Jury deliberations resume Friday in trial of Dallas anesthesiologist Raynaldo Ortiz
DALLAS — Deliberations are underway in the federal criminal trial of Dallas anesthesiologist Raynaldo Ortiz. He faces 10 felony counts for allegedly tampering with IV bags at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas in the summer of 2022, causing surgery patients to have medical emergencies.
The judge presiding over the case, Chief District Judge David C. Godbey of the Northern District of Texas, gave the members of the jury their instructions Thursday morning. Attorneys then had a total of two hours for closing arguments.
In their closing arguments, prosecutors said Ortiz used his medical skills to hurt random people with what they called "medical bombs." They said Ortiz knew exactly what he was doing, that he was upset about being under investigation and the possible loss of his privileges and wanted to "distract and shift blame" to others.
Defense attorney John Nicholson said Baylor Scott & White was "desperate for it to be someone else's fault," telling the jury that none of the medical emergencies had anything to do with Ortiz.
Nicholson pointed out that Ortiz was only seen on video once getting drugs out of the cabinet in the hallway, and said that no one had noticed missing drugs during August of 2022.
He called the prosecution case a series of conclusions that created confirmation bias. Nicholson did admit that "when seen in a vacuum, some of the stuff Ortiz does looks suspicious," but said that the prosecution was trying to prove a pattern that wasn't there.
Main arguments in the case wrapped up on Wednesday, with the defense calling its final witnesses and the prosecution putting on a short rebuttal.
The jury began deliberations Thursday and will resume Friday at 9 a.m.
This is a developing story and will be updated when the jury reaches a verdict.