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Defense rests in Dallas doctor's IV tampering trial
Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz is accused of tampering with IV bags at the Baylor Scott & White Surgicare in North Dallas, leading to 11 patients suffering cardiac emergencies and the death of a fellow doctor. The defense's expert witness attempted to cast doubt on the prosecution's story.
DALLAS - The Dallas doctor accused of putting poison into IV bags did not testify in his own defense at trial.
The defense team for Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz rested its case on Wednesday afternoon.
Ortiz is accused of tampering with IV bags at the Baylor Scott & White Surgicare in North Dallas, leading to 11 patients suffering cardiac emergencies and the death of a fellow doctor.
An anesthesiologist spent three hours testifying as a hired defense expert for Ortiz.
Defense attorneys went through the 12 patients who suffered unexpected cardiac emergencies between May and August 2022.
Prosecutors contend Dr. Ortiz was secretly injecting drugs into IV bags that were then given to patients, causing life-threatening reactions.
The expert tried to cast doubt, telling the jury there could be other medical conditions that caused the emergencies.
Former U.S. attorney Paul Coggins, who is now a white collar crimes attorney, talked about that strategy.
"The government never likes expert versus expert because that is almost the definition of reasonable doubt," Coggins explained.
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Trial testimony focuses on unexplained emergencies
The first witnesses took the stand Tuesday in the trial of a North Texas doctor who is accused of tampering with IV bags. They talked about a series of unexplained cardiac emergencies. They kept happening under different doctors and nurses.
After 18-year-old Jack Adlertein nearly died, according to his doctors at the Surgicare center another IV bag with a puncture hole was found in the same warmer.
That bag tested positive for epinephrine.
Earlier Wednesday, the defense called a fingerprint expert with the Dallas Police Department, who testified that the only fingerprint on the IV bag did not belong to Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz.
"The absense of a print is like the absence of a dog barking. Favorable for the defense, but the prosecution has conceded they didn't have fingerprint evidence," Coggins said.
TRIAL COVERAGE:
- Dallas doctor IV bag tampering trial: Expert testimony suggests pattern of emergencies among patients
- Prosecution pushes Dallas doctor's struggling businesses as motive for IV tampering
- Anesthesiologist who realized IV bags were behind patient emergencies testifies in Dallas doctor's trial
- Teen who survived alleged tainted IV bag testifies against Dallas doctor
- Dallas IV tampering trial: Administrators 'desperately' sought cause of spike in patient emergencies
- Husband of Dallas doctor who died from alleged tainted IV bag gives emotional testimony about her death
- Trial begins for Dallas doctor accused of putting heart-stopping meds in IV bags
The jury will receive their charge on Thursdya morning and hear closing arguments starting at 9:30 in the morning.