The Nation - News from Dec. 29, 1985

Navy officials said that Cmdr. Donal M. Billig will face a general court-martial in the deaths of five patients on whom he performed heart surgery. They said that Billig, 54, will be tried next month on five counts of involuntary manslaughter and 24 counts of dereliction of duty in the deaths, at Bethesda Naval Hospital near Washington. Billig was chief of head and chest surgery, and the trial is expected to examine practices at the hospital as well as Billig’s competence.