Texas Doctor Found Guilty of Poisoning Patients at North Dallas Clinic
A Texas doctor, Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz, has been found guilty of injecting heart-stopping poison into IVs at his former medical clinic in North Dallas. The shocking crimes were committed at Baylor Scott and White Surgicare North Dallas in retaliation for a medical misconduct probe.
Ortiz was convicted on all 10 counts after nearly seven hours of deliberation by a 12-person jury. The anesthesiologist was accused of contaminating IV bags with nerve-blocking and bronchodilation drugs, which led to several patients suffering cardiac emergencies. Tragically, beloved anesthesiologist Dr. Melanie Kaspar died after using one of the tainted IV bags.
Surveillance video showed Ortiz tampering with IV bags outside an operating room, leading to patients experiencing heart attacks. The incidents began shortly after Ortiz was notified of a disciplinary inquiry against him, during which he complained that the center was trying to “crucify” him.
Ortiz’s actions have had devastating consequences, with multiple patients experiencing cardiac emergencies between May and August 2022. Prosecutors charged Ortiz with causing bodily injury to four patients in August, leading to his conviction on multiple counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury and intentional adulteration of a drug.
The doctor’s disturbing behavior extends beyond the medical field, as he was previously involved in a 2015 incident where he shot his neighbor’s dog in retaliation for the woman helping his then-girlfriend obtain a restraining order against him after a domestic violence incident.
Ortiz is now facing up to life in prison and is expected to be sentenced in two to three months. The verdict has brought some closure to the victims and their families, but the emotional toll of Ortiz’s actions remains significant.
The case serves as a chilling reminder of the potential dangers posed by those in positions of trust and authority, and the importance of thorough oversight and accountability in the medical profession.
