Mini-Series
The Pharmacist
This captivating four-part Netflix docuseries, released in 2020, unfolds like a modern-day David and Goliath tale. It follows a determined small-town Louisiana pharmacist who, driven by personal tragedy, embarks on a relentless quest. Initially, he tracks down his son’s killer, then expands his mission to dismantle a notorious pill mill doctor in New Orleans, and ultimately confronts the pharmaceutical giant, Purdue Pharma, the notorious maker of OxyContin.
Dan Schneider, the pharmacist at the heart of the story, is a compelling, unconventional hero. After his 22-year-old son, Danny Jr., was tragically shot and killed in 1999 during a drug purchase, Schneider became obsessed with solving the cold case when police efforts stalled. His singular dedication led to his son’s killer being brought to justice in 2000. Soon after, in late 2000, Schneider noticed a disturbing trend: a sudden influx of young patients arriving at his pharmacy with OxyContin prescriptions.
Schneider’s meticulous record-keeping, including countless recorded conversations, lends incredible weight to the series. It vividly portrays the early stages of the American opioid crisis, revealing how a powerful corporation knowingly prioritized profit over human lives.
Podcast
Dr. Death Season 2: Dr. Fata
Following the massive success of its first season, which chronicled the egregious story of Christopher Duntsch, the acclaimed Wondery podcast “Dr. Death” now offers several more chilling seasons. This particular installment delves into the horrifying crimes of Farid Fata, a Michigan hematologist and oncologist who masterminded one of America’s most intricate and lethal healthcare fraud schemes.
Over four gripping episodes, investigative science journalist Laura Beil presents harrowing testimonies from Fata’s victims, their families, and his former colleagues. These accounts reveal the chilling extent of his deception, manipulation, and the tragic deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of patients. The podcast also highlights the alarming fact that state authorities initially dismissed clear and early warnings about Fata’s predatory practices, making the institutional failures even more distressing.
Mini-Series
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
Ever noticed the tamper-proof seals on your over-the-counter medications? This crucial safety feature was implemented after a horrifying incident in Chicago in 1982, when seven people tragically died after consuming Tylenol capsules secretly laced with cyanide. This shocking event ignited national panic, spurred numerous copycat crimes, launched extensive federal investigations, and led to the largest drug recall in history at that time.
This three-episode Netflix docuseries, a recent addition to its “Cold Case” collection, unravels this bewildering and complex narrative. Viewers will explore the various pieces of evidence and competing theories, hearing compelling testimonies from the victims’ grieving families and the dedicated law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked the case.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the series is a revealing interview with James W. Lewis, conducted just before his death in 2023. Lewis, a prime suspect for decades, notoriously attempted to extort $1 million from Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Tylenol, in the immediate aftermath of the Chicago tragedies.
Ultimately, the documentary raises uncomfortable questions about the level of scrutiny – or lack thereof – applied to Johnson & Johnson during and after this catastrophic event.
Documentary Film
Capturing the Killer Nurse
This gripping 2022 Netflix documentary delves into the shocking story of Charles Cullen, a serial killer who, while working as a nurse in various New Jersey and Pennsylvania hospitals and a nursing home from 1988 to 2003, murdered dozens of people – and is suspected of hundreds more.
Directed by Tim Travers Hawkins, the film draws inspiration from Charles Graeber’s book, “The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder.” This book also served as the basis for the 2022 Golden Globe-nominated medical thriller “The Good Nurse,” which starred Eddie Redmayne as Cullen.
The documentary features a wealth of interviews, including chilling segments with Cullen himself, author Graeber, family members of the victims, journalists, and various nurses who worked alongside Cullen. Notably, Amy Loughren, a former friend of Cullen’s, played a crucial role in assisting detectives to gather the evidence that ultimately led to his apprehension.
Throughout his horrific spree, hospital administrators and staff had suspicions about Cullen’s actions, yet he managed to evade capture for years. This was largely due to institutional cover-ups and systemic flaws within the for-profit healthcare system.
Cullen’s crimes ultimately compelled New Jersey to enact the Health Care Professional Responsibility and Reporting Enhancement Act in 2005, famously known as the “Cullen” law. This landmark legislation mandates that healthcare facilities and professionals report any concerns regarding incompetence, impairment, or professional misconduct that could endanger patient care.