Brain dead brain docs

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Doctors accused of operating on wrong part of brain

The Associated Press Posted February 26, 2001, 11:42 PM EST

NEW YORK -- A Brooklyn hospital suspended two doctors for allegedly participating in surgery on the wrong side of a man's brain.

Another procedure was performed to remove a potentially fatal blood clot, and the patient was listed in stable condition.

His CT scan was reportedly placed backward on the viewing screen before the original surgery.

The Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn and the New York State Health Department are investigating.

“Well-established hospital policies were clearly violated,” the hospital said Monday in a statement. “The incident was reported promptly to the appropriate regulatory agencies and the hospital will cooperate fully with their investigation.”

The hospital declined to answer specific questions about the surgery, citing the pending investigation.

Drs. Rene Kotzen and Mike W. Chou are accused of mistakenly operating on the left side of Kevin Walsh's brain on Tuesday. The second surgery was performed on the right side of Walsh's brain.

The doctors were suspended on Wednesday.

Kotzen, 44, was reported to have performed the operation. A lawyer for Chou, 37, said his client prepared the patient for the procedure, but was not present for the surgery.

Neither doctor was reported to have any recent record of medical miscues.

“Yeah, it's weird,” Walsh said. “I don't know much. They're still investigating. All I know is my head hurts.”

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 27, 2001

Answers

A lawyer for Chou, 37, said his client prepared the patient for the procedure, but was not present for the surgery.

I wonder if that included shaving the portion of the guys head that was to be operated on...hmmm!...of course he could be bald, though.

But then, don't they paint on that yellowish/brownish atiseptic stuff on the area to be operated on?!?!

Major law suit coming.

-- Peg (pegmcleod@mediaone.net), February 27, 2001.


“Yeah, it's weird,” Walsh said. “I don't know much.

After hearing what his brain went through, I can easily believe that!

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), February 27, 2001.


Docs screwing up like this is commonplace these days. I've heard that some folks facing surgery put an indelible "X" on the part of their anatomy that will be operated on so the docs can't possibly make a mistake in the O.R. Pretty sad social commentary about the state of our medical system, isn't it? IIRC, doc mistakes and hospital infections are the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S....more deaths than motor vehicle accidents and homicides combined. No wonder doctors are becoming as hated as politicians and lawyers!

-- Stay (Healthy@IdiotDocs.com), February 27, 2001.

Doctors are not infallable, you need to question everything they plan on doing. And have done. From first hand experience, I have learned this. The problem is, that when they make a mistake, they won't admit it or check to see what they did wrong.

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), February 27, 2001.

Maybe the surgeon is dyslexic

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 27, 2001.


The problem is, that when they make a mistake, they won't admit it or check to see what they did wrong.

Docs are one of the few professions that get paid no matter what the outcome. They don't care if you get better or worse, live or die. They're going to get paid no matter what, so there's no incentive for them to improve their craft. If you hired a contractor to paint your house blue but it got painted green, you wouldn't pay...if you went in to have your oil changed but the tires were rotated instead, you wouldn't pay. I believe this same work ethic should be applied to doctors - they should only get paid when they make a positive impact. Hit 'em in the pocketbook and they'll get reeeeeeal competent reeeeeeal quick!

-- Patient (Revolt@DocsSuck.com), February 27, 2001.


Yeah, I agree. Doc Paulie IS brain dead!

-- this forum is comprised of idiots (bunch@dolts.yep), February 27, 2001.

Oops, my bad. I thought the title of this thread was going to be a discussion on what a dolt Doc Paulie is.

Oh well, carry on...

-- this forum is comprised of idiots (bunch@dolts.yep), February 27, 2001.


-- this forum is comprised of idiots

Present company included.

-- I (See@You.com), February 28, 2001.


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