DALLAS — Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their case Wednesday in the high-profile trial for Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz, the Dallas anesthesiologist accused of poisoning IV bags with dangerous drugs at the Baylor Scott and White Surgicare North Dallas the summer of 2022.
Prosecutors allege Ortiz's actions resulted in medical emergencies of several patients and even the death of a fellow anesthesiologist who took an IV bag home to hydrate herself.
Dr. Ortiz did not take the stand before prosecutors and his attorneys rested late Wednesday afternoon.
Defense attorneys began the day, though, by calling Dr. Bobbie Jean Sweitzer to the stand. Dr. Sweitzer is an anesthesiologist and testified as an expert witness for the defense.
Prosecutors have said the poisoned IV bags caused several patients’ severe medical episodes, but most of Sweitzer’s testimony focused on presenting alternative explanations for what could have caused those. For example, she testified based on her review of medical records, she believes in several of the cases doctors administered medicine to patients incorrectly or misdiagnosed mid-surgery complications. She also said several of the patients had pre-existing conditions or risk factors that could have caused some of their complications.
During her cross-examination, prosecutors brought up the fact defense attorneys did not mention certain facts during their direct examination of Ms. Sweitzer, for example how one IV bag used on a patient had a puncture wound and tested positive for epinephrine.
Not much later the defense called another witness, a forensic chemist who testified she’s not even sure that the IV bag mentioned did in fact test positive for epinephrine. Dr. Heather Harris told jurors she was concerned by some of the techniques used to test the bags.
Prosecutors also heard from Dr. Steven Trostel, who said he was a friend and former coworker of Ortiz. Dr. Trostel testified that Ortiz was a particularly helpful anesthesiologist, who would often pick up extra tasks such as grabbing IV bags (prosecutors have relied heavily on video of Ortiz grabbing IV bags, emphasizing most anesthesiologists do not do this). On cross-examination, Trostel acknowledged he had not worked with Ortiz for close to 15 years.
Closing arguments should begin Thursday morning before the jury begins deliberations.