Florida ICU nurse Leslie Ann Pope charged over alleged fentanyl theft from patient's IV
Port St. Lucie police arrested ICU nurse Leslie Ann Pope, 54, on Oct. 8, accusing her of taking fentanyl from a critically ill patient's IV at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in June. She denies the allegations; police have not said what she intended to do with the drug.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Port St. Lucie police arrested Leslie Ann Pope, 54, a former ICU nurse at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in Florida, on Oct. 8 over allegations that she removed fentanyl from a critically ill patient's IV infusion. New York PostR “Leslie Ann Pope, 54, was nabbed on Oct. 8” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “officers arrested Pope on October 8 following allegations she “unlawfully removed fentanyl from a critically ill patient’s IV infusion while working in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).”” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2According to police, a family member of the patient saw Pope use a syringe to withdraw fluid from the fentanyl infusion on June 24, then put the syringe in her pocket and leave the room. New York PostR “She then pocketed the syringe and left the room, according to investigators.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “The suspect then allegedly put the syringe in her pocket and exited the room.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Police say Pope returned the next evening and again approached the IV equipment, and the family member intervened; video reviewed by detectives showed her manipulating protective caps on the equipment, but investigators did not establish that more medication was removed. New York PostR “investigators were unable to determine whether Pope swiped additional medication during her second attempt.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “Investigators did not establish that additional medication was removed during the second incident.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 2Police said Pope was not assigned to that patient. Pope told police an alarm, which she described as an "upstream occlusion", required her to intervene; the patient's significant other, who had a medical background, disputed this and notified the hospital's chain of command. New York PostR “Pope told police that an alarm — she described as an “upstream occlusion” — required her to intervene with the IV” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “the patient’s family member disputed those claims and due to that person’s experience working in the medical field, questioned what happened” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1The hospital ran an internal probe and contacted the Florida Department of Health, which notified police; police began investigating in August, and Pope was arrested with help from the Palm Beach Marshals Task Force. New York PostR “The hospital conducted an internal probe and contacted the Florida Department of Health, who notified police, according to McNally.”“Cops began investigating in August and Pope was arrested on Oct. 8 with assistance from the Palm Beach Marshals Task Force.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Police described a 15-page arrest affidavit built on witness interviews, hospital video, medical and administrative records, medication transaction reviews and coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration. BreitbartR “an extensive investigation documented in a 15-page arrest affidavit” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 2Pope is charged with grand theft of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance; Breitbart counts these as three felonies, and the New York Post reports that Pope has denied the allegations. BreitbartR “charged with three felonies in the case” Read at Breitbart ↗ New York PostR “while Pope has denied the allegations” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Police spokesperson Brittany McNally said investigators have not determined what Pope allegedly intended to do with the drug and did not want to speculate whether it was for personal use or sale. New York PostR ““We don’t want to speculate what she could be using it for, whether it’s personal or, you know, selling it,” McNally said.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “We don’t have that information at this point.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Cleveland Clinic said Pope no longer works there and that it is cooperating with law enforcement; it did not say when her employment ended or whether she was fired. The New York Post says she worked there about six months, and Breitbart says she is from Jupiter. New York PostR “The hospital did not provide details as to when Pope’s employment ended or if she was fired”“Pope worked at the hospital for around six months, McNally said.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “54-year-old Leslie Ann Pope of Jupiter” Read at Breitbart ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets relay local police and CBS 12/Fox 13 reporting as a straightforward crime report, leading with the alleged theft from a critically ill patient.
- Emphasis
- The patient's vulnerability, the alleged second attempt, the family member's intervention and the police statement that motive is unknown.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet includes comment from Pope or a lawyer beyond the note that she denies the allegations (NY Post only); Breitbart does not mention the denial.
- Charged language
- “brazenly”“nabbed”“slapped with a slew of felony charges”
- For example
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“Pope brazenly returned to the patient’s room” — New York Post
“A now former ICU nurse in Florida has been accused of stealing fentanyl” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Pope, 54, was arrested Oct. 8 by Port St. Lucie police.
- She is accused of taking fentanyl from a critically ill patient's IV at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in June.
- She faces charges of grand theft of a controlled substance, possession without a prescription and fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance.
- Police have not determined what she intended to do with the drug.
- Pope no longer works at the hospital.
Leslie Ann Pope person
Pope told police an alarm described as an "upstream occlusion" required her to intervene, and she denies the allegations.
“while Pope has denied the allegations” — New York Post
“Pope told police that an alarm — she described as an “upstream occlusion” — required her to intervene with the IV” — New York Post
Port St. Lucie Police Department organisation
Police say Pope removed fentanyl without justification, was not assigned to the patient, and that the motive is unknown.
“We don’t have that information at this point.” — Breitbart
“she’s not even assigned to that patient” — New York Post
Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital organisation
The hospital says it takes the allegations seriously, Pope no longer works there, and it is cooperating with law enforcement.
“We take these allegations very seriously. The individual no longer works with us, and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement,”” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Florida ICU nurse accused of stealing fentanyl from critically ill patient’s IV
Critical Tabloid-style crime report based on CBS 12 that stresses the nurse's alleged boldness and attributes claims to police.
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Police: Florida Nurse Accused of Stealing Fentanyl from Critically Ill Patient's IV Infusion
Neutral Police-sourced report quoting the department's statement and affidavit details, citing Fox 13 and CBS 12.
- 15 Oct 05:26 First New York PostR Florida ICU nurse accused of stealing fentanyl from critically ill patient’s IV
- 15 Oct 19:15 +13h 49m BreitbartR Police: Florida Nurse Accused of Stealing Fentanyl from Critically Ill Patient's IV Infusion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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