Who is Dr Raynaldo Ortiz Jr? Family gets $12K bill after son, 18, dies from doc's tampered IV bag
DALLAS, TEXAS: The family of an 18-year-old Dallas boy is furious after receiving a $12,000 bill from the hospital where their son allegedly died after being treated with a contaminated IV bag. During a routine sinus procedure, Jack A, whose family asked that his last name not be used, died nearly two months ago after going into cardiac arrest at Baylor Scott and White's Surgicare in North Dallas.
Disgraced anesthesiologist Dr Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr, 59, has been arrested in connection with the tampering with the IV bags that allegedly led to the deaths of Jack and his colleague Dr Melanie Kaspar in June, nearly killing dozens of other patients as well. Ortiz's license has since been suspended by the Texas Medical Board, and the US Attorney's Office labeled him a "medical terrorist"
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After Jack's passing his family was told the facility "waived 100 per cent of your son's bill," Jack's father told Fox 4. However, the family had anticipated that they would still receive the bill, as most medical bills are automated, Jack's father emailed the facility five days after Jack's surgery to "confirm that neither I nor our insurer is going to receive a bill." "I will be extremely displeased if I do. I recognize that sometimes billing is on autopilot," the father wrote in an email. Yet, they received a bill for $12,903, which has since been taken care of by the surgery center.
Jack's dejected grandfather Dr Dan Wohlgelernter said, "To have this heartless financial transaction that was blind to what happened here, it was painful, and I think irresponsible, to handle business as usual kind of attitude." "Aside from hurt and pain by this, I wish that Baylor were as efficient at assuring quality control with their patients as they are getting their bills out," he said. Jack suffered a cardiac arrest on August 24 and was given a 50/50 survival chance. After a chemical analysis was run on the IV bag found anesthesia drugs bupivacaine and lidocaine and stimulant epinephrine, reported Daily Mail.
(Screenshot/Fox News)
Dr. Melanie Kaspar also died from a cardiac arrest after she reportedly took home one of the tainted IV bags to treat her dehydration. Her autopsy revealed that she had died from a lethal dose of bupivacaine, a drug that is "rarely abused but is often used during the administration of anesthesia," according to the Northern District of Texas. Reportedly 10 other patients also suffered cardiac arrest and fortunately were 'stabilized' through the use of "emergency measures." Furthermore, the surgery center was closed after it was found that they “compromised” IV bags.
Ortiz was caught on video reportedly placing IV bags into a warmer that had been tainted with 'nerve-blocking drugs' between May and September 2022, according to US Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Texas. None of the incidents occurred during Ortiz's surgeries but while he was inside the facility. Ortiz reportedly has a history of disciplinary actions against him. Us Attorney Chad E Meacham said the office will "vigorously prosecute this case." A single incident of seemingly intentional patient harm would be disconcerting; multiple incidents are truly disturbing," he said. Ortiz was arrested on September 14 and is currently being held without bail and faces life in prison
Ortiz was arrested on September 14 and has pleaded not guilty. He is currently being held without bail and faces life imprisonment.