Robert Weitzel, MD
Hello, and welcome. You have found the website where the world can see medical records and legal documents regarding the five patients the state of Utah has accused Dr. Robert Weitzel of having murdered. In fact, these severely demented patients were given entirely appropriate and compassionate care. Their families were given a choice when their elder became seriously, acutely medically ill: full workup and care in the ICU, or letting nature take its course, while keeping the patient out of pain. They decided to order all medical interventions withdrawn. The patients were given moderate doses of opiate to alleviate suffering, and were never overdosed. This was then mischaracterized by county prosecutors as "active euthanasia". If not for the integrity, courage, and hard work of a few, prosecutorial misconduct would not have been discovered and the doctor would still be in prison.
The site contains many professional and lay commentaries on the care given, and on the issue of end-of-life care. We hope you will look and judge for yourself whether the charts show anything but normal medical practice. National organizations and experts have examined the records and are now backing the doctor, saying that the care was clearly within the usual standards of medical practice: was appropriate and compassionate, and certainly no crime. However, currently in the state of Utah if you give even a moderate amount of opiate to a dying patient, and that patient dies, you can be charged with murder. What doctor will be willing to face criminal prosecution in order to abide by the terms of a living will?
! A history of the legal battle that has been fought over these cases is very enlightening, and has the latest news of progress. Read this first if you want to understand the whole story.
An overview of the general care rendered in the Geriatric Psychiatry Unit is presented next.
Charts
For a brief presentation of each patient’s medical history and hospital course:
*The charts are highlighted for 1) evidence of psychiatric agitation, necessitating aggressive psychotropic use, 2) evidence of terminal status, i.e. acute and serious medical distress, and 3) evidence of pain or suffering warranting analgesics during the last, hospice-type phase of the patients' hospitalizations.
If you would like a full, bound set of the medical records, with both hand-written and transcribed notes, everything, we have a few available; contact Dr. Weitzel at the e-mail address below.
Transcripts
!!! At this time you can read the hearing testimony of Dr. Perry Fine. ("Blows the state's case out of the water!")
The trial transcripts are now available: Vols. 1-3 Vols. 4-6 Vols. 7-9 Vols. 10-13 Vols. 14-17 Vols. 18-21. Please note: these are very large files - up to 1.4 megabytes. They are being highlighted.
Decision and Order Granting New Trial (.jpg)
Press and Letters
Press Accounts of Events: Morphine Overdose Killer Gets 15 Years>> Case May Be Causing Anxiety>> Ruling Is A Relief For Weitzel>> Weitzel Won't Face Another Murder Trial>> Prosecutor Says Judge Is Biased>> Weitzel Gets Same Judge>> Rx Ruling May Affect Weitzel>> Weitzel Filings Target 4 Attorneys>> Davis Prosecutors Under Fire>> Pain Control or State Control>> Weitzel Wants Davis To Pay>> Pain Wars>> Doctors Line Up Behind Weitzel>> Prosecutors Want Judge Recused; Again>> Weitzel Resolves Drug Charges>> Weitzel Denied Private Attorney>> Appeals Court Orders 2nd Look at Judicial Bias>> Dying Aren't Well Cared For>> State Bar Backs Judge in Weitzel Case>> Weitzel Judge May Now Respond>> Judge Says Bias Charges False>> Weitzel Judge Says Bias Claims Are "Groundless">> Prosecutors Willing to Negotiate>> Weitzel Judge Ousted>> Bid to Ax Weitzel Judge Granted - Reluctantly>> Judgment On Weitzel's Judge>> Private Attorney Back on Weitzel's Defense>>
(Published) Letters to the editor: Chilling Effect>> Let Dr. Weitzel Go Free>> Doctor Did His Best>> Case Shows Need for Tender, Realistic Care>> Constitutional Rights Eroded in Weitzel Case>> Tribune Editorial Lacked Understanding>> Pursue the Weitzel Case>> Weitzel Didn't Kill Anyone>> Prosecutors Disregarded Compassionate Care>> Weitzel Honorable, Good Skier, too>> Weitzel's Patients Very Ill>> RNs Should Share Blame>> Judge Showed No Bias>> Paper Oversimplified Info>> Prosecutors Are Liars>> Weitzel Case Lacks Merit>> Weitzel Prosecutors Lied>> Time to End Weitzel Case>> Weitzel Case Pointless>> Prosecution Showed Flaws>> Don't Confirm Cassell>> "Outstanding Nominee">> Cheap Shot>> Egregious Conduct>>
Unpublished letters: Letter from Texas>> Letter from North Dakota>> Letter from Utah>> Letter from Washington>> Letter from Indiana>> Letter from France>> Letter from California>> Letter from Kentucky>>
Physician Support
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons support: See the AAPS rebuttal of the state's lawyers>> AAPS letter to Utah physicians>> Amicus Brief - AAPS>> UMA letter vs AAPS survey>> AAPS letter rebutting Buhman letter>>
Physician support: Neurologist's letter>> Oncologist's letter>> Neurosurgeon's letter>> E-mail with Dr. Hochman>> Anesthesiologist's letter>> Pathologist's letter>> Urologist's letter>> Separating Death From Agony>>
Other groups: Amicus Brief - Compassion in Dying Federation>> New Mexico Att'y General speaks out>> Minister's letter>>
Facts: Opiate Myths>> More Myths>> Criminal Act or Palliative Care?>> Merck Manual>> The Double Effect of Pain Medication - Separating Myth from Reality>> Separating Death From Agony>> Establishing a Right to Palliative Care>> Skimping on elderly's pain drugs 'like torture'>> Persistent Pain in Nursing Home Residents>> Facts on Dying - Utah>>
??? Frequently asked questions - FAQ's
Legal Briefs: Brief on Motion for New Trial>> Decision and Order Granting New Trial>>(.jpg) Brief on Witness Tampering >> Brief on Recusal of the Trial Judge>> Brief on Double Jeopardy>> Brief on Retaining Private Attorney>> Judge West's Decision, Refusing Recusal>>(.jpg) !!! Affidavit of Judge Kay>>(.jpg) !!! Judge West's Decision Recusing Kay>>(.jpg)
What you can do:
If you wish to donate to the legal defense fund to defray Dr. Weitzel's legal bills (at this point, though $111,500 has been raised and spent, we estimate it will take another $18,500 for the pending actions), please send contributions to:
Weitzel Legal Defense Fund
9 Exchange Place, Suite 1000
Salt Lake City UT 84111
If you are a physician, have seen the charts, and agree the care is standard, please contact the media: Stephen Hunt ( shunt@sltrib.com ), Reporter, (or James Shelledy, Editor), Salt Lake Tribune, 143 S. Main, SLC UT 84111; Linda Thomson ( lindat@desnews.com ), Reporter, Deseret News, Box 1257, SLC UT 84110; or Nesreen Khashan ( nkhashan@standard.net ), Reporter, Ogden Standard Examiner, Layton Bureau, 2146 N. Main, Layton UT 84041. If you are a member of the lay public, your input is important, too; please write. Alternatively, contact the national media; let them know what's happening in Utah!
Better yet, mail a letter to the editor, via e-mail, to one or all of the Utah papers: Letters@sltrib.com Letters@desnews.com Letters@standard.net (If you wish to send a hard copy letter: Letters to the Editor; Salt Lake Tribune; 143 S. Main; SLC UT 84111. Letters to the Editor; Deseret News; Box 1257; SLC UT 84110. Letters to the Editor; Standard Examiner; Box 12790; Ogden UT 84412). Send me a copy!
You can contact Dr. Weitzel directly at: raw1md@msn.com.
Thank you!
"We must all die. But that I can save him from days of torture, that is what I feel as my great and ever new privilege. Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself."
-- Albert Schweitzer, 1931.
"It is a capital mistake to theorize
before one has data. Insensibly one
begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit
facts."
-- Sherlock
Holmes