Donna Kruzich, a 78-year-old Michigan woman, passed away after receiving a tainted steroid injection in 2012. She was one of 64 individuals who died due to corrupted steroids from the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts. Barry Cadden, the operator of the facility, is facing sentencing for involuntary manslaughter in Michigan court. Following the injection for back pain, Donna Kruzich traveled to Canada, but her health quickly deteriorated upon her return, and she succumbed to meningitis by early October.
Barry Cadden, the former operator of the New England Compounding Center, is serving a 14 1/2-year sentence for federal crimes related to the deadly outbreak of fungal infections caused by tainted steroids. He is returning to a Michigan court to be sentenced for his involvement in the involuntary manslaughter of at least 64 individuals. Cadden recently pleaded no contest to 11 counts of involuntary manslaughter in Michigan but will not face additional time in custody beyond his federal sentence. This outcome disappoints the son of Donna Kruzich, who believes Cadden should go to trial.
Family members of the victims supported the plea agreement of Barry Cadden in Michigan court, which guaranteed a minimum of 10 years of prison time. Attorney General Dana Nessel stated that the agreement provided closure and justice for the families. While Cadden expressed remorse for the suffering caused during his federal trial, Glenn Chin, a key employee at the New England Compounding Center, has not made a similar plea deal. Chin faces 11 second-degree murder charges in Michigan court. Compounding pharmacies are crucial in the healthcare system as they produce custom medications not available from major drug manufacturers, catering to specific patient needs.
In 2012, the New England Compounding Center was distributing pain-relieving steroids to clinics across the U.S., including the one Donna Kruzich visited in Michigan. However, the facility was poorly maintained and contaminated, leading to the growth of mold in the production process. Prosecutors accused Barry Cadden of prioritizing profits over safety and making negligent decisions that resulted in the tainted steroids responsible for numerous deaths. While crime victims can speak in Michigan courts, Michael Kruzich, Donna’s son, expressed his disappointment in the justice system for failing to adequately hold accountable those responsible for his mother’s death. He highlighted the impact of justice failing the victims beyond the act of killing them.
