Additional Coverage:
- Texas anesthesiologist sentenced to 190 years in federal prison for tampering with IV bags (nbcnews.com)
Dallas Anesthesiologist Sentenced to 190 Years in Prison
A Dallas anesthesiologist, Raynaldo Ortiz, has been sentenced to 190 years in prison for injecting dangerous drugs into IV bags at a local hospital.
Deadly Consequences
Ortiz’s actions led to the death of a fellow anesthesiologist, Melanic Kaspar, who unknowingly used a contaminated IV bag for hydration. Several other patients experienced cardiac emergencies during routine procedures.
Motive and Method
Prosecutors believe Ortiz tampered with the bags to cover up a prior medical mistake that threatened his license. He injected saline bags with drugs like epinephrine, bupivacaine, and an anesthetic.
Evidence and Convictions
Video surveillance captured Ortiz replacing IV bags before surgeries. Lab tests confirmed the presence of drugs in the bags. Ortiz was convicted of adulterating drugs, tampering with consumer products, and attempted murder.
Victim Impact
Kaspar’s husband described Ortiz’s actions as “pure calculation.” Judge David Godbey called them “tantamount to attempted murder.”
Ongoing Investigations
Ortiz has not been charged in Kaspar’s death. The Texas Medical Board has suspended his license, citing a threat to public safety. The investigation into his conduct continues.