KC Reporter

An anesthesiologist at a Lee’s Summit, Mo., hospital pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally taking fentanyl from the hospital.

Roman Peplinski, the anesthesiologist in question, admitted to illegally obtaining fentanyl from Lakewood Medical Center on Nov. 5, 2022. Peplinski misrepresented the fentanyl was for a patient, when in reality, that patient had been discharged from the hospital earlier that day. He also admitted to withdrawing fentanyl from three vials from Sept. 1, 2022, through Nov. 30, 2022.

According to the information provided, personnel from Lakewood Medical Center reported to the Drug Enforcement Administration that three vials of fentanyl in an automated dispensing cabinet showed signs of tampering. Subsequent tests revealed that three out of seven vials of fentanyl had indeed been tampered with, with one vial containing no fentanyl and the other two containing only a small amount.

Despite the tampering, the government stated that there is no evidence suggesting that any patients were harmed as a result of Peplinski's actions.

In light of these events, Peplinski pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to a federal charge of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation. As a consequence, Peplinski could face up to four years in federal prison without parole.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations.