What is the episode about?
The Retrievals episode 1, 'The Patients', documents the shocking events at Yale Fertility Clinic in New Haven, Connecticut, where nurse Donna systematically swapped pain medication with saline in 2020. Susan Burton is the host of this production from Serial Productions and The New York Times, which uncovers how around 200 women were left in indescribable pain during their egg retrievals. Among the participants is Julia, a 31-year-old university professor, who describes the traumatic experience of feeling the surgical procedure while fully conscious, despite being told she was under anesthesia.
The case behind the episode
The case of Yale Fertility Clinic Fentanyl Substitution Case began in 2020 when a nurse employed at the clinic started siphoning fentanyl from vials for personal use. To cover up her abuse, she filled the empty containers with sterile saline and replaced the caps. When doctors subsequently administered what they believed to be pain medication, the patients actually received no anesthesia at all. The theft continued unabated for five months until an alert anesthetist discovered a loose cap on one of the bottles.
The investigation revealed a systemic failure at Yale. Although several women had reported extreme pain, their complaints were often dismissed by the staff as normal reactions or psychosomatic. Donna later pleaded guilty to federal charges of tampering with medical products, but the episode highlights how she failed to fully acknowledge the extensive suffering she inflicted on the many victims while on the witness stand.
About the podcast
The Retrievals is a five-part series that not only serves as a true crime narrative but also critiques the healthcare system's handling of women's pain. Season 1 focuses exclusively on the Yale case, while the subsequent season, released in July 2025, shifts focus to a case involving a midwife in Chicago. The series is produced by the people behind 'Serial' and 'S-Town', ensuring a high journalistic standard and an in-depth analysis of the psychology of the individuals involved.