Hootan C. Roozrokh is an American surgeon with a medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin who also trained at Stanford University. He was accused of hastening the death of a patient in order to harvest his organs for transplant in February, 2006. Although no organs were harvested, Roozrokh went to trial in 2008.
Prosecutors allege that 25-year-old patient Ruben Navarro was prescribed excessive doses of medication by Dr. Roozrokh at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles on February 3 2006. Navarro, who had cerebral palsy and seizures, weighed about 80 pounds at the time. He had also been born with a neurological disorder known as adrenoleukodystrophy. Roozokh's presence as a transplant surgeon in the room of a still-living donor violated organ donation protocols.
The preliminary hearing continued in the week of March 3, 2008. At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing March 19, 2008, the judge dropped two charges but bound Roozrokh over for trial April 2, 2008 on one felony charge of abuse of a dependent adult adult. If convicted, Roozrokh could face up to eight years in prison.
Reuben's mother, Rosa Navarro, filed civil lawsuits against the doctor and the hospital. The denied liability but agreed to settle. Her against Roozrokh had not been resolved as of the start of his criminal trial.
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