A doctor has been arrested for allegedly contaminating intravenous (IV) bags at a surgical center in Texas.
The 59-year-old anesthesiologist, Dr. Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr, is allegedly responsible for the death of his physician colleague and injuries to at least five patients. He was arrested on Wednesday in Plano, Texas.
Dr. Ortiz is accused of contaminating IV bags with nerve-blocking agents and other drugs at the Baylor Scott & White Surgicare in North Dallas.
Kristin Lowman, Dallas Police Department spokeswoman, confirmed the arrest and told reporters to direct their questions about the case to federal prosecutors.
On Friday, the Texas Medical Board suspended Dr. Ortiz’s medical license, saying he poses a serious threat to the public. While announcing his suspension, the board said it had received information about his involvement in an ongoing federal investigation into one patient’s death and severe cardiac complications at the Baylor Scott & White Surgicare Center.
Dr. Ortiz was captured by surveillance cameras in the hospital depositing IV bags into a warmer outside the operating rooms. Shortly after depositing the bags, a patient suffered a severe complication.
When the IV bags were tested at the surgery center, holes in the plastic wrap were found. They also found that the bags contained bupivacaine, a local anesthetic used to numb pain during and after surgery. According to the medical board, the drug can be fatal if administered intravenously.
In 2021, Dr. Melanie Kaspar took one of the IV bags home to treat her dehydration, and she experienced a cardiac attack almost immediately after injecting herself and died. The Dallas County Medical Examiner ruled that she died from a bupivacaine overdose. Although the death was ruled accidental, it has now been reopened for further investigation.
John Kaspar, Dr. Kasper’s husband, continues to mourn the tragic death of his wife. He told a reporter that he would live with the memory of watching her die in such a horrible manner. Don Tittle, Mr. Kaspar’s lawyer, said his client was glad to hear of the progress in investigating his wife’s death.
The Texas Medical Board said it promptly acted on information about Dr. Ortiz, setting up an emergency suspension hearing a day after federal authorities informed them about the investigation.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson from the Baylor Scott & White Surgicare Center said they found out about the contaminated IV bags on August 24 and immediately notified all relevant authorities. They closed shop on the same day and will remain closed until further notice, reiterating that the safety of their patients comes first and that Dr. Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr was fired from the hospital.
It was reported by media that Dr. Ortiz was a notorious rule breaker. In 1995, he was arrested for assault, and in 2005, a woman filed for a protective order from him. In August 2022, he was reprimanded by the medical board and fined $3000 for failing to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient at the North Garland Surgery Center. In 2018, he was reprimanded by the board for failing to report a misdemeanor conviction. In 2016, he was convicted in Collin County for animal cruelty.
Not surprisingly, his prior bad behavior was not listed on his resume.