A health care provider accused of administering massive quantities of fentanyl that led to a number of critically unwell affected person deaths was acquitted of 14 counts of homicide on Wednesday.

William Husel, 46, a former physician at Mount Carmel West Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, was discovered not responsible on all counts of homicide practically two months after the trial started. Jurors additionally had the choice to convict Husel with lesser expenses of tried homicide however selected to acquit after six days of deliberation.

Husel labored as a physician within the intensive care unit (ICU) at Mount Carmel West. He was indicted in instances that concerned a minimum of 500 micrograms of the opioid painkiller fentanyl. Husel was fired from the hospital in December 2018 after an inside investigation discovered he ordered "extreme and probably deadly" doses of ache remedy to 25 or extra sufferers who have been close to dying, in response to court docket paperwork.

"The State of Ohio v. William Husel was rigorously tried and ready by each the Prosecution and the Protection," Franklin County Prosecuting Legal professional G. Gary Tyack stated in an announcement launched after the decision. "The Jury after evaluate of all of the proof was not satisfied past an affordable doubt that William Husel was responsible of any of the costs submitted to them. We settle for the jury verdict."

Hospital
Former physician William Husel was discovered not responsible of 14 counts of homicide after being accused of giving sufferers extreme quantities of painkillers. Above, a healthcare skilled fits as much as enter a COVID-19 affected person's room within the ICU at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert, Ohio on November 20, 2020.Getty Photos

His colleagues who administered the medicines weren't criminally charged, however the hospital system stated it fired 23 nurses and pharmacists after the interior investigation. The hospital additionally referred quite a few staff to their respective state boards for potential disciplinary motion, in response to the Related Press.

All of Husel's sufferers died after the physician allegedly prescribed deadly doses of fentanyl when his sufferers have been faraway from life assist.

Prosecutors argued that ordering such dosages for nonsurgical conditions indicated an intent to finish lives. Husel's attorneys stated that he was offering comforting care to dying sufferers, not making an attempt to kill them.

The age of sufferers who died ranged from 37- to 81-years-old. The primary affected person's dying was in Could 2015, in response to the AP.

The Ohio State Medical Board suspended Husel's medical license and said that his continued follow would "current a hazard of quick and severe hurt to the general public," court docket paperwork stated.

In June 2019, an Ohio grand jury indicted Husel for 25 counts of homicide, which was later dropped all the way down to 14 counts.

Husel would have confronted life in jail with parole eligibility after 15 years had he been discovered responsible of only one depend of homicide. He nonetheless continues to battle over 10 civil lawsuits filed by the households of sufferers who died.

Husel's lawyer, Jose Baez, celebrated on Twitter after the decision was learn.

"Justice!!!" Baez wrote. "Not Responsible on all counts! Thanks everybody on your prayers."

Newsweek reached out to Husel's lawyer for remark.