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As the investigation continues into the alleged drug-diversion — and its reported role into the illnesses and deaths of patients — by a nurse at Rogue Regional Medical Center, it appears apt to cite a famous quote by the late actress and author Carrie Fisher.

“Instant gratification,” Fisher wrote in “Postcards from the Edge,” her novel that subsequently became a movie, “takes too long.”

Pull Quote

The impulse might be to ask why this has taken this long. And the truth is that it has to, if we are to be dependent on seeing it conducted legally and properly.

Those who have been following the Asante story, through news reports and social media posts, might feel as though they have a grasp on the details and scope of the situation — from the name of the nurse in question, to the ever-changing (and growing) number of patients alleged to have been affected when fentanyl drips administered to relieve pain allegedly were replaced by unsterile tap water.

But the truth is … well, the truth has yet to be determined.

The tragic story being played out before our community is not a movie or a cops & lawyers TV procedural. The elements that see such fiction conveniently solved in an hour or two don’t apply to real life.

Instead, as we watch it unfold before us, it’s advisable to keep focus on those developments that can be verified.

At least one civil lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the family of a man who died Feb. 25, 2022 during a stay at Rogue Regional, while multiple attorneys have said they are reviewing dozens of similar claims.

For its part, Asante this past week acknowledged it is well aware of the approaching storm.

Heather Rowenhorst, Asante’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, told the a Medford committee that the health system was bracing for potential financial implications.

“We have three excess carrier layers on top of being self-insured,” Rowenhorst said in answer to a question following the business portion of the Medford Hospital Facilities Authority Board meeting.

“Then, internally,” she continued, “we are also strategically moving funds around and reducing our risk in areas in case of need — that we need to do large payouts. But it’s still unknown at this time.”

On the one hand, even this seemingly obvious step moves the narrative forward. It is the first public acknowledgement that Asante is preparing to deal with the after-effects of the investigation.

Late last week, Medford police reported that they could provide no updates on their look into the drug-diversion case.

Which is also to be expected. Evidence is being gathered and examined. Statements are being taken and evaluated. The nitty-gritty of police work that rarely appears on our screens can’t be accomplished between commercial breaks.

The impulse might be to ask why this has taken this long. And the truth is that it has to, if we are to be dependent on seeing it conducted legally and properly.

As always, it’s not those watching and reporting from the outside whose needs matter most. It’s the patients and families of those directly affected that deserve the truth … no matter how long it takes to find.