Trial for Mount Carmel doctor set to begin April 27

A trial date has been set for former Mount Carmel Health System doctor William Husel.

Husel, who is charged with 25 counts of murder, appeared before Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook on Thursday for a pretrial hearing with his criminal defense attorney, Richard Blake, and Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor James Lowe.

A trial was tentatively set for April 27. Holbrook said he expects the trial to last four to eight weeks. Given the amount of news coverage Husel’s case has received, attorneys agreed with Holbrook to put together a special questionnaire for potential jurors to receive along with their summons. The need for a larger courtroom Husel to accommodate the media, victims’ families and increased security was also discussed.

Health system officials say amount Carmel investigation showed Husel ordered excessive and potentially fatal doses of painkillers for 35 patients over about four years at the former Mount Carmel West hospital in Franklinton and Mount Carmel St. Ann’s hospital in Westerville. Mount Carmel said it did not believe the drugs caused the deaths of six of those patients.

Husel, 43,of Liberty Township near Dublin, was fired frommount Carmelin December and was charged last month. He has pleaded not guilty. Husel’slawyer has said the physician was providing comfort care to end-of-life patients and did not intend to kill anyone.

Bond had been set at $1 million, and Husel posted bond after two days in jail.