Grieving family speaking out as investigation continues into Mt Carmel doctor

The family of James “Nick” Timmons has not filed a lawsuit yet, but they are talking about their plans moving forward. Timmons’ brother was called just after Christmas to inform him his brother’s death was under investigation with other patients who were treated by now fired Dr. William Husel.

Timmons’ brother Lynn Marshall talked with reporters Friday along with his lawyer Craig Tuttle. The 39-year-old Timmons, a construction worker, leaves behind a son who attends high school in Hilliard. Marshall said his brother was hard working and was loved dearly.

Documents show that Dr. William Husel ordered ten times the recommended amount of the pain killer Fentanyl, along with two other strong pain medications for Timmons in October.

“Nick was given a 1000 microgram dose of Fentanyl, ordered by Dr. Husel at 3 am October 24th. He was pronounced dead 13 minutes later. At the same time, he was given the Fentanyl, he was also given IV Delodid, another opioid as well as IV Versed,” Tuttle said.

“Just bringing it back up and making me have to re-live all that again and finding out that maybe a doctor killed him. He didn’t die on his own. It was tragic for me again,” Marshall said.

Marshall said he can’t believe Husel and the nurses and pharmacists weren’t caught before this. “We have extreme concerns with their involvement , their decision making, their inability to intervene in stopping something they should have known was not appropriate,” Tuttle said.

“For Dr. Husel, I just pray that he can’t do this to anybody else.

I will forgive him one day but right now is not that day,” Marshall said.

Tuttle said his client’s case may have triggered the investigation by administrators, but they did not immediately suspend Husel.

“When we heard that the hospital was made aware by a report in late October, there was some sense of comfort or optimism that maybe Nick’s death went for some good and triggered somebody to stop this.

So to learn this week, confirm this week that wasn’t the case has been very tough on Lynn and frankly on us. This has been very frustrating to learn that something should have been done sooner. something to prevent at least three more deaths that we know of.”

“I am really shocked that it’s happened this many times. It hasn’t been caught yet, you know, until now,” Marshall said of the 34 patients who are part of the growing investigation now. To their families, Marshall said, “Hang in there. Be there for each other, and hopefully they can get through it, it sucks some of these families are four years back and they have to relive this stuff. In this process they are going to have to deal with it for a while. They need to be strong and get through it.”

“Now that I see it and I have to pretty much relive it every day that is probably the hardest part,” Marshall said. “Knowing that he died with the help of a doctor that is supposed to save his life, well, it bothers me.”

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