Nurse alleged to have stolen painkiller misses court date

The former Abbott Northwestern nurse who is alleged to have taken a painkiller intended for a patient was not at her Hennepin County court appearance Tuesday morning.

The attorney for Sarah Casareto told the judge her client is in drug addiction treatment. The judge granted a continuance until March 22, but said he'd issue a warrant for her arrest if Casareto fails to appear.

Abbott Northwestern hospital officials say Casareto resigned rather than a take a drug test.

Casareto, 33, of Forest Lake, was charged last week with theft of a controlled substance. She's accused of taking some of the painkiller intended for a patient before kidney stone surgery at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis last November, telling the patient to "man up."

Casareto has denied the allegation.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

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