Here are 10 anesthesiologist suits Becker's has reported on so far in 2024:
1. The sentencing for Raynaldo Ortiz Jr., MD, a former anesthesiologist at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas who is accused of tampering with IV bags, has been delayed for the fourth time. Dr. Ortiz was found guilty in April on 10 counts of tampering with IV bags and the adulteration of drugs and faces up to 190 years in prison. The Texas Medical Board temporarily suspended his license in April. Dr. Ortiz was accused of injecting drugs into five IV bags and putting them in a warming bin in August 2022. Four patients suffered cardiac emergencies. He is also suspected in 13 other unexplained emergencies between May and August 2022 but was charged with tampering causing serious bodily injury to only four patients.
2. Louisville anesthesiologist Erek Davodwich, MD, has pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to issue pre-signed and unsigned prescriptions for Schedule II drugs. Dr. Davodwich intentionally conspired with others at his medical practice to use a DEA number issued to another person to prescribe drugs.
3. John Nedza, MD, an anesthesiologist in Oklahoma City, Okla., was convicted to up to 72 years in prison for stealing controlled substances. Dr. Nedza, who was contracted at an Oklahoma City hospital, diverted substances including fentanyl, ketamine, dilaudid and midazolam by falsely claiming the drugs were for patient surgeries. He was convicted of 18 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit or subterfuge.
4. Anesthesiologist Ellis Richard Clark, MD, filed a lawsuit against Optum-affiliated Salem (Ore.) Surgery Center, which operates under the name Northbank Surgical Center, for allegedly firing him in retaliation for complaining about unsafe anesthesia practices. Dr. Clark claims that he was forced out of his position for objecting to situations he believed put patients in danger. He claims he was fired in retaliation after complaining to regulatory boards about a registered nurse who objected to administering a certain type of anesthesia.
5. Mark Young, MD, an anesthesiologist who owned and operated a Glenwood Springs-based ketamine clinic, was arrested for alleged unlawful sexual contact.
6. Spokane, Wash.-based anesthesiologist Michael Ferries, MD, agreed to take ethics training following allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of a patient.
7. Anesthesiologist John Johnson, MD, 62, and his wife pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud. He entered into an agreement to defraud health insurers for fraudulently billing for urine drug tests. He conspired with others in a scheme involving pain management practices in Central Pennsylvania, known as Lighthouse Medical and Pain Medicine of York.
8. Pennsylvania anesthesiologist Richard Hubbell, MD, has been charged with diverting fentanyl and Dilaudid by falsifying records and reports at an ASC and hospital. Dr. Hubbell, 60, allegedly diverted the substances by falsifying records to show the substances were administered to patients while working at Wyomissing-based Pennsylvania Eye and Ear Surgical Center and Berwick Hospital.
9. Lubbock, Texas-based anesthesiologist Jeffrey Norman Colvin, MD, has been accused of violating a medical license restriction more than 60 times in two months and has been temporarily barred from practicing. The Texas Medical Board suspended Dr. Colvin's for writing more than 60 controlled substance prescriptions, mostly to women, between Dec. 7 and Feb. 2 despite having a restriction prohibiting him from treating female patients.
10. Anesthesiologist Caleb Stalls, MD, must pay a fine following the 2019 death of a lung surgery patient at Miami-based Kendall Regional Medical Center, now the HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. Dr. Stalls will pay a $10,000 fine plus $5,853 of Florida Department of Health investigation costs. He must also take three five-hour medical education courses.