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Medford man faces drug-theft charges Medford police on Tuesday arrested a certified nursing assistant who allegedly stole medication from several patients at a Medford nursing home. Patrick Bush, 27, of 1040 W. 12th St., was charged with four counts of second-degree possession of a controlled substance, fentanyl, and four-counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment. He was lodged on $40,000 bail in the Jackson County Jail. Police said Bush stole 10 to 12 doses of fentanyl, a prescription pain reliever medication, from at least four patients at Three Fountains Nursing and Rehabilitation Center during a two- to three-month period. The patients, who suffer from chronic pain or have a terminal illness, were deprived of their medication for at least 72 hours at a time, Lt. Tim George said. The pain reliever comes in patch form that slowly releases medication over a three-day period, he said. "To imagine that these people who are chronically or terminally ill going without their medication for days on end ... that's what is disturbing to us and anyone else who knows about this case," George said. Administrators at Three Fountains who contacted police about Bush's actions were unavailable for comment. George said the investigation into Bush's behavior is continuing and that additional charges may be made. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA