Ortiz's co-worker died from a lethal dose of bupivacaine that was injected after she treated herself for dehydration with an IV bag that she thought contained saline, according to an autopsy.
A Dallas anesthesiologist was arrested on charges alleging that he injected nerve-blocking agents and other drugs into bags of intravenous fluids at the surgical center where he works, which led to the death of a co-worker and caused cardiac emergencies for several patients, authorities announced Thursday.
Ortiz, 59, remained in the Dallas County jail without bond on Thursday. Records don't list an attorney for him. On Aug. 24, an 18-year-old male patient experienced a cardiac emergency during routine sinus surgery, was intubated and transferred to an intensive care unit. Chemical analysis of the fluid from a saline bag used during his surgery revealed the presence of bupivacaine, the stimulant epinephrine and the topical anesthetic lidocaine, drugs that could have caused the patient's sudden symptoms, according to prosecutors.
The incidents began two days after Ortiz was notified of a disciplinary inquiry of an incident during which he allegedly "deviated from the standard of care" during an anesthesia procedure when a patient experienced a medical emergency. Ortiz, who had a history of disciplinary actions against him, expressed concern to other physicians over the disciplinary action and complained that the center was trying to "crucify" him.
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