[7], When Duntsch applied for privileges at Methodist Hospital in Dallas, the hospital queried the NPDB. Christopher Duntsch was just a regular guy who became Dr. Death after he decided to be a neurosurgeon. Baylor suspended Duntsch, pictured, for a month. "Something was wrong," Dr. Rimlawi said, "whether it be impairment from drugs, alcohol, mental illness, or a combination of all three." When he woke, he could not move anything on the right side of his body. Mr. [42] The four hospitals that employed Duntsch have ongoing civil cases against him. Morguloff had become addicted to the pain killers being prescribed to him by this time. "It's a miracle," she said in the infomercial later promoted on his website. The Dallas district attorney's office subpoenaed every hospital on Duntsch's CV for records of his surgeries. Evil Lives Here: Shadows Of Death is investigating the numerous crimes of former neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, who was nicknamed Dr. Death after causing pain, suffering, and even death to multiple patients over the course of two years. To avoid the costs of fighting and possibly losing a wrongful termination suit, hospital officials reached a deal with Duntsch's lawyers in which Duntsch was allowed to resign in return for Baylor Plano issuing a letter stating that there were no issues with him. However, red flags surfaced early on, as nurses wondered if Duntsch was under the influence of drugs while on duty. The board called in veteran neurosurgeon Martin Lazar to review the case. Kirby warned him again that it was only a matter of time. While there, he damaged patient Jeff Cheney's spinal cord, leaving him without feeling on the right side of his body. Then, on July 24, 2012, he operated on Floella Brown. However, Baylor did not fire him; instead, he was allowed to resign. Troy was sedated for weeks and forced to eat through a feeding tube because food was getting into her lungs. Fennell required months of rehabilitation to be able to walk with a cane, and was left unable to walk for more than 30 feet or stand for more than a few minutes without having to sit down again. They argued that Duntsch was motivated to continue operating because the lucrative salary of a neurosurgeon would solve his mounting financial problems. Ellis Unit outside of Huntsville, Texas. A Texas neurosurgeon accused of intentionally botching multiple spinal surgeries, resulting in the death of two . He died in 2021 of an infection related to complications from Duntsch's operation. He will not be eligible for parole until 2045, when he will be 74-years-old. 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. Board chairman Irwin Zeitzler later said that complications in neurosurgery were more common than most laymen believe, and it took until June 2013 to find the "pattern of patient injury" required to justify suspending Duntsch's license. 0:05. The Legislature not only puts the burden of proof on the plaintiff instead of the defendant in medical malpractice cases, but it also allows hospitals to keep information about doctors confidential. It involves the case of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a spinal neurosurgeon who left a trail of dead and permanently disabled . Although he wasn't a talented athlete, he trained for hours on his own and made it as a linebacker on his high school football team at Evangelical Christian School in Memphis. Christopher Duntsch is a former neurosurgeon known by his nickname Dr. Death or Dr. D. The Montana native got his nickname for his malpractice while working at hospitals in Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. He will be up for parole in 2045, when he is 74 years old. (The Associated Press) A Texas neurosurgeon branded a "sociopath" by his colleagues could be facing 99 years in prison over multiple charges of intentionally botching . Dr. Christopher Duntsch appeared to havean impressive resume, but left a trail ofpain and devastation for those who trusted him with their health. There are a lot of explanations proposed for why the real-life subject of Peacock's "Dr. Death" limited series, neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch (played by Joshua Jackson), maimed and . The night before his surgery, he read online about Kellie Martin's death just months earlier. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Three holes had been poked into Efurd's spinal column where Duntsch had tried and failed to insert screws. She said she thought that he was going to make millions, Kimberly Morgan's friend once said her attraction to Christopher Duntsch. Dr. Death was fired before the end of his first week for the damage hed inflicted on Brown and Efurd. The True Story Of Christopher Duntsch, The Killer Surgeon Known As Dr. He called Duntsch's fellowship supervisor in Memphis and the supervisor of Duntsch's residency; it was then that he learned about the incident that led him to be referred to the impaired physician program. Duntsch had removed part of his femoral nerve. Duntsch severed his vertebral nerve, his vocal cords, cut a hole in his esophagus, sliced through an artery, and mistook part of his neck muscle as a tumor. It told the unfortunately true story of Doctor Christopher Duntsch, who was eventually sentenced to life in prison for maiming an elderly patient. When Duntsch finally returned on Monday, he was fired. She was transferred to a Dallas hospital after suffering from a severe infection, and Randal Kirby was asked to operate on her. The hospital called Rimlawi when it couldn't reach his colleague. He avoided it and disappeared for several days. Jodi Smith. Immediately, he started yelling and cussing at me, saying, 'How dare you? Before working with him, Dr. Hoyle said that he didnt know how to feel about his fellow surgeon. [36] On February 20, 2017, he was sentenced to life in prison. Since receiving his life sentence, Dr Death is currently housed in the O.B. The day after Mary Efurd's surgery, she awoke in excruciating pain and could not turn over or wiggle her toes. She came in to have two vertebrae fused, but when she woke up she experienced severe pain and couldnt stand. Joshua Jackson went to the dark side to play Dr. Christopher Duntsch, who's serving a life sentence for maiming a woman during surgery, in the new Peacock series Dr. Death. However, on January 6, 2012, a week after the surgery, Dr. Duntsch performed another operation on Passmore. Dr. Hassan Chahadeh, the owner, said when Duntsch had applied for privileges, his record was clean. When Martin awoke from anesthesia, she was screaming and clawing at her legs which had become patchy and full of purple streaks and spots. Dr. Death, read about how reckless surgeon Robert Liston killed his patient and two bystanders. Muse spiraled into opioid addiction that cost him his wife and his job. He is very caring and took the time to help me understand my pain issues. Death' found guilty of maiming woman during surgery", "Former neurosurgeon sentenced for purposely maiming patients", "Doctor convicted of botched surgery gets life in prison", "Christopher Daniel Duntsch v. The State of Texas Appeal from Criminal District Court No. Kirby, Henderson, and another doctor decided to contact the district attorney, convinced that Duntsch's malpractice was so egregious it was criminal. He performed only one surgery with the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute. He might have been fired from the Institute but was still a surgeon at Baylor Plano. He was nicknamed Dr. D. and Dr. Death for malpractice resulting in the maiming of several patients and killing two of them while working at hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He added that many board members found it hard to believe that a trained surgeon could be as incompetent as Duntsch appeared to be.[9]. After undergoing physical rehabilitation, Mayfield was able to walk with a cane but continued to experience paralysis on the right side of his body and in his left arm. [11] Several of his friends recalled him going to work after a night of doing drugs, with one of them saying he would never allow Duntsch to operate on him. Anatomy of a Tragedy. It had come from Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. Donald Duntsch was a gridiron football standout in Montana, and . [18] He damaged patient Philip Mayfield's spinal cord, drilling into it and leaving him partially paralyzed from the neck down. Once, he stopped by to pick up some paperwork. This was the time when Dr. Christopher Duntsch started to turn into Dr. Death. Even if a plaintiff wins the maximum award, after you pay your lawyer and your experts and go through, potentially, years of trial, not much is left. To see the rest of Dr. Christopher Duntsch's murder and maiming spree, and the fight to stop him, you'll need to purchase Peacock premium. She bled so much that blood was saturating the blue draping around her body and dripping onto the floor. 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 "malice"that is, the hospital knew of the extreme risk and ignored itin credentialing a doctor. Randall Kirby wrote a detailed complaint to the Texas Medical Board, calling Duntsch a "sociopath" who was "a clear and present danger to the citizens of Texas." The criminal conviction of Christopher Duntsch, MD, PhD, holds important lessons for risk managers. [9][10], Duntsch had severed Brown's vertebral artery, and refused to abort despite the massive blood loss. Passmore had a herniated disc in his lower spine pressing on a nerve causing him pain. 1-Christopher Duntsch and then girlfriend, Wendy Young. How could Dr. Christopher Duntsch practice medicine for as long as he did without being stopped? They met with an assistant DA but got little traction. Inside The Death Of Chris Benoit, The Professional Wrestler Who Killed His Family And Then Himself, Archaeologists Just Uncovered A Massive Roman Phallic Carving In Spain And It Might Be The Biggest Ever Found, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Where is Kim Morgan Now? [15], Duntsch joined Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano (now Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Plano) as a minimally invasive spine surgeon with a salary of $600,000 per year, plus bonuses. Duntsch earned his undergraduate degree in 1995 and enrolled at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. In May 2013, Dr. Randall Kirby was invited to a dinner by University General Hospital to meet their new neurosurgeon, Dr. Duntsch. However, he sewed up Glidewell with the sponge still in place despite others in the operating room warning him about it. Lazar was scathingly critical of Duntsch's work. Left: WFAA-TV, Right: D MagazineLeft: Christopher Duntsch in surgery, Right: Christopher Duntschs mugshot. Duntsch, who had been listed as the founder, president & chief science officer, was being sued by the former chief operating officer and was dismissed from his roles and seat on the board. Duntsch's next patient was Jeff Glidewell. In September 2012, Jeff Cheney went to Duntsch to relieve the pain that had moved from his shoulder down to his arm. [38][39] On December 10, 2018, the Texas Court of Appeals affirmed Duntsch's conviction by a 21 split decision. During this time, he ran two successful labs and raised millions of dollars in grant funding. As he lay there in agony, Duntsch was nowhere to be found. They didn't have enough evidence to stop him because he hadn't done anything wrong yet. In addition, a ligament in his leg was severed, and a screw was stripped and lodged into a nerve bundle. Kenneth Fennell, the first patient Duntsch operated on at Baylor Plano, was left with chronic pain after Duntsch operated on the wrong part of his back. Duntsch is a serial maimer and killer. That same month, the two began an affair. Prosecutors also faulted Duntsch's employers for not reporting him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Duntsch, https://www.propublica.org/article/dr-death-christopher-duntsch-a-surgeon-so-bad-it-was-criminal, https://www.dmagazine.com/healthcare-business/2021/10/a-witness-to-dr-death-in-the-presence-of-a-sociopath/, https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2016/november/christopher-duntsch-dr-death/, https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/who-were-the-victims-of-dr-christopher-duntsch, https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2014/03/02/planos-baylor-hospital-faces-hard-questions-after-claims-against-former-neurosurgeon/, https://www.texasobserver.org/anatomy-tragedy/, https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2015/08/25/7-chilling-thoughts-of-jailed-neurosurgeon-christopher-duntsch/, https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/greg-abbott-enters-fray-in-lawsuits-involving-sociopath-doctor/, https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2017/02/a-jury-now-controls-the-fate-of-neurosurgeon-christopher-duntsch/, https://www.thedailybeast.com/victim-of-real-life-dr-death-believes-there-are-others-like-him-out-there?ref=scroll, https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/what-happened-to-discgenics-co-founded-by-dr-death-christopher-duntsch, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Morguloff-Complaint.pdf. On 06/26/2013 MARY EFURD filed a Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice lawsuit against CHRISTOPHER D DUNTSCH, MD. A spill of more than 500,000-gallons of crude oil from the Keystone Pipeline in December in Kansas was caused by a combination of a faulty weld and "bending stress fatigue" on the pipe, the . Before the surgery, Kirby related that Duntsch said he was the best spine surgeon in Dallas and the only spine surgeon trained in minimally invasive spine surgery. Mayfield also suffered from random fainting spells that happen every few weeks. "[20][4] Under heavy lobbying from Kirby and Henderson, the Texas Medical Board suspended Duntsch's license on June 26, 2013. He was brilliant. That's why it really shined down to me," Kissinger said in an interview. ", "Surgeon who wrote of becoming killer is denied bail reduction", "Elderly couple attends court hoping for justice in Duntsch case", "Who Were The Victims Of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, Who Earned The Ominous Nickname 'Dr. Duntsch also received forty percent of all revenue he generated beyond $800,000 each year. Although she didn't think much of it and assumed Morgan was helping with research. The suit alleged that Baylor Plano made an average net profit of $65,000 on every spinal surgery performed by Duntsch. His girlfriend, Wendy Young, had a second son in September 2014. A few days later, he took the test and passed. Around this time, Christopher Duntsch's behavior became noticeably erratic. Christopher was raised along with his three younger siblings in a wealthy suburb in Memphis, Tennessee. In April 2015, Duntsch was arrested again for shoplifting $887 worth of merchandise from a Dallas Walmart. He said even a person with the most basic sense of human anatomy would know they were operating in the wrong area. In December 2012, Jacqueline Troy was left barely able to speak above a whisper after Duntsch cut her vocal cords and one of her arteries. No diagnostic imaging studies were ordered, and no reasonable explanation was offered for his condition. During his surgery, Duntsch didnt installed the necessary hardware to Muses spine and instead had left it floating between the spine and muscle tissue. He was arrested for DUI in Denver, taken for a psychiatric evaluation in Dallas during one of his visits to see his children, and was arrested in Dallas for shoplifting. Many readers may recognize the name Christopher Duntsch, a doctor who allegedly was negligent in his practice for years before finally being stripped of his medical license. Following his blunders, Duntsch resigned from Baylor Plano in April 2012 before they could fire him. It was. Wendy Young had just given birth to their son and lived there with him. [4][49], Last edited on 14 February 2023, at 04:48, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Plano, Texas District and County Attorneys Association, "Dr. Duntsch defense expert: "The only way this happens is the entire system fails the patients", "Plano Doctor Suspended After Two Patient Deaths", "Former Neurosurgeon Faces Life In Prison After Guilty Verdict", "What Was Dr. Christopher Duntsch's Background And Why Were People So Impressed With The Man Later Known As 'Dr. However, it wouldnt be long until Duntschs seemingly perfect career began to unravel. When he called Duntsch's office, he was told it would "go away." One of the patients who suffered disastrous consequences was Jerry Summers, the boyfriend of Megan Kane and a friend of Christopher Duntsch. [9] He was suspected of being under the influence of cocaine while operating during his fourth year of residency training, and was sent to a program for impaired physicians. Dubbed "Dr. Death," the case gained national attention, revealing [7], Henderson later recalled wondering if Duntsch was an impostor; he could not believe that a real surgeon would botch Efurd's surgery so badly. Dr. Robert Henderson was brought in on July 28, 2012, to perform a revision surgery on Efurd. Christopher Duntsch, known as "Dr. Death" tried to explain himself in rambling emails, but he only made things worse for his criminal case. While Kirby was repairing Troy, he uncovered that Duntsch had pinned her esophagus under a plate near her spine and poked holes in her trachea. Christopher Duntsch a.k.a. She says she even filed a temporary protective order against him in April 2012, after he showed up banging on her window at 2 am. He said, "Randy, you were right. In 2005, about a third of the way through his residency, department chairman Dr. Jon Robertson appointed Duntsch program director of the school's tissue bank. He decided to turn to neurosurgery, which can be a lucrative field. However, St. Jude says there was no such program at the hospital. Over the span of a few years, he managed to maim and injure over 30 patients, with two more dying during and shortly after undergoing surgery with him. Dr. Henderson thought the operation on Mary Efurd was so botched that Christopher Duntsch had to be an imposter. However, the surgery had to be moved to November 14 because Duntsch had failed to order the appropriate surgical hardware and equipment. "[45], Wondery Media launched a ten-episode podcast series named Dr. Death, focusing on Duntsch. Fennell is in constant pain, and it took several months of rehabilitation before he could begin to walk with a cane. The surgery was scheduled for December 30, 2011. He thought it was odd that Duntsch wasn't working at Baylor Plano anymore, so he called his insurance company, who stated Christopher Duntsch was in good standing. He earned his M.D. He moved in with his parents in Colorado and filed for bankruptcy, claiming around one million dollars in debt. The Texas Medical Board would later conclude that Brown died of excessive blood loss and a stroke, according to The Texas Observer . Duntsch also removed so much bone and muscle tissue from Summers' neck that his head was no longer secure on his body. Dr. Duntsch assured Muse that the pain was normal and prescribed him, strong pain killers, causing him to spiral into an addiction. As a young neurosurgeon in Texas, Duntsch killed . Duntsch stuffed a surgical sponge in Glidewell's throat to stanch the bleeding. Duntsch focused on his research for a while but was recruited from Memphis to join the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute in North Dallas in the summer of 2011. Now, a podcast called Dr. Death is breaking down the deranged surgeon's criminal acts and shows how drug abuse and blinding overconfidence led to big trouble for the patients who found themselves underneath the spiraling doctor's knife.. The lead investigator on the case later revealed that she wanted Duntsch's license suspended while the ten-month probe was underway, but board attorneys were not willing to go along. Jeff Glidewell came across Dr. Christopher Duntsch in 2013 while searching for a neurosurgeon . Prosecutors put a high priority on that charge, as it provided the widest sentencing range, with Duntsch facing up to life in prison if convicted. Out of his 38 surgeries, only three had no complications. For 33 patients of Texas neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, it was a reality. Duntsch received his undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis and stayed in town to receive an M.D. "Dr. Death" is based on the chart-topping podcast of the same name that, in turn, is based on the horrifying true story of Christopher Duntsch. [4] Mayfield died of COVID-19 in February 2021; according to his wife, he had been vulnerable to the virus due to complications caused by Duntsch's botched surgeries. Convinced that he was a clear and present danger to the public, they urged the Dallas County district attorney's office to pursue criminal charges. In February 2012, he went under the knife for an elective spinal fusion surgery. He wrote grants and secured more than $3 million in funding. She bled to death . Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Philip Mayfield, one of Christopher Duntschs patients, who was paralyzed after his surgery. A CT scan would later reveal that Efurds nerve root had been amputated, there were several screw holes nowhere near where they were supposed to be, and one screw had been lodged in another nerve root. Since Duntsch's departure was technically voluntary, Baylor Plano was under no obligation to report him to the Texas Medical Board or the National Practitioner Data Bank. [9][16], As part of their investigation, prosecutors obtained a December 2011 email in which Duntsch boasted that he was " 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. Prince Charming, Im gonna change your life, Wendy Young said of the promising start to her romance with Christopher Duntsch. An investigator by trade and nature, Passmore started digging into Dr. Christopher Duntsch. Morgan says they spent a lot of time in clubs. The series is set to premiere on July 12 and will feature a star-studded cast. When Kirby learned the details, he immediately asked the doctor who referred the case to him about the surgeon: "Is it a guy named Christopher Duntsch?" Henderson sent Duntsch's picture to the University of Tennessee to determine whether he actually had a degree from that institution and received confirmation that Duntsch, in fact, did. He is a graduate of Evangelical Christian School in the Cordova suburb of Memphis, where he starred in football.[7]. He graduated from a top-tier medical school, was running research labs, and completed a residency program for neurosurgery. He was then brought on board at the Dallas Medical Center where he continued his carnage. [7], While in Memphis, Duntsch began a long-term relationship with Wendy Renee Young. Unfortunately, it's all too real. Wendy Young knew her ex-boyfriend Christopher Duntsch's medical career was unraveling, but she wasn't prepared for what she said was his bizarre behavior that coincided with his fall from grace as a surgeon.. His CV also conveyed he earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from St. Jude Children's Research Hospitals, graduating summa cum laude. It was then that Christopher decided to switch his career to medicine. However, by the time he met Young, Duntsch was over $500,000 in debt. Summers remained quadriplegic for the rest of his life. At the time, Duntsch was accused of injuring 33 out of 38 patients in less than two years before the Texas Medical Board revoked his license. Before his license was revoked by the Texas Medical Board, he was accused of injuring 33 out of 38 . executive producer explains how Christopher Duntsch could have avoided prison. Many of his patients suffered severe spinal cord damage, resulting in paralysis and pain severe enough to render painkillers ineffective. He was held in the Dallas County jail for almost two years until the case went to trial in 2017. He wanted to become a doctor, and not just any doctor - a neurosurgeon, operating on injured backs and necks. Finally, Dr. Kirby received a call from Hassan Chahadeh. Duntsch lasted about three months at MISI. Lee Passmore's screams poured out from the ICU and down the hallway. Dr. Rimlawi called Baylor Plano and advised them against continuing a relationship with Christopher Duntsch, but this fell to deaf ears.
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