The Latest: Widower stunned by allegations against doctor

The Latest on wrongful death lawsuits filed against an Ohio doctor accused of ordering potentially fatal doses of pain medicine to near-death hospital patients (all times local):

2:20 p.m.

An Ohio man says he was stunned to learn of allegations that his wife’s hospital death last year was caused by a doctor’s order for a fatal dose of pain medication.

David Austin, of Columbus, says he called the ambulance after his wife, Bonnie Austin, complained of trouble breathing in September.

A lawsuit alleges the 64-year-old woman was killed negligently or intentionally when she was given the painkiller fentanyl and a powerful sedative ordered by a doctor who said she was brain-dead.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Dr. William Husel (HYOO’-suhl), Mount Carmel Health System, a pharmacist and a nurse.

Austin said Wednesday he felt “like somebody kicked me in the chest” when he learned of the allegations months after his wife’s death.

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10:45 a.m.

An attorney says a second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against an Ohio doctor accused of ordering that near-death hospital patients get potentially fatal doses of pain medicine.

The Columbus-area Mount Carmel Health System announced this week it has fired the doctor, notified authorities and removed 20 employees from patient care pending review.

The new lawsuit alleges 64-year-old Bonnie Austin, of Columbus, was killed negligently or intentionally in September when she was given the painkiller fentanyl and a powerful sedative ordered by a doctor who said she was brain-dead.

The lawsuit was filed against Dr. William Husel (HYOO’-suhl), Mount Carmel, a pharmacist and a nurse.

Court records list no attorney for Husel, and phone numbers linked to him haven’t accepted calls.

Sourse: abcnews.go.com