Dr. William Husel murder trial: Summary for March 10, 2022

The trial of Dr. William Husel is being livestreamed each day on NBC4i.com and the NBC4 app. 1:30 p.m. update: Court is adjourned until Monday morning.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The third week of testimony in the murder trial against former Mount Carmel West doctor William Husel wrapped up Thursday with a returning witness.

Dr. Wesley Ely, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University and pulmonary and critical care medicine specialist, returned to the stand after also testifying last Monday, discussing what he called “mind-boggling” doses of fentanyl given to Husel’s patients.

Husel, 46, is facing murder charges in the deaths of 14 ICU patients under his care at the former Mount Carmel West from 2015 to ’18. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Ely faced examination from Husel’s counsel about which doctors ordered how much pain medication and when to multiple patients, basically questioning Husel’s fault. Multiple hospital records referenced by defense attorney Diane Menashe, for example, listed doctors other than Husel on the order for meds like fentanyl.

Menashe also questioned Ely on whether higher levels of pain medication and other care for Husel’s patients were appropriate, given their injuries, status or the fact they were in the intensive care unit.

“We should pay attention to that,” Ely said, if a family member is telling doctors and nurses that a patient is in a lot of pain.

Ely was later questioned by prosecuting attorney Paula Sawyers. He mentioned “inconsistent” recording of pain scales for Husel’s patients, including scores on one scale going from the low single-digits quickly to the high of 10.

“The dose should be appropriate to what the patient is going through,” he said.

Most patients who received fentanyl under Husel’s care received 1,000 micrograms of the opioid, and one received 2,000 micrograms. As an ICU physician, Ely told the court last Monday, the most he’s given a patient was 200 micrograms, and that was after 10 days of hourly doses.

“This is like driving 250 miles an hour through a school zone with people walking across the street,” he said.

High and combined doses of fentanyl and other drugs in the wrong circumstances, Ely said Thursday, could take a patient’s life, because the body cannot sustain the escalation to fentanyl given by Husel.

“The body cannot breathe after those doses, period,” he said.

Ely was the only witness of the day. Judge Michael Holbrook said court will resume Monday morning.

Attorneys have said the trial could last at least eight weeks.

Here are some of the individuals who may appear during the proceedings:

Judge