Richard J. Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Richard J. Schmidt is an American physician
who was convicted by a Louisiana
court in 1998 of attempted murder. The case marked the first time in forensic history that viral
DNA
was used to prove a link between two people with HIV
or AIDS
in a criminal trial.
In 1994 Dr. Schmidt used a sample of blood
taken from one of his AIDS-infected patients to inject into his lover and former colleague, Janice Trahan, infecting her with HIV. Six months later Ms Trahan, a nurse, was diagnosed with HIV. Convinced that Schmidt had infected her after a suspiciously fleeting late-night visit to give her a "Vitamin B" injection, Ms Trahan had her ex-husband and former boyfriends tested. All were shown to be negative for HIV - results which led Lafayette, Louisiana
police to further investigate her claims.
HIV is a fairly fragile virus, and lasts for only a few hours outside the human body. Detective
s examining hospital records found that Dr. Schmidt had taken blood from one patient that night, but had never sent the blood to the lab. The absence of laboratory testing identification references against this patient's name led to police visiting the man who readily disclosed that he had AIDS and that he had been called in for a blood test by Dr Schmidt on the evening in question. The forensic challenge at that point was to match the DNA
from the virus itself from the patient to the victim, something that had never been done before. HIV DNA was collected from the victim, from the putative patient source, and from thirty-two other unrelated, HIV-positive individuals living in the same metropolitan area. Scientists concluded that of all the samples they tested, the two viruses' DNA from the victim and the patient matched almost exactly, even with HIV's potential to mutate very rapidly.
It was further disclosed at trial that the victim had also acquired Hepatitis C
around the same time. Evidence from Schmidt's patient records showed that a blood sample was taken from a patient with this virus the day before the HIV-infected sample was taken. The Hep C sample was similarly not matched with any laboratory references - these two were the only such omissions found in Schmidt's patient records.
In 1998 Dr. Schmidt was sentenced to 50 years for second degree attempted murder
.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who was convicted by a Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
court in 1998 of attempted murder. The case marked the first time in forensic history that viral
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
was used to prove a link between two people with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
or AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in a criminal trial.
In 1994 Dr. Schmidt used a sample of blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
taken from one of his AIDS-infected patients to inject into his lover and former colleague, Janice Trahan, infecting her with HIV. Six months later Ms Trahan, a nurse, was diagnosed with HIV. Convinced that Schmidt had infected her after a suspiciously fleeting late-night visit to give her a "Vitamin B" injection, Ms Trahan had her ex-husband and former boyfriends tested. All were shown to be negative for HIV - results which led Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
police to further investigate her claims.
HIV is a fairly fragile virus, and lasts for only a few hours outside the human body. Detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
s examining hospital records found that Dr. Schmidt had taken blood from one patient that night, but had never sent the blood to the lab. The absence of laboratory testing identification references against this patient's name led to police visiting the man who readily disclosed that he had AIDS and that he had been called in for a blood test by Dr Schmidt on the evening in question. The forensic challenge at that point was to match the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
from the virus itself from the patient to the victim, something that had never been done before. HIV DNA was collected from the victim, from the putative patient source, and from thirty-two other unrelated, HIV-positive individuals living in the same metropolitan area. Scientists concluded that of all the samples they tested, the two viruses' DNA from the victim and the patient matched almost exactly, even with HIV's potential to mutate very rapidly.
It was further disclosed at trial that the victim had also acquired Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
around the same time. Evidence from Schmidt's patient records showed that a blood sample was taken from a patient with this virus the day before the HIV-infected sample was taken. The Hep C sample was similarly not matched with any laboratory references - these two were the only such omissions found in Schmidt's patient records.
In 1998 Dr. Schmidt was sentenced to 50 years for second degree attempted murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
.