Tainted IV Bag Kills Doctor, Colleague Investigated: Medical Board

DALLAS, TX — A Dallas-area doctor has had his medical license suspended in the wake of a physician’s death and a patient’s cardiac event, both of which occurred in connection with IV bags that were tampered with, according to authorities.

A disciplinary panel of the Texas Medical Board last week temporarily suspended the license of anesthesiologist Dr. Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz, according to the order of suspension.

“Respondent’s continued practice of medicine poses a continuing threat,” the order said, citing “imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare.”

Ortiz was seen on surveillance footage depositing IV bags into a warmer, according to the order. Tests revealed the bags contained bupivacaine but were not labeled as including the medication, which is normally administered as a numbing injection, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“Such drugs could and would be fatal when administered unknowingly and
intravenously,” the order said.

There were also tiny holes in the plastic wrap around the bags, according to the order, which said the events resulting in Ortiz’s suspension occurred between May and September.

In June, a colleague of Ortiz’s at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas took one of the tampered IV bags home when she was sick, to rehydrate, according to the order, which said she inserted the IV and almost immediately had a serious cardiac event and died.

“The Dallas Medical Examiner’s autopsy report in August 2022 concluded her death was caused by accidental bupivacaine toxicity,” the order said.

NBC News identified the deceased as 55-year-old Dr. Melanie Kasper.

A second victim who was otherwise healthy also suffered a severe cardiac event, this time during a routine surgery, according to the order, which cited a federal law enforcement investigation.

“Surgicare North Dallas contacted law enforcement after discovering that an IV bag appeared to have been compromised,” Baylor Scott & White Health said in a prepared statement. “On the same day, the facility elected to pause its operations. The facility remains closed while we focus on assisting investigators and communicating with patients.”

Ortiz could not be reached Monday by NBC and a Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment to the outlet.

The Dallas Police Department confirmed it was assisting in an ongoing investigation.