Pharmacist Agrees To Plead No Contest in Meningitis Outbreak Case

A Massachusetts pharmacist has agreed to plead no contest in a deadly meningitis outbreak case, bringing a long-awaited resolution to a tragic healthcare disaster.

At a Glance

Glenn Chin, a pharmacist, will plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges in Michigan.
The 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak sickened over 700 people in 20 states, resulting in dozens of deaths.
Chin’s plea deal includes a 7 1/2-year prison sentence, with credit for his current federal sentence.
Michigan is the only state to charge Chin and his co-defendant Barry Cadden for deaths related to the outbreak.
The outbreak was linked to contaminated steroids produced at the New England Compounding Center.

Pharmacist Accepts Plea Deal in Deadly Meningitis Outbreak Case

Glenn Chin, a Massachusetts pharmacist linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak that claimed lives across multiple states, has agreed to plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges in Michigan. This development marks a significant step towards closure for the victims and families affected by the 2012 healthcare disaster that shook the nation.

The plea deal, which includes a 7 1/2-year prison sentence, takes into account Chin’s current longer federal sentence. Chin is already serving a 10 1/2-year federal sentence for racketeering, fraud, and other crimes related to the outbreak. Due to credit for his federal sentence, it’s unlikely that Chin will serve additional time in Michigan.

Pharmacist blamed for deaths in US meningitis outbreak will plead no contest in Michigan case https://t.co/QAiz5oxLx0

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 16, 2024

The Outbreak and Its Devastating Impact

The 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak was linked to tainted epidural steroid injections produced at the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts. Over 700 people in 20 states were sickened, and dozens died due to the contaminated drugs shipped to pain clinics across the country. The outbreak caused illness in 793 people and killed 64.

While in court, Chin stated, “I am truly sorry that this ever occurred.”

Investigators discovered that the laboratory’s “clean room” was contaminated with mold, insects, and cracks. Chin was accused of disregarding sterility procedures, creating fraudulent cleaning records, and falsifying scientific testing results. The NECC was found to have shipped drugs without valid prescriptions, using fake names like “Michael Jackson” and “Homer Simpson.”

Michigan’s Pursuit of Justice

Michigan stands out as the only state to charge Chin and his co-defendant Barry Cadden for deaths related to the outbreak. Cadden, the co-founder of NECC, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in Michigan earlier this year and was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. His state sentence runs concurrently with his 14 1/2-year federal sentence, with credit for time served since 2018.

Prosecutors argued that the lab cut corners to boost profits, neglected proper disinfection, shipped drugs before test results were available, and ignored safety warnings. The charges against Chin and Cadden in Michigan were initially filed in 2018, but their cases were delayed due to federal prosecutions and other issues.

The Road to Resolution

Chin is scheduled to appear in Livingston County court next Thursday, where he is expected to formally enter his no-contest plea. This development means that a planned trial for November will be canceled. While the plea deal brings some closure to the legal proceedings, it’s important to remember the lasting impact on the victims and their families.

Many victims of the outbreak experienced severe health issues, including long hospital stays and debilitating side effects from anti-fungal medications. For some, the contaminated injections proved fatal. As this chapter in the legal saga comes to a close, it serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of maintaining strict safety and quality control measures in pharmaceutical production.