The Ohio Department of Health is investigating a former Columbus, Ohio-based Mount Carmel Health System physician accused of ordering potentially fatal painkiller doses for 27 near-death hospital patients, all of whom have died, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
William Husel, MD, had worked as an intensive care physician at the system since 2013. Upon learning of the medication incidents, Mount Carmel fired him and sent details of its internal investigation to authorities, Mount Carmel President and CEO Ed Lamb said Jan. 14.
The system put 20 pharmacists and nurses on leave while they investigate the cases.
The probe is being conducted for CMS, a health department spokesperson told the Dispatch.
The Franklin County (Ohio) prosecutor's office and Columbus police also are investigating.
Twenty-six of the affected patients were treated at Mount Carmel West hospital in Franklinton, Ohio, and the other was at Mount Carmel St. Ann's in Westerville, Ohio.