Utah doctor accused of lying for Denali helicopter rescue

By MARK THIESSEN
Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Utah doctor is accused of lying about ill patients in his climbing party to get a helicopter rescue off Denali last spring. The U.S. attorney’s office in Alaska has charged Dr. Jason Lance of Ogden, Utah, with interfering with and violating the order of a government employee and for filing a false report. He is accused of lying about climbers in his party being in medical shock and suffering from early hypothermia in order to get a high-altitude helicopter to retrieve them. He’s also accused of violating a direct order and deleting messages from a satellite communication device before handing it over to a ranger. His virtual arraignment is set for Dec. 6.