Opinion ID: 322648
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Proceedings Before the Grand Jury.

Text: 23 The proof shows that the death or possible death of persons who had received Abbott's intravenous solutions was mentioned before the grand jury in three separate instances. The first was during the examination of preliminary witnesses, and the last was during the prosecutor's discussion of the recommended indictment. No transcript for these instances is in the record or available, and further details cannot be stated. 24 The second instance was during the interrogation of Robert O'Donnell, Abbott's Director of Quality Assurance, who was named as a defendant in the indictment subsequently returned. Mr. O'Donnell was questioned about an investigation conducted by Abbott in a Detroit hospital which purportedly exculpated Abbott or seriously questioned the findings of CDC. He was asked if that hospital had 'had a couple of dead bodies . . . from Abbott I. V. solutions,' and O'Donnell said that he could not recall. He was then questioned about certain Detroit newspaper accounts concerning hospital deaths resulting from tainted bottle caps, in an effort to refresh his recollection. Finally, he was asked if his investigator had said that the Detroit newspaper was 'crazy as bedbugs' when it reported deaths in Detroit from the use of Abbott solutions. Mr. O'Donnell denied the statement by the investigator. 25