Lawsuit Planned in ‘Angel of Death’ Case

In what is thought to be the first legal action stemming from last year’s “Angel of Death” case, a lawyer filed papers Thursday declaring his intent to sue respiratory therapist Efren Saldivar and a Glendale hospital in connection with the death of a 91-year-old Los Feliz man.

Attorney Christopher Nicoll said he filed the papers on behalf of the family of John N. Schwartz, who he said died suddenly at Glendale Adventist Medical Center on May 31, 1993.

Nicoll said Schwartz’s body was disinterred last year and autopsied by the Los Angeles County medical examiner in connection with the ongoing investigation of Saldivar, who confessed to hastening the deaths of as many as 50 patients between 1989 and 1997, but later recanted.

The findings of the autopsy are under seal, Nicoll said, and investigators have declined to inform even Schwartz’s family.

Glendale Police Department spokesman Sgt. Rick Young said no tests have been done on any other bodies to search for the presence of pavulon or other drugs in connection with the criminal investigation. Saldivar has not been charged with any crime.

At the time of his initial confession, Saldivar told police he used pavulon to hasten the deaths of some of his victims. A source familiar with the investigation, however, said there is little chance of detecting the presence of drugs administered six years ago.

Alicia Gonzales, a spokeswoman for Glendale Adventist Medical Center, declined to comment.

Nicoll said the court papers filed Thursday put the hospital and California State Medical Board on notice of his intent to sue Saldivar and Glendale Adventist for malpractice.

Saldivar was dubbed the “Angel of Death” after telling police on March 11, 1998, that he committed mercy killings on terminally ill patients at Glendale Adventist. He told police he was angry at seeing patients’ lives unnecessarily prolonged.