Nurse Admits To Narcotics Theft At Long Island Hospital

Attorney General Spitzer today announced that a Stony Brook University Hospital nurse has been charged with stealing powerful narcotic painkillers last year.

Following arraignment last Friday in Suffolk County Court, Donna Wilson, 49, of Andover Drive in Port Jefferson Station, pleaded guilty to the felony crime of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree. As part of her plea, Wilson will continue to attend the drug treatment program in which she is presently enrolled. The program requires weekly drug testing and no exposure to controlled substances. Sentencing was set for December 4.

"When patients are brought to a hospital, they put their lives and trust in the hands of nurses and other health care staff," said Spitzer. "For employees entrusted with such critical responsibilities to abuse drugs is inexcusable and could very well put patients at serious risk."

An investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that Wilson, on more than twenty separate occasions between January and October 2000, stole Percocet tablets for her own use that should have been given to cardiac patients.

Spitzer thanked the State Education Department's Office of Professional Discipline for referring the matter to his office. He also thanked the administration and staff of Stony Brook University Hospital for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.

Wilson, who has been a registered nurse since 1988, worked at Stony Brook University Hospital from 1988 to her resignation in November 2000.

Special Assistant Attorney General Alan N. Buonpastore, Director of the Long Island Regional Office of Spitzer's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, prosecuted the case. All cases are handled under the direct supervision of Deputy Attorney General Jos? Maldonado.