U.S. Attorney Ortiz wants prosecutors to be in on pharmacy inspection

BOSTON (AP) - The top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts has asked a federal judge to allow representatives of her office to be present while victims' attorneys inspect a compounding center linked to a deadly nationwide meningitis outbreak.

U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, whose office is investigating possible charges against the Framingham-based New England Compounding Center, on Wednesday asked Judge Dennis Saylor IV to order the attorneys to give her office advance notice of the private attorneys' inspection. Ortiz also wants the government to get copies of test results, photographs and video taken during the inspection.

NECC is under investigation for distributing a steroid blamed in the deaths of 36 people and the illnesses of more than 500 others.

State and federal inspections found a host of potential contaminants, including standing water, mold and water droplets.

Saylor will hold a hearing Thursday.

Cox Media Group