Franklin Judge Michael Holbrook instructed the panel to try again to reach a verdict in Dr. William Husel is accused of ordering too many painkillers, which led to the deaths in the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus.
Prosecutors claim that Husel ordered painkillers for non-surgical situations, which was illegal regardless of the patient’s death.
Husel’s lawyers argued that Husel was providing comfort care to dying patients and not trying to kill them. During closing arguments, Husel’s defense attorney stated that there was no evidence that would prove his murder claims.
The judge informed jurors that they could consider lesser charges of attempted killing before deliberations started last week. He also denied a last minute motion to declare a mistrial.
The trial featured 53 witnesses from prosecution, including Mount Carmel employees, medical experts, investigators and relatives of the 14 patients.
Husel’s defense team summoned a single witness, a Georgian anesthesiologist, to testify that Husel’s patients died due to their medical conditions and not Husel’s actions.
Husel took care of Helen Young’s 46-year-old husband.
“He said, ‘Mr. Young’s kidneys have been destroyed. His lungs have been destroyed. He’s brain dead.’ I asked him how it happened at once. “I said, ‘How did all that happen at once?’ Young stated to CBS News in 2019.
