A Texas doctor dubbed a “medical terrorist” has been found guilty of injecting heart-stopping poison into IVs at his former medical clinic in North Dallas. Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz was convicted on all 10 counts after nearly seven hours of deliberation by a 12-person jury, as reported by FOX 4 in Dallas.
The shocking crimes were committed at Baylor Scott and White Surgicare North Dallas, where Ortiz injected nerve blocking and bronchodilation drugs into patient IV bags in retaliation for a medical misconduct probe. The result was several patients suffering cardiac emergencies, with Dr. Melanie Kaspar tragically dying after using one of the tainted IV bags.
Ortiz’s colleague, Dr. Melanie Kaspar, took a contaminated IV bag home to rehydrate and suffered a serious cardiac event almost immediately after inserting the IV into her vein. An autopsy revealed she was fatally poisoned by bupivacaine, a numbing agent rarely abused but used to alleviate pain during surgery.
The emotional impact of Ortiz’s actions was evident during the trial, with Dr. Melanie Kaspar’s widower expressing his grief and disbelief at the loss of his best friend. Witnesses, including the anesthesiologist who discovered the tainted bags, John Kaspar, and a teen who suffered cardiac arrest during nose surgery, were called to the stand.
Ortiz, who faces up to life in prison, is expected to be sentenced in two to three months. The case has shocked the community and raised questions about patient safety and medical ethics. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
For more news updates, follow Greg Wehner on Twitter @GregWehner or email story tips to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com.
