AF nurse acquitted in deaths of 3 patients

[unhappycamper]

AF nurse acquitted in deaths of 3 patients
By Paul J. Weber - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 23, 2009 9:52:29 EST

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — A court martial acquitted a former military nurse of murder Saturday after he was accused of giving lethal doses of painkillers to hasten the deaths of three terminally ill patients at the Air Force’s largest hospital.

Capt. Michael Fontana, wearing his Air Force uniform, showed no emotion as a military judge cleared him of three counts of murder, then collapsed into the arms of weeping family members inside a Lackland Air Force Base courtroom.

Military prosecutors had painted Fontana as a rogue and arrogant nurse who pumped patients full of fentanyl and morphine when they were not “dying quick enough.” After the ruling, Fontana said he never second-guessed his treatment or dosages.

“My intention the whole time was to take care of dying patients,” Fontana said.

Fontana, 36, said he wants to return to nursing.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_airforce_fontana_trial_112109/

[Ilsa]

1. If he had been convicted, nurses would

Think twice about wanting to care for the terminally ill, especially with religious zealots who are th patients' relatives. They want their loved ones to keep holding on to "life", even when in agony.