The diversion of drugs by outright theft is considered?

• A. Embezzlement
• B. Larceny
• C. Fraud
• D. Robbery

Answer: (A)

Embezzlement is the act of misusing property that you have been entrusted with. In a hospital, drugs are under the control of staff as part of their job. If a worker diverts those drugs for personal use or another improper purpose, they are converting property they had lawful access to, which is embezzlement. Larceny involves taking someone else’s property without lawful possession at the time of theft, which isn’t the case here since the drugs were under the employee’s control. Robbery requires taking property by force or threat from a person, and fraud involves deception to obtain property. The key factor is the initial lawful possession and the subsequent misappropriation, so drug diversion by outright theft best fits embezzlement.