COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--Mt. Carmel Health System has terminated a doctor, and alerted law enforcement, after that doctor was found to have over-prescribed powerful pain medications, including fentanyl, to patients needing intensive care.
In a video statement, Mt. Carmel president and CEO Ed Lamb says an employee who noticed the discrepancies alerted authorities, and an investigation is now underway.
"During the five years he worked here, this doctor ordered significantly excessive and potentially fatal doses of pain medication for at least 27 patients who were near death.
These patients' families had requested that all life-saving measures be stopped, yet the amount of medicine the doctor ordered was more than what was needed to provide comfort.
On behalf of Mount Carmel and Trinity Health, our parent organization, we apologize for this tragedy, and we're truly sorry for the additional grief this may cause these families.
Our team has contacted these families and will continue to answer their questions and concerns as best as we can," Lamb said.
Mt. Carmel has not identified the doctor, but a lawsuit from the family of one of the patients identified him as Dr. William Husel.
Below is the full statement from Ed Lamb.