Doctor who ordered outsize pain meds kept working for weeks

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio hospital says a doctor who ordered excessive and possibly fatal doses of pain medicine for dozens of patients kept working for weeks after concern was raised.

The Columbus-area Mount Carmel Health System said Thursday that three patients died during those weeks after getting excessive dosages of medication ordered by Dr. William Husel (HYOO’-suhl).

Mount Carmel says it should have expedited its internal investigation and considered immediately removing him.

It also says it now knows of more affected patients — at least 34 over the past few years. It initially said affected patients were near death, but now says it’s investigating whether some got excessive doses while there still might have been opportunity to treat their conditions.

Some families bringing lawsuits have questioned that.

Husel’s lawyers haven’t commented.