Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Justin Rice Trial 1Emergency physician involved in John O’Keefe’s resuscitation at Good Samaritan Medical Center ← All People
🔬 Expert Witness · Good Samaritan Medical Center

Justin Rice

Courtroom still of Justin Rice.

Emergency physician involved in John O'Keefe’s resuscitation at Good Samaritan Medical Center

Trial 1
136 lines 3 proceedings

About

Dr. Rice testified that O'Keefe arrived at the hospital unresponsive, intubated, and receiving CPR. He described the emergency team’s efforts to restore vital functions, his recorded physical findings, and the declaration of death at 7:50 a.m. His charted clinical impression was cardiac arrest, head trauma, and exposure to environmental cold. On cross-examination, Rice agreed that his report did not mention a vehicle, despite his earlier suggestion that EMS might have reported a possible vehicle strike. He also confirmed that it did not document a fracture or injuries in several areas below O'Keefe’s neck. Rice explained that the team prioritized resuscitation rather than conducting a full skeletal survey or documenting injuries unrelated to that care. Rice read an alcohol-screen result of 93 milligrams per deciliter from Karen Read’s admitted hospital records. He said he was involved in her care but did not recall treating her, did not collect her blood, and did not know who collected, packaged, or submitted it to the lab.

Trial Record (3)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 3 proceedings

Day 18

Direct Justin Rice - Direct Examination Justin Rice Adam Lally 4 highlights 83 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Rice described O'Keefe's emergency treatment and recorded death declaration; Read's hospital records were admitted as Exhibit No. 106.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“So he would have been or he was unresponsive and intubated, as in with a breathing tube into his airway via his mouth.”

Dr. Rice described O'Keefe's condition on arrival at the emergency department.

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Quote

“According to my note, it looks like the time of death was, or death declaration was 7:50. 7:50 in the morning.”

Dr. Rice gave the time recorded for O'Keefe's death declaration.

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Quote

“So it looks like 93, 9-3. I'd have to maybe look deeper in the chart to tell you the units of that measurement. I don't want to guess. But, to answer your question, 93.”

Dr. Rice initially reported the charted alcohol-screen result while expressly declining to guess at the units.

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Cross Justin Rice - Cross Justin Rice Elizabeth Little 3 highlights 47 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Rice acknowledged limited recollection of Ms. Read's care and agreed Mr. O'Keefe's report did not mention a vehicle or report a fracture.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

After reviewing Mr. O'Keefe's report, Dr. Rice agreed it contained no statement that EMS reported he may have been struck by a vehicle and no mention of a vehicle.

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Redirect Justin Rice - Redirect Justin Rice Adam Lally 3 highlights 6 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Rice explained the resuscitation-focused charting and read his clinical impression of cardiac arrest, head trauma, and environmental-cold exposure.

Highlights (3)

Locations Touched By This Testimony

Good Samaritan Medical Center 1 proc