An Iowa doctor has been charged with the manslaughter of Slipknot bassist and founding member Paul Gray, as well as seven other people, according to the Des Moines Register.
Dr. Daniel Baldi is reported to have allegedly overprescribed painkillers to the individuals, which aided in the apparently accidental overdose of Gray in 2010. Gray had struggled with drug addiction previously, making these charges a bit fascinating. An autopsy showed that the 38 year-old bassist had fatal levels of morphine and a morphine substitute called fentanyl in his blood.
Court documents allege that Dr Baldi “did unintentionally cause” Gray’s death by giving “high-dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict”. The account reaches back five years from Gray’s death, to 2005.
Dr. Baldi pleaded not guilty to eight counts of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, he faces up to 16 years in prison. Helping run an Iowa Health System pain clinic, the doctor has faced four medical malpractice lawsuits, including three wrongful death suits.
Gray’s widow Brenna, as well as Slipknot percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan, are listed on the preliminary complaint filed in district court as among nine people interviewed in the investigation.
Baldi’s lawyer, Guy Cook, defended his client to the Register: “It is unprecedented to turn unfortunate deaths or medical results into a crime against a doctor.”
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