Ohio doctor charged with 25 counts of murder, accused of prescribing excessive doses of painkillers
The patient deaths involving William Husel, 43, have exposed a stunning case of medical oversight and alleged medical malpractice.
June 5, 2019, 11:10 AM EDT / Updated June 5, 2019, 11:55 AM EDT
By Erik Ortiz
An Ohio doctor accused of ordering excessive and potentially fatal doses of opioids to dozens of near-death patients is facing multiple counts of murder, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
William Husel voluntarily surrendered to authorities and was charged in 25 deaths following a six-month investigation by the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. The patient deaths exposed
a stunning case of medical oversight and alleged medical malpractice, and called into question how repeated failures potentially involving 30 or more employees could have gone unchecked for so long.
"I have not seen a 25-count murder indictment during my time as prosecutor," Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien, who has been in his position for 22 years, said at a news conference.
Husel, 43, was employed with the Mount Carmel Health System, one of the largest in central Ohio, from 2015 to 2018. He was first suspended Nov. 21 and then fired two weeks later.
More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-doctor-charged-25-counts-murder-accused-prescribing-excessive-doses-n970026