Woman propped up to look alive for family after already being declared dead at Adena Hospital, records show

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A recent incident at Adena Health System has intensified scrutiny of its cardiology department. A 65-year-old woman died during what should have been a routine heart catheterization, leading to pressing questions about the practices and credentials of the physicians involved. What happened after her time of death is concerning.

The patient, whose identity has been withheld, reportedly walked into Adena in good health but never left. Sources within the hospital indicate Dr. Jarrod Betz, a cardiologist who had previously faced questions over his credentials, cut an artery during the procedure. Although Dr. Betz allegedly believed the situation was under control, the patient was later discovered to be still bleeding while in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

A second cardiologist, Dr. Atiq Rehman, was called in to address the situation. The patient was taken back into surgery but died during the procedure under Dr. Rehman’s care, medical records show.

Adding to the controversy, there appear to be discrepancies between hospital records and the death certificate regarding the time of death. While medical records reportedly indicate a 1:00 p.m. time of death, the death certificate states 3:05 p.m. The patient’s family was ushered in at 3:05 pm, with Dr. Rehman urging them to make an immediate decision to pull the patient from life support. The inconsistency has led to questions about the exact circumstances surrounding the patient’s death — that her body was propped up to look alive for her family — with questions surrounding why she was put on a ventilator to stage a “fake alive” pose when medical records show she had been declared dead two hours prior.

Previous concerns about Dr. Betz include allegations of lacking proper credentials, with more than 31 individuals reportedly coming forward to support such claims. Investigations by NBC4, Becker’s Review, and the Guardian this year sought to shed light on these concerns.

In light of the recent incident and past allegations, current and former patients and their families are sharing their experiences and raising questions about the department’s safety and oversight. The unfortunate incident brings into focus the broader safety and professional standards at Adena’s cardiology department. An anonymous nurse involved in the case suggested that the deceased patient might not have needed the procedure in the first place.

Further concerns have arisen regarding Dr. Rehman. Separate allegations made by colleagues indicate that he and another physician, Dr. Matos Cruz, were observed watching YouTube videos on medical procedures they were unfamiliar with. One patient reportedly died after such a procedure, while another had to undergo three additional procedures at Ohio State University, according to families connected to the procedures.

The patient’s family has requested an independent autopsy, noting potential conflicts of interest with Ross County Coroner Ben Trotter, who is an employee of Adena.

Adena Health System has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.