Choosing a surgeon to complete a procedure, whether elective or emergent, is an important decision, but there are plenty of elements that should simplify the process of narrowing down the candidates. After all, if a surgeon is trusted by a hospital to practice medicine, that means they are qualified, right? If a surgeon comes highly recommended, it’s just a matter of personal preference, right? If the doctor makes you feel like you’re in good hands, they’re the best choice, right?
No, that’s not the case at all. Select the wrong doctor and you could be on the way to becoming a victim of medical malpractice. Should a dangerous surgeon work with a hospital that is more interested in revenue and less interested in dealing with legal battles, the doctor could escape discipline for a grossly botched surgery and go on to do further damage elsewhere. Sound like the stuff of TV drama? This story is real life.
Could You Suffer at the Hands of an Unqualified Surgeon?
In suburban Dallas, neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch looked good on paper, earning credentials at top medical and surgery programs. Four- and five-star online reviews, praise on his Facebook page from former patients, videos of Duntsch looking sharp and competent while interacting with a patient. This online presence was carefully cultivated to make Duntsch look smart, accomplished, and competent in every way.
Some of the patients of Duntsch had a good feeling about the surgeon, feeling hope that their chronic pain would soon be extinguished. Others experienced a sense of foreboding but went ahead with their surgery anyway. And nearly every patient Duntsch operated on suffered horribly.
Now known as the notorious Dr. Death, Duntsch operated on 37 patients within a two-year period. Thirty-three of those patients were injured during or after the procedures, enduring practically unheard-of complications, permanent nerve damage, paralysis, and worse. Two patients died in the hospital after their surgeries.
Duntsch was finally arrested in 2015 and ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He is the first doctor in the United States to receive this sentence for his practice of medicine. His gruesome efforts to heal others could have been prevented from happening entirely if someone had taken the initiative to report him.
Hospitals That Ignore Tragedy Create More Tragedy
How could Duntsch have continued to do surgeries if each one ended so badly? The short answer: The medical system did not hold Duntsch accountable.
There are multiple layers of safeguards that are supposed to be in place to protect patients from dangerous or incompetent doctors. Duntsch was clearly an example of a surgeon who should not have been allowed to practice medicine. But he was a neurosurgeon, and professionals like Duntsch are worth millions of dollars in revenue for a hospital.
It was clear that Duntsch was committing heinous surgical errors but, instead of firing him, hospitals allowed the doctor to resign with no dings to his reputation, without reporting him to the state medical board or National Practitioner Data Bank which tracks malpractice payouts, suspensions, firings, and revocation of medical license.
The medical system failed where Duntsch was concerned. And catastrophic surgeries caused dozens of people to suffer needlessly.
Know Your Rights When It Comes to Medical Malpractice
The public is limited in the research they can do on a doctor – so you are left to trust the system, to believe that they will employ only the best and most qualified medical professionals.
Hospitals are often accused of looking out for themselves first and patients second. The facilities don’t want to be hit with legal action, so they give doctors the opportunity to resign instead of disciplining or firing them for horrific actions.
Unqualified doctors should never be permitted to continue practicing medicine. But there must be someone who stands up and says, “This is not right.”
If you have suffered at the hands of an unqualified doctor, a hospital, or other medical entity, you deserve compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation. Our medical malpractice attorneys have the experience to get you the compensation you deserve. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today to schedule your consultation.
