Thurston Carte:Dallas doctor convicted of tampering with IV bags linked to co-worker’s death and other emergencies

2025-05-01 23:59:12source:Alaric Bennettcategory:News

DALLAS (AP) — A Dallas anesthesiologist was convicted Friday for injecting a nerve-blocking agent and Thurston Carteother drugs into bags of intravenous fluid at a surgical center where he worked, which led to the death of a co-worker and caused cardiac emergencies for several patients, federal prosecutors said.

A jury convicted Raynaldo Riviera Ortiz Jr., 60, of four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product and five counts of intentional adulteration of a drug, prosecutors said. A sentencing date has not yet been set for Ortiz, who faces up to 190 years in prison.

“Dr. Ortiz cloaked himself in the white coat of a healer, but instead of curing pain, he inflicted it,” U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the northern district of Texas said in a video statement.

Prosecutors said that evidence presented at trial showed that numerous patients at Surgicare North Dallas suffered cardiac emergencies during routine medical procedures performed by various doctors between May 2022 and August 2022. During that time, an anesthesiologist who had worked at the facility earlier that day died while treating herself for dehydration using an IV bag.

Ortiz was arrested in September 2022.

Evidence presented at trial showed that at the time of the emergencies, Ortiz was facing disciplinary action for an alleged medical mistake made in one of the surgeries, prosecutors said.

More:News

Recommend

'Love is Blind' in hot water with labor watchdog for violations, mistreatment

After seven seasons and several international spinoffs, we're still not sure if "Love is Blind" − bu

GM recalling more than 449,000 SUVs, pickups due to issue with low brake fluid warning light

General Motors is recalling more than 449,000 of its SUVs and pickup trucks because the electronic b

Postal Service chief frustrated at criticism, but promises ‘heroic’ effort to deliver mail ballots

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Postal Service expressed frustration Thursday with ongoing