A former executive of a specialty pharmacy in Michigan, Barry Cadden, was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for the deaths of 11 people who were injected with tainted pain medication during a meningitis outbreak in 2012. Cadden’s sentence for involuntary manslaughter will be served concurrently with his current 14 1/2-year federal sentence for crimes related to the outbreak, meaning he is not expected to spend any additional time behind bars. This decision was met with disappointment from the relatives of the victims, who expressed their pain and loss in court.
Livingston County Judge Matthew McGivney presided over the sentencing and remarked that Cadden’s actions had altered the lives of the victims’ families, robbing them of time with their loved ones. The tainted steroids shipped by Cadden’s pharmacy, New England Compounding Center, led to more than 700 people in 20 states becoming sick with meningitis or other debilitating illnesses, resulting in at least 64 deaths. Michigan has been the only state to prosecute Cadden and a senior pharmacist, Glenn Chin, for any deaths related to the outbreak, shedding light on the severity of the situation.
Compounding pharmacies like Cadden’s create versions of medications that may not be available through larger drug manufacturers. However, investigations revealed that Cadden’s lab was in a state of disarray, leading to the growth of mold in the manufacturing process. Judge McGivney emphasized that Cadden was aware of the risks he was exposing innocent patients to but chose to prioritize profits over lives. Cadden did not speak in court, and a presentence officer noted his lack of remorse during the interview process.
Relatives of the victims shared their stories in court, expressing their grief, anger, and disappointment over the impact of Cadden’s actions. One woman had to sell her home after her husband died due to the tainted medication, attributing his death to Cadden’s greed. Another woman described how her mother’s life was forever changed after falling ill from the medication. These emotional testimonies highlighted the lasting effects of Cadden’s negligence on the victims and their families, seeking closure and justice for their loved ones.
Glenn Chin, the senior pharmacist charged alongside Cadden, still faces a second-degree murder case that is pending. He has not reached a plea deal with state prosecutors and is scheduled to return to court in May. Meanwhile, he is serving a federal sentence of 10 1/2 years. The outcome of his case will determine further accountability for the roles played by individuals in the compounding pharmacy that caused widespread harm and loss in 2012. The victims and their families continue to seek justice and closure in the aftermath of this tragic event.
