A former nurse and paramedic now serving in the U.S. Air Force is facing military charges in connection with the deaths of three patients at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio.
Capt. Michael Fontana is accused of giving lethal medicine doses to terminally ill patients.
Fontana faces military charges of "deliberate administration of lethal amounts of medication" and "conduct unbecoming of an officer for changing a medical document," according to a news release from Randolph Air Force Base. He faces a possible court martial.
The first charge was the result of an Air Force investigation after officials said they noted irregularities in Fontana's administration of medications, according to the news release.
Investigators discovered two other potential incidents involving Fontana, and two other charges of a similar nature were filed.
An investigatory hearing, called an Article 32 hearing in the military, will be held some time in the next few weeks. At that time, an investigating officer will examine the evidence and make a recommendation to the commander regarding disposition of the case.
Officials said the hospital has been in contact with the family members of the involved patients. The families did not plan to comment publicly about the case.
