discipline bad doctors

I believe that if state disciplinary agencies adequately investigated and disciplined doctors and surgeons who deviated from the accepted standard of care then there would be fewer medical malpractice suits.

A lawsuit does not prevent a surgeon from messing up. But, professional discipline would keep bad doctors out.

Why are doctors so protective of one another?

I had a surgeon (Chris Dangles, MD) at Carle Clinic Association in Urbana, Illinois perform unnecessary surgery on my ankle. (Under oath the surgeon stated that I, the patient, talked him into performing the surgery and he further testified that he did not know why I, the patient, would want the surgery!) Dr. Dangles told me for months before the surgery that my lateral ligaments were clinically too loose. I told him that I had no complaints. Ultimately, he performed a surgery to tighten the ligaments on both ankles.

The surgeries failed.

I had to find another surgeon (at Duke University) who has performed four corrective surgeries to repair the damage caused by the Illinois surgeon. Among the reparative surgeries were two High Tibial Osteotomies. The Duke surgeon had to break both of my lower legs and reset them to match the "new ankles."

The Duke surgeon acknowledged that he would not have performed the initial surgeries (that were performed by the Illinois surgeon). But, the Duke surgeon did not want to assist me in a claim against the Illinois surgeon. I understand that the Duke surgeon is a medical professional that did not go through medical school to end up in a courtroom.

If the state licensing agencies (Illinois Department of Professional Regulations) does not investigate physician errors & fellow surgeons "don't want to get involved," then how can the public be protected? How can the public be assured of adequate patient safety in the medical communities? Tweet