Texas Doctor Who Warmed IV Bags Suspended After Cardiac Episodes

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Saying Dr. Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr. poses a menace to public well being, the Texas Medical Board has suspended the anesthesiologist pending an investigation into cardiac problems suffered by a number of sufferers. Certainly one of them, a doctor, died, USA At the moment studies. Surveillance video reveals Ortiz placing single IV luggage in a hotter exterior working rooms at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas. One affected person had a critical complication shortly afterward, and a fellow doctor died after she took one of many IV luggage residence to rehydrate in June. Board information present she had a critical cardiac occasion nearly instantly after placing the IV right into a vein.

Luggage from the lab have been improperly labeled, had holes within the surrounding plastic wrap, and examined optimistic for bupivacaine. The health worker dominated that unintended bupivacaine toxicity brought on the physician’s loss of life. Exams after one other affected person had a critical cardiac occasion throughout routine surgical procedure discovered related medicine that should not have been within the affected person’s IV bag. The board imposed the suspension as soon as it realized that federal legislation enforcement has begun a prison investigation of the case. Will probably be in impact till the board decides its subsequent transfer.

Ortiz obtained his license in February 1991 and lists anesthesiology as his specialty, however he isn’t board-certified, per USA At the moment. His employer stated it is cooperating with the investigation. Reached by KTVT, Ortiz stated he’d accomplished nothing mistaken. “I am simply devastated,” he stated. Dallas police are also investigating. (Learn extra anesthesiologist tales.)