Convicted serial killer Charles Cullen was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 22 patients in his care. The former nurse is believed to have killed as many as 40 patients while working at hospitals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, using lethal injections of the heart medication digoxin to kill his victims.
Despite growing evidence of his crimes, Cullen was able to move from hospital to hospital for years, as higher ups chose not to take action for fear of creating a scandal. New Jersey and Pennsylvania have since passed shield laws that protect healthcare providers that report employees suspected of crimes. The judge in the case ordered 11 consecutive life terms, meaning he will not be eligible for parole for over 400 years.
- see this article [1] from The Washington Post
Links:
[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/03/AR2006030300220_2.html