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Wednesday brought forth impactful testimony in the trial of former anesthesiologist Raynoldo Ortiz, accused of tampering with IV bags resulting in medical emergencies, including one fatality.
On the third day of court proceedings, jurors heard extensive testimony, including that of John Kaspar, widower of Dr. Melanie Kaspar, a fellow anesthesiologist who tragically passed away in 2022 after using an IV from the same facility where Ortiz worked. Kaspar recounted the harrowing moments when his wife collapsed shortly after connecting herself to the IV bag.
Nurse Brooke Buchanan also took the stand, recalling instances where Ortiz retrieved his own IV bags, which she found unusual.
In defense, Ortiz’s team attempted to introduce doubt by highlighting underlying conditions and procedures that could have contributed to medical emergencies among patients.
The defense pointed to various factors such as preexisting conditions and medications, questioning whether these could have caused the medical episodes. They also noted the absence of footage showing Ortiz personally administering the IV bags.
Former clinic administrator Ashley Burks testified about installing security cameras after security incidents and the increasing number of patient emergencies. She emphasized the perplexity of the situation, given the frequency of emergencies observed.
Dr. George Erdman, a longtime anesthesiologist, testified about an incident involving a 57-year-old patient who experienced complications during a procedure.
Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against him, relating to tampering with IV bags.
The trial continues as a developing story.