California Surgeon is Apparently Still Practicing Despite Awaiting Trial for Manslaughter
When we visit medical professionals in California, the assumption is that we are in safe hands. No one expects to suffer injuries due to their medical treatment, but unfortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence in the Golden State. Amazingly, some medical professionals even continue to practice despite being accused of gross negligence. So how do you know whether your doctor has caused serious injuries to patients in the past? Perhaps more importantly, how can you take legal action after suffering these injuries yourself?
Plastic Surgeon Continues to Operate While Waiting for Manslaughter Trial
On December 13th, it was reported that a surgeon in Chula Vista was somehow continuing to practice despite facing a pending manslaughter trial. The manslaughter charges stem from an incident that involved a patient’s death during a reasonably routine breast augmentation surgery. Both he and a nurse were charged with manslaughter during an extremely questionable operation that was conducted without the presence of a licensed anesthesiologist. According to the court documents, some nurses injected the patient with a “cocktail of pain drugs” before snapping selfies in the operating room.
About 90 minutes into the procedure, nurses noticed that the patient’s heart rate was climbing suddenly. Moments later, she went into cardiac arrest. As the patient was dying, the lead surgeon chose not to call 9-1-1, instead preferring to call medical colleagues for advice – including two anesthesiologists that he probably should have hired for the procedure to begin with. Meanwhile, the patient was apparently making gurgling noises and exhibiting seizure-like symptoms. These medical professionals immediately instructed the surgeon to call 9-11, but still, he delayed. After attempting to administer CPR, the surgeon then waited a further three hours before finally calling 9-1-1.
An investigation determined that the patient had been given nine doses of Narcan and a range of other drugs.
But the most unbelievable aspect of this entire story is the fact that as of December 13th, this surgeon was still practicing. Like so many other medical malpractice cases, he has walked away with barely a slap on the wrist. The only restrictions he faces are a ban from practicing surgery without a licensed anesthesiologist in the future.
The medical board also failed to inform the public about this entire incident, which means that patients may be unwittingly booking appointments with this doctor while being totally unaware of the fact that he is facing a trial for manslaughter.
Where Can I Find a Personal Injury Attorney in Riverside?
If you’ve been searching for an experienced personal injury attorney in Riverside, look no further than Knez Law Group, LLP. We know that many medical professionals in the Golden State are far more negligent than anyone truly realizes, and we’re ready to help you seek justice if you have been injured as a result. Book your consultation today, and we can assess your unique situation before recommending the best course of action. Remember, internet research can only get you so far.
Matthew J. Knez graduated from the University of Redlands in California where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing. He went on to pursue his Law Degree at the University of LaVerne, College of Law in Ontario, California. While pursuing his law degree he earned various awards, including CALI Award in Torts and he was on the Dean’s List. Mr. Knez was also a member of the Justice and Immigration Clinic where he worked with people seeking asylum into the United States from countries where they had experienced persecution or threat of persecution. Additionally, Mr. Knez was a member of Law Review where he was an Associate Editor and published a Law Review article on California family custody move-away cases.