A Texas anesthesiologist was sentenced to 190 years in prison for tampering with IV bags, causing one death and numerous injuries, the Justice Department said Nov. 20.
Raynaldo Riviera Ortiz Jr., MD, 60, was charged in September 2022 on allegations he tampered with IV bags at Surgicare North Dallas, a Baylor Scott & White ambulatory surgery center where Dr. Ortiz worked as an independent anesthesiologist, according to a Nov. 20 Justice Department news release.
Between May and August 2022, at least 10 patients experienced cardiac emergencies during operations performed by different physicians. About one month after the issues began, an anesthesiologist at Surgicare North Dallas died while treating herself for dehydration using an IV bag. In August of that year, an 18-year-old patient was rushed to the intensive care unit during a routine sinus surgery. Physicians then began to suspect tainted IV bags as the cause of the injuries.
Surveillance video showed Dr. Ortiz retrieving IV bags from the warming bin and then replacing them shortly before they were used for surgery in patients who experienced complications. A local lab found the bags were contaminated with epinephrine, bupivacaine and other medications that can cause cardiac emergencies.
Dr. Ortiz's license was suspended by the Texas Medical Board in September 2022 and a week later he was arrested.
In April, a jury found Dr. Ortiz guilty of four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product and five counts of intentional adulteration of a drug.