Paramedic Accused Of Giving Patients Unneeded Painkillers

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - A Twin Cities paramedic is accused of giving patients painkillers they didn't need in order to keep the leftovers for herself.

Investigators say Marie Waldemarsen admitted to diverting the drug for six months while working out of an ambulance service in Mounds View.

Court documents say a fellow paramedic at this Allina ambulance base first raised the red flag, reporting to management that Waldemarsen was in the middle of her own emergency:

The paramedic said Waldemarsen was administering dilaudid, a potent painkiller nine times stronger than morphine, to patients when it may not have been warranted to do so.

They are cases that don't surprise Dr. Emily Brunner, an addiction physician at Hazelden.

"This really truly is an epidemic," Brunner said.

In Minnesota, reports of health care workers stealing medication went up 325 percent in a four-year period.

"It starts out as an innocent thing, and then it's so potently addictive," Brunner said. "People can end up crossing lines they never thought they'd cross."

Months later, 31-year-old Waldemarsen admitted to diverting dilaudid from July 2014 to December of last year. Allina fired her in April.

"Dilaudid, specifically, is a very pure opiate that goes directly to the brain, so it gives an intense, quick high, so it frequently is a drug of abuse," Brunner said.

Brunner said it's most important for people to come forward if they have suspicions, like they did in this case, giving their colleagues a second chance and protecting patients in the process.

"There's great outcomes if we can get people the help they need," Brunner said.

Waldemarsen has been charged with stealing a controlled substance.  She had no comment on the charges against her. In a statement an Allina spokesperson said the safety of their patients is top priority and that they do extensive education on signs of drug diversion.