Fired Mount Carmel doctor William Husel posted bond Friday, a few days after being charged with 25 counts of murder. Bond was set at $1 million.
Husel is accused of giving "excessive" doses of painkillers to dozens of patients while working as an ICU doctor and anesthesiologist.
Husel surrendered to Columbus Police on Wednesday morning, and spent two days in jail before posting bail.
At his arraignment Wednesday, Husel's lawyer Richard Blake asked for a lower bail, arguing Husel was not a danger to others nor was he a flight risk.
“At no time did Dr. Husel ever intend to euthanize anyone – euthanize meaning speed up death,” Blake said. “At no time did he have any intention of doing that.”
Husel faces 15 years to life for each individual murder charge. He pleaded not guilty on all charges.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien says his office, the cold case unit of the Columbus Division of Police and medical experts found Husel’s actions prematurely ended the lives of his patients.
“I likened it to the burning down of a candle,” O’Brien said at a Wednesday news conference. “That candle, while there may just be a half an inch of wax left, if I blow that candle out I’m causing that flame to go out sooner than it would naturally.”
The criminal investigation began last December, when Mount Carmel fired Husel and reported him to the prosecutor’s office. Since then, the hospital identified 34 patients who were given excessive doses of fentanyl at Husel’s orders over a five-year period.
Husel and Mount Carmel have been named in at least 24 wrongful death lawsuits. Husel is also being investigated by the State Medical Board.
If you have information to share about the Mount Carmel investigation, please contact WOSU at paige.pfleger@wosu.org.
