Ohio doctor found not guilty in 14 hospital patient deaths

Husels lawyers argued he was providing convenience care for dying patients, not attempting to eliminate them.Franklin County Judge Michael Holbrook informed jurors prior to the start of deliberations that they could also consider lesser charges of attempted murder. Those witnesses consisted of medical professionals who affirmed that Husel purchased up to 20 times as much fentanyl as was needed to control pain.Husel gave sufficient fentanyl to some clients to “eliminate an elephant,” testified Dr. Wes Ely, a doctor and teacher of medicine at Vanderbilt University.Other prosecution witnesses consisted of medical experts, Mount Carmel staff members, detectives, and family members of all 14 patients.By contrast, defense attorneys called a single witness– a Georgia anesthesiologist– to affirm that Husels clients passed away from their medical conditions and not Husels actions. He was initially charged with 25 murder counts, but the judge agreed to dismiss 11 of those counts in January.Husels associates who administered the medications werent criminally charged, but the health center system stated it fired 23 nurses, pharmacists and managers after its internal examination and referred various workers to their respective state boards for possible disciplinary action.Mount Carmel has actually reached settlements amounting to more than $16.7 million over the deaths of at least 17 clients, with more suits pending.One patient, 82-year-old Melissa Penix, was given 2,000 micrograms of fentanyl and passed away a few minutes later on.