Scrubs and Secrets

David Kwiatkowski was a traveling radiology technician whose fentanyl addiction led to one of the largest healthcare-associated hepatitis C outbreaks in U.S. history. After diverting patients' pain medication and replacing it with contaminated syringes, he infected dozens of people while moving between hospitals across multiple states.In this episode, we uncover how the scheme worked, the investigation that finally exposed it, and the patient safety failures that allowed it to continue for years.Listener discretion is advised.Sources:Sources 14NH186 9/4/14 14-cv-9-SM Exeter Hospital v. Kwiatkowski, et al.‘Serial Infector’ Gets 39 Years for Hepatitis C Outbreak — FBIDistrict of New Hampshire | Former Employee Of Exeter Hospital Sentenced In Connection With Widespread Hepatitis C Outbreak | United States Department of Justicehttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/plea-deal-of-lab-tech-linked-to-hepatitis-c-outbreak-reveals-more-past-details/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hospital-technician-to-plead-guilty-in-hepatitis-c-outbreak/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lab-tech-pleads-guilty-to-causing-nh-hepatitis-c-outbreak/N.H. Patients Seek Accountability In Hepatitis Case | WBUR NewsNew Hampshire hospital employee charged with infecting patients with hepatitis C worked in Ann ArborLab tech accused in hepatitis C outbreak fired by Ariz. hospital in 2010 over drugs - CBS NewsTech may have infected patients with Hepatitis C in as many as eight states, officials confirm - CBS NewsKwiatkowski's history as a med tech shows flaws in systemWhen Drug Addicts Work in Hospitals, No One is Safe - NewsweekExeter Hospital v. Kwiatkowski, et al. 14-cv-9-SM 10/31/16Man who infected 46 patients with hepatitis C denied release | AP NewsDistrict of New Hampshire | Former Exeter Hospital Employee's Request for Compassionate Release From 39-Year Sentence Denied | United States Department of Justice

Efren Saldivar was a California respiratory therapist whose patients appeared to die at unusually high rates for years before suspicions finally reached law enforcement. Known as the “Angel of Death,” Saldivar later confessed to multiple killings, raising difficult questions about patient safety, hospital oversight, and how warning signs can be missed in critical care environments.Sources: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/visibleproofs/galleries/cases/saldivar_image_5.htmlhttps://www.llnl.gov/article/27401/fsc-analysis-may-seal-angels-fatehttps://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/saldivar-efren.htmhttps://www.oxygen.com/license-to-kill/crime-time/efren-saldivar-respiratory-therapist-magic-syringe-murdershttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/11/duncancampbellhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/03/30/calif-police-draw-up-list-of-possible-patient-victims/ddf1a415-a72f-4a18-8e29-eda6fdb5a123/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hospital-worker-admits-40-50-killings/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/angel-of-death-pleads-guilty/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/angel-of-death-to-be-arraigned/https://crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/angels/efren_saldivar/

Imagine waking up from major cardiac surgery, groggy but filled with relief. You are weak, entirely dependent on the medical professionals moving quietly around your bed. Then, someone approaches. You expect a soothing word or a routine check. Instead, a sense of confusion and alarm takes hold as a devastating betrayal occurs within the very space meant for your recovery. In those final moments, a profound vulnerability is exploited by a person sworn to care for you. This is the story of the lives lost and injured by former nurse William George Davis.Sources EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW: East Texas nurse arrested for murder of decorated Army veteranDay 3: Security camera footage shows William Davis enter patient’s roomFormer East Teas nurse sentenced for murdering 4 patients | cbs19.tvWILLIAM DAVIS SENTENCING DAY 2: Agent says Davis researched serial killers on laptopWILLIAM DAVIS SENTENCING DAY 3: Phone call shows Davis admitting to ‘prolonging’ patient hospital staysWILLIAM DAVIS SENTENCING DAY 4: Davis’ brother, high school coach among witnesses defense callshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfPIbSB1wmEhttps://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/william-davis-sentencing-day-3-alleged-victims-take-the-stand-and-recorded-phone-call-between-davis-and-former-wife/501-6d666cea-5937-47ea-b42a-2b8f8c2e254dhttps://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2026/ap-77-106.htmlhttps://www.kltv.com/2021/10/22/william-davis-sentencing-day-3-first-witness-day-called-testify/https://www.valleycentral.com/news/state-news/former-nurse-said-in-phone-call-to-ex-wife-after-verdict-that-he-wanted-patients-in-the-icu-longer-so-he-could-make-more-money/https://tylerpaper.com/2021/10/22/convicted-former-nurses-alleged-victims-testify-about-challenges-following-brain-damage/https://www.kltv.com/2021/10/07/murder-trial-day-8-son-alleged-davis-victim-testifies-fathers-surgery-death/https://tylerpaper.com/2021/10/26/families-of-victims-davis-speak-as-punishment-phase-in-former-nurses-trial-nears-close/https://www.kltv.com/2021/10/06/murder-trial-day-7-daughter-alleged-davis-victim-testifies-fathers-death/https://www.kltv.com/2021/10/05/murder-trial-day-6-testimony-continues-trial-william-davis/https://www.kltv.com/2021/10/04/tyler-nurse-trial-day-5-christus-employee-testified-she-felt-something-was-not-right-after-seeing-security-camera-video/https://www.kltv.com/2021/10/20/punishment-phase-begins-trial-william-davis/https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/death_row/dr_info/daviswilliamgeorge.html

Christopher Duntsch was a neurosurgeon whose patients trusted him with their lives. In less than two years, dozens were left seriously injured and two died following surgeries he performed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.In this episode, we explore Duntsch's rise through medical training, the devastating patient outcomes that earned him the nickname "Dr. Death," the hospital and regulatory failures that allowed him to continue operating, and the landmark criminal case that ultimately led to a life sentence.Listener Discretion Advised: This episode contains discussions of medical negligence, severe injury, and death.Sources: https://www.tdcaa.com/journal/taking-down-dr-death/ https://www.murdermayhem.uk/p/the-horrific-story-of-dr-death-who https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2016/november/christopher-duntsch-dr-death/

In this episode of Scrubs & Secrets, we examine the case of Elizabeth Wettlaufer, a Canadian nurse who admitted to murdering elderly patients in long-term care homes using insulin overdoses.Between 2007 and 2016, Wettlaufer killed eight residents and attempted to harm several others while working in Ontario care facilities. The case raised major concerns about patient safety, medication oversight, and failures within the long-term care system.** TRIGGER WARNING**This case involves medical-related fatalities, patient harm, and the abuse of vulnerable individuals in healthcare setting. Listener discretion is advised. Sources https://www.scribd.com/document/381076939/Transcript-of-Interview-With-Elizabeth-Wettlauferhttps://www.scribd.com/document/350113012/Elizabeth-Wettlaufer-Agreed-statement-of-factshttps://www.scribd.com/document/350113013/Elizabeth-Wettlaufer-CAMH-handwritten-confession#from_embedhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/wettlaufer-confessed-to-smothering-patient-1.5009742https://www.ontario.ca/files/2022-02/mag-ltci-final-report-volume-2-en-2022-02-24.pdfhttps://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/elizabeth-wettlaufer-casehttps://www.oxygen.com/living-with-a-serial-killer/crime-news/canadian-serial-killer-nurse-elizabeth-wettlaufer-what-tohttps://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/01/531061749/in-canada-ex-nurse-pleads-guilty-to-murdering-8-nursing-home-patientshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/nursing-home-victims-1.3824781https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/elizabeth-wettlaufer-victims-murder-1.4997891

*TRIGGER WARNING*This case involves medical-related fatalities, patient harm, and the abuse of vulnerable individuals in a healthcare setting. Listener discretion is advised.In this episode, we examine the case of Lucy Letby, a former neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital in England, who was convicted in 2023 of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.We also discuss ongoing public debate around aspects of the medical interpretation, expert testimony, and how complex clinical patterns are evaluated in both medicine and law.Sources:https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/oct/24/lucy-letby-inquiry-character-missed-opportunities-staff-shortages#:~:text=In%20April%202016%2C%20Letby%20gave,contacted%20in%20April%20that%20year.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-65058159https://nypost.com/2023/08/19/colleagues-of-convicted-killer-nurse-lucy-letby-had-to-apologize-for-warning-hospital-about-her-report/https://triedbystats.com/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/05/20/lucy-letby-was-found-guilty-of-killing-seven-babies-did-she-do-ithttps://news.northeastern.edu/2026/02/03/lucy-letby-netflix/https://lucyletbyinnocence.com/transcripts.htmlhttps://news.sky.com/story/lucy-letby-trial-latest-nurse-baby-murders-prosecution-sky-news-blog-12868375?postid=6019774#liveblog-body https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-64813893 https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/national/23732584.prosecution-defence-said-child-lucy-letby-trial/https://www.biography.com/crime/a70177725/where-is-lucy-letby-now-life-in-prison 

Kimberly Saenz now sits in prison for the rest of her life after injecting her patients with bleach at a dialysis center in April 2008. *TRIGGER WARNING*This case involves medical-related fatalities, patient harm, and the abuse of vulnerable individuals in a healthcare setting. Listener discretion is advised. THANK YOU - to all our loved ones who have been supporting us as we start this podcast. Thank you for being excited with us! Shout out and a huge THANK YOU to Oj Aguilar for all the help and advice. Sourceshttps://law.justia.com/cases/texas/fourth-court-of-appeals/2014/04-12-00238-cr.htmlhttps://www.ktre.com/story/29885248/fourth-court-of-appeals-upholds-kimberly-saenz-capital-murder-conviction/#https://tcadp.org/2012/04/03/angelina-county-rejects-death-penalty-for-kimberly-saenz/https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/txe/News/2012/edtx-saenz-040912.htmlhttps://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/viewDetail.action?sid=04880013https://www.ktre.com/story/23051141/local-author-reveals-the-truth-behind-lufkins-killer-nurse/#https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nightmare-nurse-poisonous-injections-could-net-death-penalty/