Air Force nurse charged in 3 patient deaths

[unhappycamper]

Air Force nurse charged in 3 patient deaths
By Michelle Roberts - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Mar 17, 2009 18:18:06 EDT

SAN ANTONIO — An Air Force nurse has been charged with giving lethal amounts of medication to three terminally ill patients in his care, military officials said Tuesday.

Capt. Michael Fontana, 35, was formally charged in military court with deliberately giving three Wilford Hall Medical Center patients lethal amounts of medication and with an additional charge of conduct unbecoming an officer for allegedly changing a medical document.

The Air Force began investigating after another staff member at the hospital discovered irregularities in Fontana’s administration of medications that may have resulted in the death of a terminally ill patient, said Air Force spokesman David Smith.

The investigation, which began in August, revealed that two other patients in Fontana’s care may have received lethal amounts of medication. Fontana was removed from duty as soon as the irregularity was reported, Smith said.

The two other suspicious deaths occurred in July, said Air Force spokesman Capt. John Severns.


Rest of article at: http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_airforce_nurse_deaths_031709/%2e