And the only thing she complained about was she couldnt find what she wanted to watch on TV.. Kirby called the owner of University General. In an email he wrote to former assistant Kimberly Morgan in 2011, Duntsch seemed to be grappling with bloodlust: "You, my child, are the only one between me and the other side. The relationship between Duntsch and Morgan would come to an end after he leftBaylor Medical Center in Planoamidst criticism that he had botched multiple surgeries, including one that left a patient dead. His victims also had descriptors. Deathand the intense media scrutiny surrounding the shocking case would drive Young out of Dallas with the couples two sons. But in the past 10 years, a series of conservative reforms have severely limited patients options for holding doctors and hospitals accountable for bad care. For two days the patient, Jeffrey Glidewell, lay unattended in the ICU while Duntsch made excuses to the family. These doctors are busythey have practices of their own that pay a lot better than volunteering for the Medical Boardand there arent many of them. Young is portrayed in the dramatized series by actress Molly Griggs, who brings to life the couples volatile arguments, including onedepiction in whichYoung announcesshe is pregnant just months into their relationship to a less-than-thrilled Duntsch, played by former Dawsons Creek star Joshua Jackson. Weve seen neurosurgeons get in trouble but not one such as this, in terms of the number of medical errors in such a short time.. In 2007, he was found to be leaving presigned prescription pads with his nurse so she could prescribe controlled substances while he was away, according to Public Citizen. After a few calls to various Dallas-area medical societies, someone suggested he call the Medical Board. Dr. Robert Henderson, a Dallas-based orthopedic surgeon who worked to alert authorities about Duntsch, had his own take. It was widely acknowledged that Christopher was a confident person, and D Magazine reported that many liked him immediately when they met him (though his fellow neurosurgeons reportedly found him to be "fast-talking and cocksure"). Dr. Christopher Duntschs patients ended up maimed and dead, but the real tragedy is that the Texas Medical Board couldnt stop him. I am ready to leave the love and kindness and goodness and patience that I mix with everything else that I am and become a cold blooded killer.". He nicked the patients vertebral artery, causing the space he was working in to fill with blood. After the Brown and Efurd debacles in July 2012, the CEO of Dallas Medical Center, Dr. Corazon Hernandez, fired Duntsch and reported him to the Medical Board, according to Henderson. Kay Van Wey, a Dallas plaintiffs attorney who represented over 10 of Duntsch's patients, put it to ProPublica simply: The hospitals played a game of medical "kick the can." Duntsch appealed his sentence and lost the appeal in 2018. But the board is limited in its ability to investigate malpractice. Anton Floquet/NBCUniversal. The Texas Observer is known for its fiercely independent, uncompromising work which we are pleased to provide to the public at no charge in this space. Later, when Duntsch moved to Dallas to begin his career as a neurosurgeon he took Summers with him. 2 Killer doctor Christopher Duntsch Credit: Social Media - Refer to Source Where is Christopher Duntsch AKA Dr. Death now? In July 2012, four months after Kellie Martins death, Duntsch applied for surgical privileges at Dallas Medical Center. I left with him and believed in him and then, you know, he just kind of fell apart., Duntschs disturbing fall from grace is also chronicled in the new Peacock seriesDr. Duntsch, it turned out, had, as with other patients, cut into Glidewells vertebral artery; an MRI found that he had also left a sponge festering in the soft tissue of Glidewells throat. Of that set, two died and 31 were paralyzed or seriously injured. According to his ex-girlfriend Wendy Young (played by Mollie Griggs in the show), Duntsch is in touch with his two sons. At every step of the way, you would have to know the right thing to do so you could do the wrong thing, because he did all the wrong things.. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes longer than we want., What Henderson took from this, he told me, is that were dealing with people who dont do the job they are hired to do.. All rights reserved. (Like other state licensing agenciesthe Pharmacy Board, the Nurse Practitioner Boardthe Medical Board operates at a surplus for the state.). Kalighat MS (Division B) Matches played. But in Texas, when you go to see a doctor, there is a small but real chance that the doctor has been found by his or her peers to be a danger to the public, and that no one has bothered to do anything about it yet. In an official statement, she wrote, The way the lawis currently written, with a high bar of evidence for the board to meet, the process can take time so that the board can build a solid case. Even now, Young told American Greed she still hears from Duntsch when he calls to talk to their sons. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. This was the time when Dr. Christopher Duntsch started to turn into Dr. Death. That complaint was filedalong with the 6,000 to 8,000 other complaints the Medical Board receives each year, in addition to the thousands of licensure applications the agencys 156 employees must review. The patients mother complained to the Medical Board. Only their consciences, and those of their fellow doctors, limit them. ", Mary's botched surgery was one of several in Christopher's record. He explained the disturbing visit by saying he had been attacked by an investigator for an attorney hired by one of his patients, although that account was never verified. He saw himself as a brilliant doctor and a brilliant surgeon. The surgery, he said, beaming into the camera, was a resounding success. "I'm a well-trained surgeon. In 2017, Duntsch was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of maiming one of his patients. You know in the beginning he talked about marriage. "After building a flourishing neurosurgery practice, everything suddenly changes when patients entering Dr. Duntsch's operating room for complex but routine spinal surgeries start leaving permanently disabled or dead. Christopher Duntsch, the focus of .css-9cezh6{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#E61957;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-9cezh6:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Peacock's true crime series Dr. Death, looked good on paper. "Based on a hit podcast and inspired by the terrifying true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a young and charismatic star in the Texas medical community," Peacock explains about the series. But when I talked to Medical Board spokesperson Megan Goode about this, she said Public Citizen had it wrongthat the board isnt underfunded at all. The temporary suspension was a power the Legislature gave the board in 2003. He has nothing. Martins surgery was Duntschs last at Baylor. By all appearances, he had simply decided to leave. Before we ask if the board does its job, we have to ask what is the job the Legislature assigned to the board, and what resources the board gets to do that job. Texas law states that hospitals are liable for damages caused by doctors in their facilities only if the plaintiff can prove that the hospital acted with malicethat is, the hospital knew of extreme risk and ignored itin credentialing a doctor. But a few years later, he popped up in Kermit doing just thatas well as selling drugs out of the operating room and performing bizarre surgeries he hadnt been trained for. Written by Patrick Macmanus, the show will only be available exclusively on Peacock. Death.. She even alleged that after a drug-fueled night of partying, she watched as Christopher put on his lab coat "to make the rounds the next morning.". Its a completely egregious case, Leigh Hopper, then head of communications for the Texas Medical Board, told The Dallas Morning News in June. Two weeks later, on June 14, 2013, Kirby got a call to come to University General to do a recovery surgery on one of Duntschs patients. We moved in together within three months, and then I became pregnant.. It was supposed to be such a simple procedure. He resigned soon after, with full clinical privileges. At the end of May 2013, Kirby and Henderson received invitations to a celebratory dinner, courtesy of University General Hospital, to meet their new neurosurgeon, Dr. Christopher Duntsch, at an expensive uptown restaurant. Christopher Duntsch's case was the subject of Wondery's podcast, "Dr. Death," which was released in 2018. You could have a Medical Board thats the size of the [Texas Department of Public Safety], she said, but the state doesnt want that. If the board decides to act on a complaintand only one in four complaints makes it that farinvestigators begin subpoenaing hospital records, which the board will eventually send to a pair of volunteer doctors in the same specialty who will review the case (if they disagree, a third doctor has to be found to break the tie). A dissection of an esophagus led to significant blood loss in one patient. I think their rationale was, hes a trained neurosurgeon, a combined M.D.-Ph.D., Henderson said. The operation was a spinal fusion in which two vertebrae are joined; surgeons use a metal plate to help hold the vertebrae together. Kellie Martin and her husband, Don, went to see Duntsch, who suggested a procedure called a microlaminectomy, in which part of the spine is removed to relieve pressure on the nerves. As those watching the show know, Christopher was dubbed "Dr. Death" in D Magazine for his botched surgeries that caused the death of several patients and left others with disabling injuries. Death podcast, which inspired the Peacock series. Dr Deathis a new limited series about the rise and fall of Duntsch. Senior Editor, Editorial Business Development, Where Is Dr. Death Now? Even more surprising, these crimes came from a doctor who looked great on paper. By Jill Sederstrom & Leah Carroll Joshua Jackson On Role Of Surgeon, Christopher Duntsch, In Peacock's "Dr. Death" Series Now Playing Digital Original He was listed as a pre-business major, a university spokesperson confirmed Thursday. But more than anything, we don't get to know Christopher Duntsch. Dr. Death is a new true-crime series on Peacock about the story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch. The true story of Christopher Duntsch is the subject of the haunting Peacock drama. Kayla Keegan leads Good Housekeepings editorial growth strategies in the partnership, news, social, branded, membership and newsletter spaces. Public Citizen found that 793 Texas doctors had lost clinical privileges between 1990 and 2011. When Summers woke up he couldnt move his arms or legs. Daniel Reece, Michael Rice and Christopher Ochwat, Reece left in January, while the other two were sacked by the management for reasons still unclear. His performance, Kirby wrote, was pathetic . He was functioning at a first- or second-year neurosurgical resident level but had no apparent insight into how bad his technique was.. But the Legislature hindered plaintiffs cases even more by allowing hospitals to, in most cases, keep credentialing information confidential. For one thing, it can open a case only if it receives a written complaintakin to a police department that forbids its officers from investigating criminal activity they witness. Even the fact that the board is conducting an investigation remains confidential until the investigation is over. Sometimes we know that someones bad, but when it comes to taking them to a hearing and proving it to where we can actually do some disciplinary action, it takes time of gathering evidence. She said Duntsch came highly recommended. According to Kirby, the hospital owner told him that Duntsch had privileges to do only minimally invasive surgeries. By the time she was transferred to UT Southwestern Medical Center later that day, she was brain dead. We felt confident too.. He told Young that Morgan was his assistant and there was nothing romantic going on between the pair. Up until 2003, medical care in Texas was regulated by a system of checks. At his home and office, my calls rang and rang before going to voicemail boxes that were full. He wanted to live the high life and a neurosurgeon makes big bucks. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. Kellie Martin was in good health; a laminectomy is considered a minor procedure. This defendant single-handedly ruined their lives, and he gave each of them a life of pain, prosecutor Michelle Shughart told jurors in closing statements. Friends since they played football together in high school, Summers helped Duntsch stay organized while he worked in the lab during his residency. Before moving to West Texas, Arafiles had run a small alternative clinic in Victoria, peddling chelation therapy, a fringe cure that is supposed to rid the body of heavy metals. 2021 The Texas Observer. He alleged that Duntsch promised to pay him in stocks and out of his own salary but failed to follow through. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! After his license was suspended, Duntsch disappeared. Another suffered a sliced vertebral artery which led to a stroke and later death. Rather than immediately ordering scans to find out what was wrong, Duntsch moved on to other patients, according to Kirbys letter to the Medical Board. Christopher Duntsch - AKA Dr. Death - spent 18 months as a practicing surgeon at multiple Texas hospitals until he had his license revoked in 2013. And still it took the Texas Medical Board more than a year to stop Duntscha year in which he kept bringing into the operating room patients who ended up seriously injured or dead. Duntschs case raises the question: If it took a year to stop a doctor accused of this much, what else is getting through? And that with Duntsch, as with other bad doctors, the system worked exactly as it was designed to. Sometimes hell have bedtime stories and try to be as normal as possible.". So while hospital administrators did a deeper background examination, they granted Duntsch temporary privileges. In effect, plaintiffs have to prove a very tough case without access to the necessary hospital records. They all have blood on their hands.. During the summer of 2012, as Duntsch was searching for a new hospital, another doctor who had witnessed Duntschs errors at Baylor sent a complaint about Duntsch to the Medical Board, according to Kirby. In doing so, hospitals preserved Duntsch's reputation. Photos, illustrations and other art may be available for syndication but must be confirmed. As a result, one patient died from a massive blood lost. Because investigations are confidential, Duntschs public record with the Texas Medical Board remained clean. And a system in which theres no way to know for sure if your doctor is dangerous. Jackson developed a perspective on his character. Death,which tells a dramatized version of the doctors brief, but deadly, medical career in Texas, including thestruggles he faced in his complicated romantic life as he tried to juggle multiplerelationships. Duntsch hired Morgan as his assistant while he was still with the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute in August of 2011. "Ninety-nine percent of everything that has been said about me is completely false.". During the surgery, Duntsch sliced into one of the arteries running down Summers spine, causing massive bleeding, which he tried to staunch by packing coagulants around the wound. "The nerve root had been severed. are both available to stream on Peacock now. AnnaSophia Robb Stars In New Series Dr. Henderson says that Duntsch told the Dallas Medical Center administration about the Martin and Summers cases, but explained that the outcomes hadnt been his fault: Summers, he said, had been paralyzed by a bad drug interaction, and Martin had died because of complications from anesthesia. Out July 15, Dr. Death introduces viewers to Christopher Duntsch, a real-life Texas-based surgeon who in 2017 was sentenced to life in prison after maiming and even killing almost all of the. It is said to be rare for a physician to be indicted on several counts of aggravated assault stemming from events in an operating room. He will not be eligible for parole until 2045, when he will be 74-years-old. He was convicted of injury to an elderly person in the 2012 surgery on Mary Efurd that put her in a. The board cant revoke a license without overwhelming evidence, and investigations can take months, with months or years of costly hearings dragging on afterward. Why didnt he stop? 'Cult mom' Lori Vallow's hair found on duct tape used to wrap son's body, Inside Jeffrey Epstein's private calendar including meeting with Noam Chomsky, Heartbroken family launch new lawsuit against Walmart over son's death, I won $188m lotto, I only got $88m after taxes but there was a bigger blow to come, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Duntsch, aka Dr Death, was sentenced to life in prison in 2017, Dr Death - Trailer for the Peacock series based on the true story of Christopher Duntsch. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}Leann Rimes Shares Video Montage for Anniversary, Read Erin Napier's Post about 'Home Town', Christie Brinkley = Iconic In Bareback Riding Pic, 35 Celebrity Relationships That Upset Fans, Celebrities You Didn't Know Had Famous Moms, 30 Celebrity Feuds That Were Never Resolved, Celebrity Couples from 50 Years You Forgot About, We Ranked Every Single Adam Sandler Movie, 34 'Bridgerton' Fun Facts to Fuel Your Obsession, Where Youve Seen the Cast of Bridgerton Before. bill glass obituary georgia, android 12 media controls on lock screen,
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