{"id":868,"date":"2009-03-23T19:21:08","date_gmt":"2009-03-24T00:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/johntedesco.net\/blog\/?p=868"},"modified":"2017-09-05T21:25:19","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T02:25:19","slug":"a-primer-on-michael-fontana-a-nurse-accused-of-killing-three-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/johntedesco.net\/blog\/2009\/03\/23\/a-primer-on-michael-fontana-a-nurse-accused-of-killing-three-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"A primer on Michael Fontana, a nurse accused of killing three patients"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MichaelLast week military reporter Scott Huddleston and I covered the story of Capt. Michael Fontana, a nurse who has been charged by the Air Force of killing three patients at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio.<\/p>\n

This is Military City, USA, and there’s lots of interest in the case and concern<\/a> about it. Here are links to official sources, and stories by the San Antonio Express-News and other media:<\/p>\n

  • \nThe Air Force issued a press release announcing the charges against Fontana. At this point, this is the only document about the case that has been released by the military.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
  • \nThis is our first story<\/a> about the patient deaths and the charges against Fontana. \u201cAs far as we can tell, he’s been an exemplary nurse,\u201d said Dave Smith, public affairs chief for the Air Education and Training Command at Randolph AFB.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
  • \nThis story by the Austin American-Statesman detailed the case<\/a> and disclosed Fontana’s past job as a paramedic in Austin, where he didn’t generate any complaints.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
  • \nOur follow-up story<\/a> identified one of the likely patients who had been treated by Fontana. Her name was Dorothy Gray, a 74-year-old stroke victim from Natalia, Texas. According to an autopsy report, Gray died from “intoxication” of morphine, a painkiller, and lorazepam, a sleep-aid, which caused complications to Gray’s health and led to her death.<\/p>\n

    The story was based on an autopsy report and an investigation report by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s office. Gray’s death was ruled a homicide.<\/p>\n

    Gray’s family declined to be interviewed. Her obituary described her as a charming woman who wasn’t originally from Texas, but who often said she got here as fast as she could.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \nA story by WOAI<\/a> followed up our article by interviewing residents in Natalia who knew Dorothy Gray.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
  • \nA story by the Austin American-Statesman<\/a> delved deeper into Fontana’s work history and found numerous commendations for his past efforts to save his patients.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

    I’ll post more links in the coming weeks. Feel free to contact me<\/a> if you have information about the case.<\/p>\n