Former Texas anesthesiologist Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz, who was convicted of tampering with IV bags linked to multiple cardiac emergencies and one death, just caught a break during sentencing that has victims' family members frustrated.
Several of them had traveled to Dallas so they could be at the courthouse to give their victim impact statements; however, they were disappointed to learn that the judge presiding over the case had rescheduled the sentencing.
The judge had granted the defense a surprise last-minute motion to continue.
"I am ready for closure on it. But I think that we will ultimately get there. It's frustrating to have it delayed. But I think the right thing will happen," said Matthew Dawson, who drove in from Longview.
Ortiz was convicted in April for injecting dangerous drugs into patients' IV bags at a North Dallas surgical center that caused patients' blood pressure to skyrocket, cardiac dysfunction, and pulmonary edema following surgical procedures.
They were linked to 11 cardiac emergencies between May and August 2022.
Dr. Melanie Kasper died after taking an IV bag home to treat dehydration.
John Kaspar, the husband of Melanie Kaspar, was also prepared to give a statement on Wednesday.
A doctor at the hospital had started to suspect the issue was with the IV bags and used surveillance video to capture Ortiz filling large syringes with multiple medications before putting them back in his pocket.
Other surveillance footage presented in the trial showed Ortiz repeatedly taking IV bags out of a warming drawer and putting them back, according to FOX4.
Prosecutors revealed Ortiz's actions were a form of retaliation for being punished on three separate occasions in 2018 with the potential to lose his medical license.
"Dr. Ortiz cloaked himself in the white coat of a healer, but instead of curing pain, he inflicted it," US Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas said in a video statement.
He currently faces a maximum penalty of 190 years in prison.
