Stephen Kyosung Kim, MD, a 53-year-old anesthesiologist, was charged with murder Wednesday after a patient under his care suffered a fatal overdose.
According to prosecutors, Dr. Kim administered medicine to sedate 71-year-old Mark Greenspan, MD, who was undergoing a procedure at the Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery Center in Beverly Hills, Calif, on Sept. 26. After the procedure, Dr. Kim allegedly gave Dr. Greenspan a lethal dose of the narcotic Demerol while the patient was in the recovery room. Soon after being administered that dose, prosecutors allege Dr. Greenspan went into cardiac arrest and died, according to CBS News.
Dr. Kim is also accused of injecting himself with drugs during Dr. Greenspan's procedure. Although police declined to identify the type of drugs, Beverly Hills police Lt. Elisabeth Albanese told the Los Angeles Times detectives determined Dr. Kim was under the influence of narcotics at the time of Dr. Greenspan's surgery.
Dr. Kim pleaded not guilty to one count of murder at his arraignment Thursday. He is out on bail, and his next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2018. Dr. Kim faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
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