A University of Washington resident physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital has been accused of diverting fentanyl and other controlled substances while treating children.
According to a July 1 news release by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Andrew Voegel-Podadera, MD, an anesthesia resident, was allegedly displaying suspicious behaviors, including unexplained delays and absences from the operating room.
In December 2024, while treating three minor-age patients under the observation of an attending physician Dr. Voegel-Podadera was allegedly observed drawing up an amount of fentanyl into syringes exceeding what would be required for his patients that day. Concerned that Dr. Voegel-Podadera could be diverting the medication, Seattle Children’s arranged for the syringes returned as waste to be tested that day, allegedly finding the waste syringes were filled with saline solution.
A subsequent investigation in January allegedly found that Dr. Voegel-Podadera diverted controlled substances, including fentanyl, remifentanil, sufentanil and hydromorphone while working at Seattle Children’s, the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center, as far back as January 2024.
Dr. Voegel-Podadera was arrested at his residence on June 24. He faces two counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge.
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