Ohio Doctor Fires Back at Overdose Death Allegations

Hamed Wardak, Entrepreneur

When 25 patients die, especially when they are all being treated by the same doctor, that makes headlines. The various stakeholders involved in the tragedies begin looking for someone to blame. In this case, the doctor in question, William Husel, was accused of murder in the deaths of the patients. 

According to Associated Press reports, Husel is being accused of “ordering drug overdoses” that led to all 25 deaths. Reports allege Husel “overprescribed” the powerful painkiller fentanyl. On a cursory reading, it appears that Husel is, literally and legally, on the defensive, fighting for his freedom and his medical status. 

Husel is fighting back, having filed a lawsuit against the Mount Carmel Health System, as well as its parent company, Trinity Health Corp., claiming defamation. The suit asserts several things, including that Husel did “nothing wrong,” and “did not deviate” from hospital policy related to end-of-life care. The suit further asserts that the patients in question died of illness, not because of the drugs prescribed by Husel. 

In addition, the suit suggests that, “… it would not be an exaggeration to state that Dr. Husel has suffered perhaps the most egregious case of defamation in Ohio’s recent history…” So, no effort toward subtlety in this narrative. 

Instead, Husel doubles down, asserting that he didn’t receive any formal training related to hospital procedures when he was hired by Mount Carmel in 2013, and that he was awarded “doctor of the year” the following year. He is seeking at least $50,000 in damages, as well as attorney’s fees. 

In response, a spokesperson for Mount Carmel called the allegations in the lawsuit “unfounded,” adding that they “… completed an extensive review of patient care provided by Dr. William Husel and stand by our decisions.” 

The hospital statement includes additional information detailing multiple lawsuits claiming that Husel ordered “excessive and potential fatal” doses of pain medication, and that officials fired Husel and, according to media reports, “removed nurses and pharmacists who had roles in administering the pain medication.” 

In response, at least one pharmacist and several nurses also sued Mount Carmel, asserting that Husel did no wrong, further claiming, according to the media, that “hospital executives were unaware of appropriate standards of care for patients at the end of their lives.” 

So, taking a step back and looking at this through the lens of public relations, there are multiple narratives and multiple players hoping to promote their narrative through various media channels. Who consumers believe will largely be based on the success of these various PR campaigns long before the numerous court cases are finally decided.