Coffee Poisoning Leads to Assault Charges of Prominent Doctor
Dr. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo was arrested and charged with aggravated assault against coworker Dr. George Blumenschein. The two were reportedly in a "casual sexual relationship," according to one report. Gonzalez-Angulo is free on $50,000 bail but will face charges at a later time.
Blumenschein suffered renal failure and is still being treated for it. He reportedly complained that the coffee Gonzalez-Angulo made him tasted too sweet; she admitted to having added Splenda, a natural sweetener, and told him to finish his drink. She then made him another cup of the same drink, which also tasted sweet.
Within hours, Blumenschein began experiencing slurred speech, poor balance, and a loss of his motor skills. Friends rushed him to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with central nervous system failure, cardiopulmonary complications and renal failure. He later had to undergo dialysis treatment to help flush his system and give his kidneys a rest.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Doctors ran blood tests and a urine test, which revealed crystals consistent with ethylene glycol poisoning. The compound is found in antifreeze and can cause death if left untreated or undiagnosed.
Gonzalez-Angulo was arrested and charged with aggravated assault but released on $50,000 bail. Her lawyer, Derek S. Hollingsworth, has vehemently denied all charges against his client.
"These allegations are totally inconsistent with her personal and professional life. Although I have all the respect in the world for law enforcement, it is clear to me that the University of Texas Police Department jumped the gun in this case and filed charges that should never have been filed. We now have met with the Harris County District Attorney's Office several times and we have been assured that they are going to take a fresh and careful look at this case," Hollingsworth said in an email to CNN.
Gonzalez-Angulo has been placed on paid administrative leave while all of the legal issues get worked out. She was recently featured in the Komen for the Cure series "A Day in the Life."
