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00000178-73c0-ddab-a97a-7bf830af0000From debate over childhood vaccinations to the changing business of hospital finance, IPR has the stories of hospitals and public health that affect northern Michigan.

Murder charges for distributors of tainted steroid shots

Criminal charges have been filed in federal court in Massachusetts, following an outbreak of fungal meningitis that hit Michigan in 2012.

Most people charged worked at New England Compounding Center, a shuttered pharmacy in Boston that sold steroid shots that infected people nationwide.

The tainted shots were sent to a few clinics in Michigan, including one in Traverse City.

There are 131 federal charges in the indictment, including second-degree murder and racketeering. It alleges employees failed to use proper procedures to ensure drugs were sterilized and that they conspired to cover up problems.

Some of the charges carry a maximum punishment of life in prison.

The company went bankrupt after the outbreak of fungal meningitis. A long line of victims has formed to receive compensation.

Mark Dancer is a Traverse City attorney who represents 80 people in Michigan who became sick or died. He says a key aspect of the criminal case for his clients will be seizing any assets held by individuals, since the number of people who deserve restitution is so large.

“I will tell you the pool of money in the bankruptcy proceeding is not nearly enough for all the carnage that happened,” says Dancer.

Peter Payette is the Executive Director of Interlochen Public Radio.