Rochester Nurse Charged With Diverting Drugs

Atty. Gen. William H. Sorrell announced yesterday that Martha Chadwick, age 59, of Rochester, was arraigned Tuesday, May 13, in Vermont District Court for Chittenden County.

Chadwick was charged with two counts of obtaining a regulated drug by deceit, two charges of false statement in records, all felonies, and possession of a narcotic drug, a misdemeanor.

The charges stem from Chadwick’s employment as a licensed registered nurse in the emergency department of Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. According to papers filed in Court, Chadwick admitted to routinely removing Schedule II narcotics from starter packs dispensed to patients being discharged from the hospital.

Chadwick pleaded innocent to the charges and was released on standard conditions plus special conditions that she not provide direct patient care or work in a setting where she would have direct access to narcotics.

The Court also ordered her to continue to see a licensed drug or alcohol counselor and use regulated drugs only with a prescription and after disclosing her pending charges to the physician.

Fletcher Allen has terminated her employment, and Chadwick’s nursing licenses in both Vermont and New Hampshire have been revoked.

If convicted of all charges, she faces potential penalties totaling nine years imprisonment and $22,000 in fines.