Ohio doctor Husel

2022 - 4 - 20

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Image courtesy of "USA TODAY"

Ohio doctor accused of giving fatal doses of fentanyl to patients ... (USA TODAY)

Dr. William Husel was accused of hastening his patients' deaths by overprescribing them extremely high doses of fentanyl. He was found not guilty on all ...

Husel still faces more than 10 active civil lawsuits from the families of patients who died while under his care. 82-year-old Melissa Penix was given 2,000 micrograms of fentanyl ordered by Husel and died four minutes later. Prosecutors equated Husel's high dosing to what veterinarians might use to humanely put down animals — but unacceptable for humans. The case began as a homicide investigation involving 25 victims, but the trial was pared down 14 of the strongest cases, Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack said. As Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Holbrook read each verdict Wednesday, Husel wiped tears from his eyes. They don’t need to be looking over their shoulder wondering if they’re ever going to get charged with a crime."

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Doctor accused of killing 14 patients with fentanyl acquitted of murder (The Washington Post)

The jury deliberated for seven days before finding William Husel not guilty on all 14 counts in what was one of the largest murder trials in Ohio history.

All of them died; the hospital said five might have had a chance to improve. Several of the families have settled lawsuits worth about $13.5 million, according to NBC News. The fallout over the allegations at Mount Carmel West had repercussions: the firing of 23 employees; the resignation of the hospital’s chief executive, chief clinical officer and chief pharmacy officer; and Medicare and Medicaid funding for the institution was put in jeopardy. One of the patients, 82-year-old Melissa Penix, was given 2,000 micrograms of fentanyl — 20 vials of it, all at once. The jury deliberated for seven days before finding him not guilty on all 14 counts in what was one of the largest murder trials in Ohio history. In total, at least 35 people may have been given excessive doses, the hospital said after a review.

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Image courtesy of "CNBC"

William Husel, Ohio doctor accused in 14 high-dose fentanyl deaths ... (CNBC)

An Ohio doctor was acquitted Wednesday of hastening the deaths of multiple critically ill patients by ordering large doses of the powerful painkiller ...

Husel, who did not testify, has not spoken publicly or given media interviews since the allegations arose in a series of lawsuits families filed in early 2019. Most of the ICU patients who received 1,000 micrograms of fentanyl were in their 70s and 80s and needed help breathing on ventilators, although a few were as young as their late 30s. Husel, whose medical license was suspended in January 2019, faced life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years if he were found guilty of even one count of murder.

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Image courtesy of "NBC4 WCMH-TV"

Dr. William Husel found not guilty of murder (NBC4 WCMH-TV)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Former physician William Husel has been found not guilty of 14 counts of murder. Judge Michael Holbrook read the verdict Wednesday ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

William Husel: Ohio doctor accused of overprescribing fentanyl to ... (CNN)

The Ohio doctor accused of overprescribing fentanyl to his critically ill patients and hastening their deaths was found not guilty of 14 counts of murder on ...

Zivot also testified that recovery to a normal state of health was not possible for the patients, and he determined underlying medical issues caused their deaths. as prosecutors said he purposely administered excessive doses of fentanyl that caused or sped up the deaths of patients in the intensive care unit from 2015 to 2018. The hospital system removed Husel from patient care a month later "The State of Ohio v. In a Zoom call with reporters, he said Husel hopes to eventually practice medicine again. He was subsequently discharged from the courtroom.

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Ohio Doctor Is Acquitted of Killing Patients With Fentanyl (The New York Times)

The doctor, William Husel, had faced 14 counts of murder after his patients overdosed on fentanyl, the powerful opioid.

They are highly addictive and one of the leading causes of death for Americans under 55. Janet Grubb, a prosecutor, said in her opening argument that several of the patients in question were not sick enough to die. A pharmacist would prepare the fentanyl doses that Dr. Husel prescribed, and a nurse would administer them. It was not clear why they made the request. “They don’t need to be looking over their shoulders, wondering if they’re ever going to get charged with a crime.” Then, in June 2019, he was charged with 25 counts of murder.

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Image courtesy of "The Columbus Dispatch"

Franklin County jury finds former doctor William Husel not guilty on ... (The Columbus Dispatch)

A Franklin County jury on Wednesday found former Mount Carmel Health doctor William Husel not guilty on all 14 counts of murder in patient deaths.

That’s why we took action regarding our concerns with the doses in these cases and shared the information we had with local authorities and impacted families," the hospital system said. Family members of the 14 patients did not comment Wednesday on the verdict. "The state was not having it. "Our role has always been to live up to our core values, beliefs and mission as a healthcare provider. But it was the large doses of fentanyl that Husel prescribed that became a prosecution focus. "If anyone knows me or the way we try cases, we fight hard for our clients. Holbrook said he didn't know, or even ask, what the verdict was at that point. Another was whether a doctor can end the life of a patient who is about to die, even for compassionate reasons. After the jury had left the courtroom to meet with Holbrook, Husel was asked whether he was relieved. "Many of those witnesses were defense witnesses," Baez said. "They stood up for what was right," Baez said. We accept the jury verdict."

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

William Husel, Ohio doctor accused of ordering excessive painkillers ... (CBS News)

His attorneys said he was providing comfort care for dying patients, not trying to kill them.

One patient, 82-year-old Melissa Penix, was given 2,000 micrograms of fentanyl and died a few minutes later. The first patient death was in May 2015. The age of the patients who died ranged from 37 to 82. The defense rested on March 31 after one day. Prosecutors presented their case beginning Feb. 22 and put on 53 prosecution witnesses before resting on March 29. They deliberated for six days.

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