Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz Jr. has been arrested after an investigation into doped IV bags at a local surgery clinic connected the anesthesiologist to several medical emergencies and at least one death.
Kristin Lowman, the public information officer for the Dallas Police Department, told The Dallas Express, “I can confirm he was taken into custody by DPD.”
On September 2, The Dallas Express broke the news that Dr. Ortiz had practiced at the Baylor Scott & White Surgicare in North Dallas, which shut down because of the investigation. Another anesthesiologist who worked there recently died due to the toxic effects of bupivacaine. She had self-administered an IV bag from the center, and her death is under investigation.
On Friday, September 9, the Texas Medical Board suspended Dr. Ortiz’s license after federal investigators presented video surveillance and other evidence that suggested he had doped IV bags before placing them outside of operating rooms.
When these tainted bags were administered, they reportedly caused multiple patients to suffer medical emergencies.
The medical board indicated it had first become aware of Dr. Ortiz’s connection to the Surgicare center and related medical emergencies after “news media” reported it on September 2, which is when The Dallas Express broke the story.
Dr. Ortiz has been repeatedly accused of domestic violence and was previously convicted of animal cruelty. As recently as August 2022, however, the Texas Medical Board claimed that Dr. Ortiz had “rehabilitative potential and present value to the community.”
Baylor Scott & White told The Dallas Express that “Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz was no longer a member of the medical staff of Surgicare North Dallas at the time the Texas Medical Board suspended his license.”
A spokesperson for the North Texas office of the U.S. Department of Justice told The Dallas Express that Dr. Ortiz had been served with a federal warrant but that no further information could be disclosed at this time.
Dr. Ortiz is currently being held at the Dallas County jail. No bail has been set yet.
Note: This article was updated on September 14 at 5:51 p.m. to include additional information.
