Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992 TAG: 9203110182
SECTION: NEW RIVER VALLEY PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Short
Frances McCue Austin, 50, of Blacksburg, is scheduled to be sentenced April 17 after a report by a probation officer. A ninth indictment was not prosecuted.
Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said the medicine thefts happened in October and November 1990.
During an investigation, hospital officials discovered Austin had been abusing alcohol and taking drugs from the hospital, Keith said. The drugs - Versed, Sufenta and Sublimaze - were taken from the anesthesia department.
Keith said Austin would take drugs that were left over or not needed by patients, but sign the records to indicate that the drugs had been administered to the patients.
Defense attorney Heather Mitchell said the drug amounts were leftovers of ampules of liquid medicine. For instance, if 2 cubic centimeters were left over, Austin would take those. Mitchell said this was not theft from the hospital, but taking waste not accounted for.
B.J. Carpenter, hospital anesthesia services manager, said Austin has worked for the hospital for about five years. She said the hospital stands behind its employees, realizing individuals can have problems and can get needed help to continue their lives and their work.
Carpenter said her department has "instituted a very comprehensive check and balance system" to help ensure leftover drugs do not end up in the wrong hands.
by CNB