering from dementia. During her shift and while entrusted with the care of a resident suffering from dementia, Rider tampered with a bottle of morphine sulfate prescribed to the patient by removing some of the morphine and adding water to the remaining supply. Morphine sulfate is a Schedule II controlled substance under federal law. A nurse on a subsequent shift administered the adulterated morphine to a patient before the tampering was discovered."
The convictions carry a possible sentence of 14 years in federal prison and fines of up to a half-million-dollars.
Rider will learn her actual sentence in August.
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