Doctor Morphine Gets 15 Years
F A R M I N G T O N, Utah, Sept. 9 -- —A psychiatrist who killed five elderly patients by prescribing fatal morphine overdoses was sentenced to 15 years in prison, half the term he had faced.
Dr. Robert Weitzel, 44, was convicted in July of two counts ofmanslaughter and three counts of negligent homicide.
Judge Thomas Kay sentenced him Friday to two 15-year terms—onefor each manslaughter count—and three one-year terms for thenegligent homicide convictions, to be served concurrently. He facedup to 30 years in prison.
As Weitzel was led from the courtroom after his sentencing, hestopped in front of a photographer and defiantly said, “I’m notguilty.”
Weitzel caused the deaths of five patients he was treating forsenile dementia in the geriatric-psychiatric unit he ran at theDavis Hospital and Medical Center in Layton. All five died during a16-day period from December 1995 to January 1996.
During the hearing, prosecutors said Weitzel was a pompous manwho refused to consult with other doctors and ignored the law inaddition to hospital policies.
“There is no question in my mind that this was a crime ofarrogance,” said Davis County Attorney Melvin Wilson.
Easing Pain?
Weitzel’s attorneys argued during his trial that the patientswere terminally ill and he was merely trying to ease their pain intheir final moments.
Defense attorney Peter Stirba had asked Kay to impose probation,saying the case could send a negative message to doctors who areadministering to dying patients.
The judge also ordered Weitzel to pay $15,864 in restitution tovictims’ families for funeral and burial expenses. The victims wereEnnis Alldredge, 85; Ellen Anderson, 91; Mary Crane, 72; JudithLarsen, 93; and Smith, 90. All were being treated by Weitzel forsenile dementia.
In brief remarks to the court, Weitzel apologized to victims’relatives, telling them he believed his actions were “ethicallyappropriate under the circumstances.”
Popular Reads
ABC News Live