Death', "Texas Jury Imposes Life Sentence on Neurosurgeon", "The Making and Breaking of Dr. "Christopher Duntsch" (Dr. Death)", "Season 14 of CNBC's 'American Greed' Premieres Monday, January 18 at 10PM", Dr. Death: The Texas Surgeon Who Paralyzed his Patients, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christopher_Duntsch&oldid=1149133921, American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Texas, University of Tennessee Health Science Center alumni, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Despite several warnings from his colleagues that he was not doing the surgery correctly and was attempting to put screws into muscle rather than bone, Duntsch persisted. Such behavior did not go unnoticed by the other doctors. As a result of the 2017 trial, Duntsch was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Let's delve into what made him tick, and how the medical community failed the victims of Dr. Christopher Daniel Duntsch. IMDb He refused to abort the surgery even after a trauma surgeon colleague and an anesthesiologist warned him about the blood loss. According to his lawyer, Duntsch was a scapegoat. Feb. 7, 2017. 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. If youre a big fan of NBCs stable of shows, want to catch up on some past hit movies or just dont want to shell out the cash for Netflix or Hulu, the free version of Peacock is great. As is the case with programs based on real events, Peacocks Dr. Death viewers. Premise: Based on the podcast of the same name, the limited series tells the true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Joshua Jackson), a Dallas surgeon who left more than 30 patients dead or permanently injured until two doctors (Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater) and an Assistant District Attorney (AnnaSophia Robb) work to stop him. While the school refused to verify or deny his claims, he wasn't in any of the yearbooks of that time. And yet, the names of the latter are incorrect and misspelled. I dont think thats a doctor who doesnt know what hes doing. And professional marketing videos got him ready and willing patients. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. [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. 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. Glidewell was left with only one vocal cord, permanent damage to his esophagus and partial paralysis on his left side. Chris Duntsch left DiscGenics after being sued by the companys former Chief Operating Officer in 2011. It took the Texas Medical Board one whole year to investigate and finally revoke Duntsch's license. CHRISTOPER Duntsch, also known as Dr. Death, was a doctor who seriously harmed and killed patients during surgeries in hospitals across Texas. How Do You Get Rid Of Hiccups In 5 Seconds. Yes, the two plastic surgeons have collaborated on many medical projects, but its their longtime friendship that has solidified their bond. [10][7], Duntsch completed his residency having participated in fewer than 100 surgeries. Probably not, Robb added. My take on it is, for him, it was hubris, Jackson told TheWrap. Before going to medical school, Duntsch wanted to be a pro-football player. Death: The Undoctored Story' about the real story of the doctor who maimed and killed multiple patients. 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. Yes, Dr. Christopher Duntsch made his friend, Jerry Summers, a quadriplegic. Typically, neurosurgery residents participate in over 1,000 surgeries in the course of their residency. [18] He damaged patient Philip Mayfield's spinal cord, drilling into it and leaving him partially paralyzed from the neck down. Duntsch's resume shows a doctorate in microbiology from the St. Jude Children'sResearch Hospital. In the deposition, she states that Duntsch snorted cocaine from a handy pile he kept on a dresser at his home. Currently, Discgenics has no mention of Duntsch at all, his history with the company, or that he's the massive elephant in the room. Ellis Unit outside of Huntsville, Texas. Duntsch was granted temporary surgical privileges at Dallas Medical Center, while hospital officials waited for his medical records to arrive from his former post. Base compensation was $600,000 a year for two years, beginning on June 14, 2011. [18] Despite this, Duntsch was retained by South Hampton when new owners bought it and renamed it University General Hospital. Van Wey also told American Greed that in the state of Texas, hospitals face greater risks of receiving a lawsuit from someone unfairly reported to the physicians data bank than they do from a patient themselves, making officials leerier of reporting claims. Preston and Aiden are both in their twenties now, and have been featured in interviews about their fathers crimes. This led to another 20 patients suffering. This was the time when Dr. Christopher Duntsch started to turn intoDr. Death. Meanwhile, Brown went brain dead and passed away. ", "Doctor Guilty of Felony Medical Malpractice", "Disciplinary actions against doctors have plunged during the pandemic, but that doesn't mean they are behaving", "An Update on Dr. Death Victim Philip Mayfield", "Jeff Glidewell Today: Where Is Dr. Death's Last Patient Now? He was running research labs and had ambitions of becoming a successful surgeon, but thigs soon took a turn for the worse. There is no face to the monster you are hearing about, the one destroying lives. Dr. Robert Henderson, a spinal surgeon who later took over Efurds care, would later testify that Duntsch had operated in the wrong place in her back, amputated a nerve root and botched the implantation of a device meant to stabilize her spine. Dr. Henderson (Alec Baldwin), Dr. Kirby (Christian Slater) and the nurse Josh Baker, played by Hubert Point-Du Jour, these are the professionals who are speaking up. [7], Shughart argued that Duntsch should have known he was likely to hurt others unless he changed his approach, and that his failure to learn from his past mistakes demonstrated that his maiming of Efurd was intentional. The series, starring Joshua Jackson asDuntsch, examines that question and finds a deadly combination of mismanagement and a lack of centralized authority in the medical community. The Secrets of Stardew Valleys Elusive Eel, Praetorium FFXIV A Different Perspective, Edwin Rist: The Feather Thief of the British Museum, New Moon: Reflecting Edwards Perspective, Storing Brazil Nuts for Maximum Shelf Life, The Mysterious Clicks of the Black Bird: Deciphering The Noise. Becker's Hospital Review covered the 13 worst physicians of 2017, as named by Medscape. Christopher Daniel Duntsch (born April 3, 1971) [1] is a former American neurosurgeon who has been nicknamed Dr. D. and Dr. Death [2] for gross malpractice resulting in the maiming of several patients' spines and two deaths while working at hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This True Crime Podcast Follows One Baby Jane Doe Case That Leads to Another Mystery (EXCLUSIVE), A Commune Goes Viral on TikTok Now, Former Members Are Speaking Out (EXCLUSIVE), The Botched Investigation of Heather Bogle's Murder Put a Detective Behind Bars. [4], Longtime spine surgeon Robert Henderson performed the salvage surgery on Efurd. Christopher Duntsch was just a regular guy who became Dr. Death after he decided to be a neurosurgeon. After this late-night party,Duntsch went to work the next morning. At Health Grades Duntsch had 4.3 out of 5 stars, "above [the] national average." [7], When Duntsch applied for privileges at Methodist Hospital in Dallas, the hospital queried the NPDB. When he finally came to the hospital, he busied himself with another patient, also on the DA's list, Mary Efurd. What happened to Christopher Duntsch? Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Duntsch did not respond to messages from the hospital for a few hours, then the next day scheduled an elective surgery on Efurd rather than care for Brown. Your email address will not be published. He graduated from one of the top-tier medical schools and completed a residency program for neurosurgery. At Baylor Regional Medical Center, during a simple laminectomy, Duntsch slashed one of Martin's major arteries butrefused to admit his mistake. American surgeon, convicted of criminal malpractice, 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. How much money did Christopher Duntsch make? 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. Duntsch did his surgical residency at The University of Tennessee. Hospitals are liable only if the plaintiff can prove that the hospital was also malicious, that it knew of the risk and ignored it. Death: The Undoctored Story launches July 29. 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. There are some who believe that he never wanted to be in the ORat all. The life in prison sentence was a deathblow to Duntsch, who, according to his father, was now a humbled man who had lost everything. Death.). And who will Dr. Death be? Out of his 38 surgeries, only three had no complications. She suffered a stroke as a result. For the DA though she proved to be a good witness. He proved to be Duntsch's last surgery; University General pushed him out soon afterward. Philip Mayfield, one of Christopher Duntsch's patients, who was paralyzed after his surgery. All eight episodes of Peacocks Dr. Christopher Duntsch, the focus of Peacock's true crime series Dr. Death, looked good on paper.When he arrived in Dallas in late 2010, Duntsch's resume spoke of a skilled neurosurgeon: An M.D. The docuseries aims to show the real people who were harmed by Dr. Death, some of whom are still alive today to share their stories. He took out so much of his spinal cord that he couldnt keep his head up. The Joy of Carolling: A Timeless Tradition, Hoppers Disappearance in Stranger Things Season 4 Explained. Some never went to trial and had out-of-court settlements. Hubris? [9][10], Duntsch had severed Brown's vertebral artery, and refused to abort despite the massive blood loss. Gena Lee Nolin: From Baywatchs Neely to Sheenas Queen! Had he been fired, that would have been reportable to the national data bank, so he was able to circumvent a major safety feature in the system, neurosurgeon Dr. Martin Lazar told American Greed.. Per Bustle, Christopher is currently incarcerated at O.B. Between 2010, when he began his surgery practice, and 2013, Duntsch, then in his early forties, performed many operations that resulted in severe injury or death. His negligence resulted in many serious and life-altering injuries to his patients, including one of his best friends Jerry Summers who was left quadriplegic after surgery. As Dr. Dubrow made clear in a 2015 interview with Allure, he and his partner in crime dont work for free on Botched, particularly as it takes up so much of their time. Duntsch will not be eligible for parole until 2045, when he will be 74. "Dr. Death" is about Christopher Duntsch, an accredited but incompetent Dallas neurosurgeon, whose wrongdoing was close to butchery. Since receiving his life sentence, Dr Death is currently housed in the O.B. By this time, however, Brown was brain dead. During his residency program for neurosurgery, he completed fewer than 100 surgeries despite the expected 1,000 operations for a typical resident. In 2005, partway through the six-year program,he became the director of the tissue bank. He later told Glidewell that it was clear Duntsch had tried to kill him. 33 of his 37 surgeries were botched, with two dead and 31 injured for life. Duntsch could have turned it into something good and meaningful. But I think it speaks to the inequality of who is in power in these bureaucratic institutions where it has to be like two top surgeons who go after him nonstop, putting their necks out, who have to get the government involved, rather than just like a nurse who knows whats up just saying, This didnt go well, and they could just be fired without consequence.. It was the same with Dallas Medical Center where hedid not face any action. Take the case of Dr. Death, aka Dr. Christopher Duntsch. The information it tracks, includingmalpractice payouts and suspensions, is available only to hospital administrators, not doctors or patients. He'dassisted Dunstch in the operating room before and called his skills pathetic.". And when this podcast tells you all the gory details, you become that patient. Duntsch went on to work at the Legacy Surgery Center of Frisco and University General Hospital Dallas. The Dr. Death true story reveals that neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch injured 33 out of 38 patients that he saw over a span of less than two years. Joshua Jackson, who plays Duntsch, and AnnaSophia Robb, who plays assistant district attorney Michelle Shughart, the real-life prosecutor responsible for putting Duntsch behind bars, spoke with The Wrap about why they think Dr. Death did it. The Right Way to Mix Acids and Water: Always Add Acid to Water! It is an unfortunate reminder that even highly educated medical professionals are prone to human error when it comes to practicing medicine. His very first operation at the hospital would once again turn deadly. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! And this was 10 months before Duntsch's last surgery. [7] He likened what he found when he opened Efurd up to the results of a child playing with Tinkertoys or an erector set. During his second surgery at the new hospital, Duntsch lacerated a blood vessel supplying blood to his patient Floella Browns brain and she died after Duntschs efforts to repair the laceration failed. 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. Duntsch initially attended Millsaps College to play Division III college football, and later transferred to Division I Colorado State University. Ignatova believes this to be deliberate. Christopher Duntsch, the former neurosurgeon known for saying he wanted to "leave the love and kindness and goodness and patience" and "become a cold-blooded serial killer," is . The good-looking but eerie Jamie Dornan. One such recommendation came from the surgeon under whom Duntsch completed his residency, Dr. Frederick Boop. The real question isn't why Dr. Duntsch did what he did. When Henderson saw the imaging from Duntsch's surgery, he was certain that there would be legal action, and had the salvage surgery recorded. It would be very easy and for people to just plop Black Hat on him and call it a day and sleep well at night thinking that he was an aberration.". The University of Tennessee refused to comment on grounds of confidentiality, but neurosurgeon Dr. Frederick Boop, under whom Duntsch completed his residency, knew. Duntsch left Dallas Medical Center, but once again was not reported to the national data bankbecause he was not a full staff member and only worked there using temporary privileges. The monster in the white coat is all too real. The hospital saved face and avoided any lawsuits. Between 2011 and 2013, Christopher Duntsch operated on 37 patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The financial incentives are a huge part of what was driving him and what was driving the people all around to continue to believe in him in and invest in him despite the fact that there were all these red flags, Shugart said of Duntsch'sability to continue to gain employment. However, the proportion of successful operations compared to those which resulted in injury or death remains unclear. Improper training? And yet the actual tragedy is that someone could have stopped it. His best friend Jerry Summers (played by Dominic Burgess) was left a. "[3] A neurosurgery expert for Duntsch's defense team himself said, "The conditions which created Dr.Duntsch still exist, thereby making it possible for another to come along. Death limited series, neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch (played by Joshua Jackson), maimed and killed so many patients who came in for complex but routine procedures. Duntsch ended up slicing her vertebral artery, stopping blood and oxygen flow to her brain. Their suffering becomes yours. Peacocks Free tier includes 7,500 hours of ad-supported programming, including next-day access to episodes of first-year NBC shows, as well as a rotating lineup of classic films and television series. He was even more certain of his brilliance at the end than he was at the beginning, Joshua Jackson tells TheWrap, (Warning: This post contains spoilers through the finale of Peacocks Dr. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. In the first 15 minutes of the premiere alone, the viewer is asked to watch as Dr. Duntsch (played by Joshua Jackson) cuts his patients open, and loudly clamors at bone with hammers and screws . With such goings-on, Duntsch got himself kicked out of his own company. Whatever Duntsch set out to be when he first donned that white coat, being a media sensation for all the wrong reasons may not have been his goal. Veteran vascular surgeon Randall Kirby recalled that Duntsch frequently boasted about his abilities despite being so new to the area. Peacock is free as a bird. "Dr. Death" Sentenced to Life in Prison. Death, [Wonderys podcast on which the Peacock series is based]. Jerrys death is particularly tragic as it is linked to the surgeon from the podcast series Dr Death. Muse woke up in considerable pain, but Duntsch convinced him it was normal. According to his lawyers, Duntsch had not realized how poorly he had performed as a surgeon until he heard the prosecution experts tell the jury about his many blunders on the operating table. Death Showrunner Breaks Down Turning Hit Podcast Into New Drama Series On Peacock, AnnaSophia Robb Stars In New Series Dr. [38] Shughart countered that the 2011 email, sent after his first surgeries went wrong, proved that Duntsch knew his actions were intentional. They argued that Duntsch was motivated to continue operating because the lucrative salary of a neurosurgeon would solve his mounting financial problems. So the more it became untrue that Duntsch was a good surgeon and it was so obvious and evident from everything that was going on in his life, the more he had to believe over and above everybody else. Death are streaming now. The Hippocratic Oath is sworn by all doctors and binds them to do no harm. The statute of limitations made them base their case on only six victims. If you listened to #DrDeath you know his story. Surprisingly, his superiors at The University of Tennessee also gave him glowing reviews. He was held in the Dallas County jail for almost two years until the case went to trial in 2017. 33 of his 37 surgeries were botched, with two dead and 31 injured for life. [38][39] On December 10, 2018, the Texas Court of Appeals affirmed Duntsch's conviction by a 21 split decision. My take on it is, for him, it was hubris, Jackson mused. [9] Duntsch's defense blamed their client's actions on poor training and lack of oversight by the hospitals. Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a formr nurse practitioner in Dallas, Texas, was found guilty of maiming his elderly patient Mary Efurd and was sentenced to life in prison in February 2017. He is not eligible for parole until 2045, when he will be 74 years old. Why was Dr Duntsch so bad? ), As Dr. Duntsch graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and completed a residency program in neurosurgery. Like Jerry Summers (played by Dominic Burgess), he basically paralyzed his friend and then went in for a second surgery and essentially decapitated him. After graduating as a physician with above-average grades, he had his whole life ahead of him. The original patent still holds, and hopefully, Discgenics would be able to break out of the Dr. Death shadow todo some real anti-cancer work instead. The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education has strict rules about residency programs. Dubbed angels of death, they leave a trail of damage andloss for many reasons: human fallibility, malaise, or malice. Was Dr Christopher Duntsch board certified? Her response echoed what she shared on the podcast. 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. [7], While in Memphis, Duntsch began a long-term relationship with Wendy Renee Young. Muse spiraled into opioid addiction that cost him his wife and his job. Meanwhile, his patients kept suffering, and dying, in his OR. While some called his eventual downfall greed-related, who knows what evil the human mind is capable of. Duntsch was told to take a drug test but disappeared instead. Christopher Duntsch, who once claimed to be a mixture of "God, Einstein and the Antichrist," injured or killed 33 of his 38 patients in less than two years, according to prosecutors. His negligence resulted in two patients becoming paralyzed, leaving them unable to move any part of their body below the injury site due to a loss of sensation and motor control. Most doctors would pull themselves out of the field after a few botched surgeries because of the guilt they have to carry after permanently hurting someone. [33][34] The indictments were made four months before the statute of limitations were to run out. [14] He persuaded Young to come with him; Young agreed, since she had grown up in the Dallas area. Death, an eight-episode series on the terrifying true story of neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, notifies the viewer that certain parts have been fictionalized solely for dramatic purposes. This resulted in catastrophic outcomes for many of his patients, most of whom suffered severe injury or death because of his negligence. [35], The last charge was for the maiming and paralyzing of Efurd. Prosecutors also faulted Duntsch's employers for not reporting him. Another patient, 74-year-old Mary Efurd, wokeup from her procedurescreaming in pain and couldnt bear weight on her legs after her surgery. He declared bankruptcy after listing debts of over $1 million. At one point, he was only able to eat small bites of food at one time. He harmed the very people who trusted him. Christopher Duntsch, also known as Dr. Had Duntsch been fired, Baylor Plano would have been required to report him to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), which is intended to flag problematic physicians. Several of Duntsch's surgeries at Baylor Plano resulted in severely maimed patients: Baylor Plano officials found that Duntsch failed to meet their standards of care and permanently revoked his surgical privileges. Henderson actually checked if Duntsch was a real doctor with The University of Tennessee, appalled at the damage to Efurd's spine. Many shake and tremble, some have unimaginable pain. You can get access to the first three episodes of Dr. Death with Peacocks free tier. In 2017, he was convicted on five counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and sentenced to life in prison. Back in 2018, the Dr. Death podcast took the world by storm when we learned about the killer doctor, Christopher Duntsch. Death portrays him as having only one child, but in reality he has two sons with his wife, Michelle Young. [43], The conviction of Duntsch has been called a precedent-setting case, as it is believed to be the first time that a physician has been convicted on criminal charges for actions in the course of their medical work. Christopher Daniel Duntsch is a former neurosurgeon nicknamed Dr. Death for the murder of two of his patients and the maiming of 30 others while working at hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Was he intentionally harming people, or was he just that inadequate of a doctor? This is notably weird, considering Christopher Duntsch trained underDr. Boop, so you'd assume that theyoperated together as part of the whole learning surgery process. You can also watchAmerican Greedon CNBC, and Oxygen's own "License to Kill," which profiled Duntsch's deadly malpractice. Seven more doctors voiced complaints before TMB finally canceled Dr. Death's license.
13 mai 2023