An anesthesiologist formerly employed by Lakewood Medical Center in Lee's Summit, Mo., pleaded guilty to stealing fentanyl from the hospital.
Roman Peplinski, MD, admitted he illegally obtained fentanyl from the hospital by misrepresenting it was for a patient on Nov. 5, 2022, the Justice Department said in an April 25 news release.
Dr. Peplinski, who also worked at Union Hill Group and Truman Medical Center, both in Kansas City, Mo., also admitted to withdrawing fentanyl from three vials from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2022.
In February 2023, Lakewood Medical Center reported that three vials of fentanyl exhibited signs of tampering, according to the release. In March 2023, seven vials suspected of tampering were sent to a forensic laboratory. Of the seven vials, three showed evidence of being tampered with, one contained no fentanyl and two contained a small amount of fentanyl.
Dr. Peplinski pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.