State health officials are joining the investigation into Mount Carmel Health System after a doctor was fired for giving 27 people an excessive dose of the pain medication fentanyl.
The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed that it is currently conducting an investigation of Mount Carmel on behalf of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Both the Ohio Department of Health and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have declined to comment on the investigation.
News of this investigation comes after Mount Carmel announced that at least 27 patients were given significantly excessive and potentially fatal doses of the pain medication fentanyl. The hospital says all 27 patients were near death, and were under the care of Husel, who was fired in December.
Investigations like this one are relatively rare – there have been an average of three such investigations in Ohio each year since 2010, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Three lawsuits have been filed against Mount Carmel Health System, Husel and other nurses and pharmacists involved.
If you are a Mount Carmel staffer who has information to share or you believe your loved one or family member was impacted by this case, contact WOSU at paige.pfleger@wosu.org.