23 hospital employees fired in connection with physician who overprescribed opioids

The Mount Carmel Health System fired 23 employees, and its CEO will resign later this month after it was discovered that a physician at the health system killed 25 patients by overprescribing opioids.

The terminated employees include five managers of physician, nursing, and/or pharmacy oversight. Eleven other employees have to complete additional training and education.

In December 2018, William Husel, DO, was fired by Mount Carmel for prescribing fatal doses of opioids to patients. His medical orders led to the death of 25 patients. Husel has also been charged with 25 counts of murder and plead not guilty.  Although Husel wrote the orders, they were carried out by other employees, which is what led to their terminations.

“We have also taken a careful case-by-case examination of the role of every colleague who was a part of the medication and administration of the affected patients, and the members of the management involved in oversight of those colleagues," CEO Ed Lamb said in a video provided by the hospital.

“We have the ability to speak up because we have a license and I understand that, but our doctor is our expert and they’re guiding the care,” a Mount Carmel employee told WOSU in January.

Sources: Washington Examiner, WOSU