Suburban nursing director gets 2 years after stealing morphine from hospice patients

CHICAGO — A suburban nursing director received two years in prison Thursday for stealing morphine from patients, including those in hospice, for personal use.

Sarah Diamond, 31, of Woodstock, pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of tampering with a consumer product.

Diamond was employed as an assistant nursing director at a suburban rehab facility.

She faced allegations that she removed morphine from bottles that had been prescribed to at least five patients to manage their pain and replaced it with another liquid, knowing the diluted substance would be dispensed.

It happened during the summer of 2021 and authorities said some of the patients were in hospice.

A patient’s family observed the patient suffering during what would end up being some of the final moments before dying.

Diamond was sentenced to two years in prison.