ST. LOUIS – A Missouri surgeon who participated in dozens of state executions until he was barred by a federal judge concerned about his dyslexia and lack of expertise is aiding in federal executions, court records show.
Last year, U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. ruled that Dr. Alan Doerhoff of Jefferson City could not participate "in any manner, at any level, in the State of Missouri's lethal injection process."
Doerhoff was the target of more than 20 malpractice suits and was reprimanded by the state for not disclosing them.
Gaitan expressed "grave concerns" and ultimately barred Doerhoff from overseeing any more executions in Missouri after the doctor admitted in a deposition hearing that he is dyslexic, transposes numbers, and mixed and administered lethal drugs without a written lethal injection protocol, despite his lack of training in anesthesiology.
A federal appeals court subsequently overturned Gaitan's ruling calling for reforms to Missouri executions. But state officials said they would not use Doerhoff again.
Doerhoff, 63, later told The Associated Press that publicity from the case had "poisoned" his career.
"Nobody is going to hire me," he said.
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