The case of a former Air Force nurse, accused of killing patients at Wilford Hall, went to trial Tuesday afternoon.
Captain Michael Fontana was assigned to the 59th medical wing in 2008.
That's when he was accused of giving three end-of-life patients excessive medication causing their deaths.
In opening statements Tuesday, the prosecution said it will prove each patient was given excessive doses of medication, those doses were given by Capt. Fontana, and that those doses resulted in a quicker death for each of the patients.
The defense said in opening statements that Capt. Fontana is a dedicated, experienced nurse who only intended to provide comfort for these three patients
The defense said this was a case of “hot potato” and Capt. Fontana, being the last one with these patients, is getting the blame for what the defense called a failure of leadership and sloppy practices at Wilford Hall.
