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Jack Adlerstein, who was 18 at the time of the incident, testified that he had what was supposed to be a two-hour nose surgery in August 2022 at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare in North Dallas, according to FOX4. The surgery was for a simple broken nose sustained in a motorbike accident, but the ordeal ended with him waking up nearly 36 hours later in a different hospital, unable to breathe or move, the result of cardiac arrest.
Now, Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz stands accused of contaminating the teen's IV bag. Testimony also included the husband of a deceased doctor who reportedly suffered a similar ordeal from an IV bag.
The Adlerstein family, after testifying in the federal courthouse in Downtown Dallas, recounted the traumatic experience. Adlerstein described feeling "out of it" and fearing for his life upon waking up in the ICU.
Dr. Thomas Hung, Adlerstein's surgeon, testified that complications arose during the surgery, including excessive bleeding and foaming at the mouth, after a new IV bag was introduced mid-procedure. He recounted how switching the IV bags led to stabilization.
During cross-examination, Ortiz's defense team raised questions about Adlerstein's medical history, specifically his previously diagnosed high blood pressure. However, Dr. Hung stated that the teen's medications did not raise any concerns prior to surgery.
Earlier in the trial, the husband of an anesthesiologist who died after using a tainted IV bag testified, expressing regret over not removing the bag immediately upon his wife's distress.
The trial is set to continue into next week, with proceedings scheduled to resume Thursday morning with further testimony from Dr. Hung.
