Prosecutor says ex-Air Force nurse killed 3 patients because they didn’t die ‘quickly enough’

Lawyer: Ex-Air Force nurse sped patients’ deaths

SAN ANTONIO — A prosecutor has told a court martial that a former Air Force nurse killed three terminally ill patients with excessive medication because they were not dying quickly enough.

Capt. Michael Fontana could face life in prison if he is convicted of murder.

During closing arguments Saturday at Lackland Air Force Base, Capt. Brett Landry said Fontana encouraged other nurses at Wilford Hall Medical Center to be more “aggressive” when treating patients placed on do-not-resuccitate orders. He accused the nurse of euthanizing one man because “he wasn’t dying quickly enough.”

Attorneys for Fontana said the dosages fell within Air Force guidelines, and that Wilford Hall doctors gave only vague orders.