Hospital Staff Poisoning Incident in Bayeux
In a shocking incident at the Aunay-Bayeux hospital in Calvados, four healthcare workers, including two nurses and two nursing assistants, lost consciousness after sharing a coffee in the emergency room on June 19. The hospital's director, Vincent Mangot, expressed his disbelief and trauma over the event. The victims experienced severe drowsiness and unease shortly after consuming the coffee.
Investigation and Arrest
The incident led to an immediate investigation by the gendarmerie, who seized the contents of the coffee maker and the cups. Toxicological analyses revealed the presence of Midazolam, a potent anesthetic found in Hypnovel, in both the urine of the victims and the coffee maker. This discovery linked the incident to the disappearance of several ampoules of medication, including Hypnovel, from a SMUR vehicle on June 9 and from a hospital department on June 19.
A 49-year-old nurse from the Bayeux hospital admitted to having poured the sedative into the coffee maker, also poisoning herself along with her colleagues. She was indicted on charges of poisoning, administration of harmful substances, and theft. Although the prosecution sought her pre-trial detention, she was placed under judicial supervision with restrictions on practicing any care or personal service activity and banned from visiting the Bayeux hospital.
The nurse explained that she was extremely tired and wanted to sleep, which led her to pour two 50 mg ampoules of Hypnovel into the coffee maker. However, she did not clarify why she chose to contaminate the entire coffee maker instead of just her cup, knowing others would consume it. This incident also drew parallels with similar cases of illness among hospital staff in October 2017, following the consumption of coffee.
- The victims of the poisoning quickly regained consciousness after receiving appropriate treatment. The connection to the 2017 incidents was established through the analysis of schedules, which identified the same nurse as being present during both the drug thefts and the illnesses.
- Video surveillance footage from June 19 showed the nurse spending several minutes in the rest room where the contaminated coffee was located before drinking it with her colleagues. The nurse's actions have raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of healthcare workers, emphasizing the need for stricter controls and monitoring within hospital environments.
