Donna's use of fentanyl and tampering with vials highlights the desperate measures individuals may resort to in order to cope with personal struggles.
The patients affected by Donna's actions have varying responses, including questioning their own role, seeking justice, and grappling with conflicting emotions towards her.
Deep dives
The nurse's addiction and motives
The nurse, named Donna, begins using fentanyl at work and eventually starts taking vials of the drug home. She replaces the fentanyl in the vials with saline, bringing the tampered vials back to the clinic. Donna's actions are driven by her need to cope with personal and family struggles, including a volatile ex-husband and ongoing custody battle. She sees the fentanyl as a way to remain stable amidst the chaos in her life.
Patient reactions and search for answers
The patients who received treatment from Donna are devastated by the revelation of her actions. They search for information about her, Googling her name and even Zillowing her house. They question the safety and reliability of the clinic, wondering if Donna may have tampered with the fentanyl by refilling the vials from her home tap. The patients' identities shape their reactions and their desire to understand Donna's motives and justification for her actions.
The patients' perspectives and responses
The patients affected by Donna's actions have varying responses to the situation. Some struggle with victimhood and question their own role in the events. One patient, a criminal defense attorney, tries to understand Donna's motives in order to find personal closure. Others seek justice and accountability, contemplating the appropriate consequences for Donna. Some emphasize the need for substance use treatment rather than incarceration, while others grapple with the complexities of their feelings towards Donna's actions.
The patients know what happened to them. Now they learn who did it. The story of the nurse whose own pain was also unseen.
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