COLUMBUS — Mount Carmel Health System says the conditions of five patients who died after receiving excessive painkiller doses might have improved with treatment.
The hospital system tweeted Friday that it has been “investigating whether any of the affected patients received excessive doses of pain medication when there was still an opportunity for treatment to improve their immediate condition. We are aware of five cases in which this possibility is a concern, and we are reaching out to the loved ones of these patients to share this information.”
https://twitter.com/MountCarmel/status/1098983396796186630?s=19
Mount Carmel also found one more patient who received a potentially fatal dose, bringing that total to at least 35 patients over several years. It says six of those people received doses that were excessive but not likely fatal.
Dr. William Husel was fired in December. His lawyers aren’t commenting.
Mount Carmel apologized, put 23 other employees on leave and says it changed its medication protocols to prevent similar situations.
Husel and the hospital face at least 19 related wrongful death lawsuits.