An anesthesiologist is facing federal charges in Texas, after investigators claim he tampered with intravenous bags, causing the death of a Dallas physician.
Local authorities confirm, Dr. Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz, Jr., 59, stands accused of tampering with an IV at Baylor Scott and White Surgicare at North Dallas.
Last Wednesday, Ortiz was arrested in Plano on suspicion of contaminating IV bags. He remains in custody, and it was unclear if bond had been set.
Ortiz had his license suspended by the Texas Medical Board after he was allegedly seen on surveillance video placing IV bags in a warmer outside operating rooms just before patients suffered unexpected medical issues during routine surgeries.
Tiny holes were also discovered in the IV bags, which also contained bupivacaine, a drug used to treat localized pain.
The tainted IV bags contributed to cardiac arrests in several patients. One of his colleagues is also believed to have died because of his cruel actions.
On June 21, Dr. Melanie Kaspar took home an IV bag to rehydrate during an illness. But the bag had allegedly been tampered with, and Kaspar later fell ill, had a heart attack and died.
Medical examiners determined that Kaspar’s death was caused by accidental bupivacaine toxicity.
Ortiz has not been charged in connection with Kaspar’s death.
Ortiz is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, where he will likely be asked to enter a plea.
Ortiz has been a practicing doctor since 1991. He was previously disciplined by the Texas Medical Board after a patient nearly died in his care during a 2020 procedure.
He had also spent 25 days in jail after being convicted of animal cruelty in 2016. The charge stemmed from an incident in which he shot his neighbor’s dog with a pellet gun.
How are we going to blame this on Trump and gun violence?