Dallas anesthesiologist Raynaldo Ortiz found guilty on all counts
DALLAS - A federal jury has convicted Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz on all 10 counts he faces connected to tampering with IV bags.
Ortiz was an anesthesiologist at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas in the summer of 2022; His actions caused surgery patients to have medical emergencies.
Ortiz is also tied to the death of a fellow anesthesiologist, Dr. Melanie Kaspar. She died after administering an IV bag to herself after feeling sick. The bag was also allegedly tainted by Ortiz, but prosecutors did not charge Ortiz in Kaspar's death.
The jurors deliberated for about six hours across Thursday and Friday before reaching their decision.
Ortiz showed no emotion as the judge read the verdict. People in the gallery hugged and some even clapped as federal marshals led Ortiz out of the courtroom. John Kaspar, the husband of Melanie Kaspar, and his friends and family said they were relieved by the verdict and happy with the outcome.
Ortiz could spend the rest of his life in federal prison. The sentence will be decided by the judge in this case, Chief District Judge David C. Godbey of the Northern District of Texas.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton posted a video statement on X following the verdict:
GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS.
— US Attorney N. Texas (@NDTXnews) April 12, 2024
After eight days of trial, a federal jury convicted Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz, the anesthesiologist who surreptitiously injected drugs into patient IV bags at a local surgery center.
His actions resulted in one death and numerous cardiac emergencies. pic.twitter.com/Pd8VGjRjs9
This is a developing story and will be updated.