Texas Doctor Sentenced to 190 Years for Poisoning Patients with Tainted IV Bags

Raynaldo Riviera Ortiz Jr., a 60-year-old Texas anesthesiologist once described as a "medical terrorist," has been sentenced to 190 years in prison for tampering with medical IV bags that resulted in devastating injuries and death.

The sentencing was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey, who equated Ortiz's actions to attempted murder, a sentiment echoed by U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton.

Ortiz was convicted after an eight-day trial in April of last year on multiple charges, including four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product, and five counts of intentional adulteration of a drug.

The court found that Ortiz had injected heart-stopping drugs into IV bags used during routine medical procedures, causing cardiac emergencies and, in one case, the death of a fellow anesthesiologist.

“This disgraced doctor acted no better than an armed assailant spraying bullets indiscriminately into a crowd,” said Simonton during the trial.

“Dr. Ortiz tampered with random IV bags, apparently unconcerned with who he hurt. But he wielded an invisible weapon, a cocktail of heart-stopping drugs concealed inside an IV bag designed to help patients heal. On at least nine separate occasions, he essentially attacked unconscious patients lying on an operating table, and even killed a colleague. I am so proud of our office’s work in bringing Dr. Ortiz to justice and providing some solace to his victims and their families.”

The incidents occurred at Surgicare North Dallas in 2022. Patients undergoing routine procedures began experiencing sudden cardiac emergencies, baffling doctors and staff.

A review of medical records revealed a troubling pattern: the emergencies always followed the use of new IV bags. Evidence presented at trial showed that Ortiz had tampered with the IV bags, injecting them with a lethal mix of drugs.

The most tragic case involved a fellow anesthesiologist who used one of the tainted IV bags to treat herself for dehydration and died that same day.

Her husband, Dr. John Kaspar, provided a heartbreaking statement during the trial, describing the haunting memory of seeing his wife’s "lifeless eyes." "She was my life," Kaspar said, calling her "the strongest woman" he had ever met.

During the sentencing, victims and their families shared the devastating impact Ortiz’s actions had on their lives. One victim’s son recounted how his 10-year-old son now distrusts doctors entirely, saying, “A doctor tried to kill Pops.”

Another victim described waking up after a cardiac incident feeling “all chewed up” and said he has never felt the same since. The emotional statements painted a harrowing picture of the long-lasting pain inflicted by Ortiz’s deliberate actions.

Ortiz, who waived his rights, chose not to attend the sentencing hearing or listen to the victim impact statements. His absence did little to diminish the anger and grief expressed in the courtroom, as families and survivors detailed the profound physical and emotional toll of his crimes.

The court also heard how Ortiz’s actions were uncovered. After the unexplained medical emergencies, doctors at the facility began to suspect foul play.

The pattern of incidents connected to new IV bags ultimately led to a deeper investigation, culminating in the discovery of Ortiz’s deliberate tampering.

Ortiz’s motives remain unclear, but the devastating consequences of his actions have forever altered the lives of his victims and their families. In addition to the emotional trauma, the incidents have eroded trust in medical professionals for some, especially children who witnessed their loved ones suffer.

Following the sentencing, Simonton emphasized the significance of the case in ensuring justice for the victims. “This was an egregious abuse of trust and power by someone tasked with healing and protecting patients. Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of these actions and serves as a stark reminder that such betrayal will not go unpunished.”

The case has drawn widespread attention, not only for the horrific nature of Ortiz’s crimes but also for its implications on patient safety in healthcare settings.

Despite the heavy sentence, the scars left by his actions are likely to remain with his victims for a lifetime.