You’ll want to know what happened, who was involved, and how this could affect trust in pediatric care — fast. A pediatric resident at a major Seattle hospital admitted diverting fentanyl and other narcotics meant for infants and young patients, and federal authorities charged him after hospital staff reported suspicious activity.
The piece walks through the timeline of the diversion, how hospital personnel uncovered it, and the steps prosecutors and regulators took in response. Expect clear details about the alleged incidents, the criminal plea and sentence, and the institutional changes prompted by the case.
This story matters to anyone concerned about patient safety and oversight in healthcare; it shows how oversight, whistleblowing, and federal investigation intersect when controlled substances go missing.
Details of the Diversion Case
The case centers on a resident physician accused of taking powerful pain medicines meant for patients and sometimes using them while on duty. Investigators say the alleged actions affected infants and adults across multiple UW-affiliated hospitals.
How Authorities Discovered the Diversion
Colleagues at Seattle Children’s Hospital grew suspicious after noticing unusual medication documentation and patient responses during shifts where Dr. Andrew Voegel-Podadera worked. Other clinicians reported inconsistencies in waste returns and atypical dosing patterns that did not match clinical notes…