In July 2015, Duntsch was arrested in Dallas and charged with six felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, five counts of aggravated assault causing severe bodily injury, and one count of injury to an elderly person. Anatomy of a Tragedy. is a beautiful and populous city located in Montana U.S. . After the operation, Brown woke up and seemed fine, but early the following day; she lost consciousness. The sponge triggered a severe blood-borne infection that caused Glidewell to become septic. During surgery, Duntsch damaged Summers' vertebral artery causing it to bleed uncontrollably. He was brilliant. At the time, Duntsch was looking for operating prospects in Dallas, San Diego, and New York. It was then that Christopher decided to switch his career to medicine. Duntsch continued operating despite clear signs that Martin was losing massive amounts of blood. Here's All That Has Happened to the Real Christopher Duntsch A - Yahoo! 3-Jeff Glidewell, another victim of Duntsch's. 4-Michelle Shugart, the woman who brought this all to fruition . Hospital officials were exasperated when Duntsch refused to delay Efurd's surgery, and asked him multiple times to care for Brown or transfer her out of his care. Duntsch moved to Denver, Colorado, and went into a downward spiral. Fennell is in constant pain, and it took several months of rehabilitation before he could begin to walk with a cane. If you had back pain, and had tried everything else, Dr. Duntsch could give you the spine surgery that would take your pain away. But, she never reported Duntsch up the ladder or told anyone about the horrors she witnessed in the operating room. During surgery, he cut a major vessel in her spinal cord. In 2010, he completed the MDPhD and neurosurgery residency programs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center,[3] and subsequently completed a spine fellowship program at the Semmes-Murphey Clinic in Memphis. He was a genius. Former neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch is one of the most infamous doctors ever brought to trial in a criminal case, and with good reason. Christopher Duntsch | True Crime Buzz | Oxygen Official Site 'Killer' Surgeon Gets Life for Maiming Patient - Medscape Christopher Duntsch Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth [31][16] The inquiry went nowhere until 2015, when the statute of limitations on any potential charges was due to run out. Duntsch moved into a five-bedroom house not far from the hospital. July 19, 2021. Around 2006 and 2007, Duntsch began to become unhinged. Christopher Duntsch: A Review of Clinicide - Walsh Medical Media Christopher Duntsch was nicknamed Dr. Death due to the injuries he caused his patients. She witnessed Duntsch put on his lab coat and make his rounds the following morning as if nothing had happened. Duntsch also appears in no yearbooks during the time in which he says he earned his Ph.D. After this look at Christopher Duntsch a.k.a. Where Is Christopher Duntsch Now After His Appearance on - Distractify 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. Prosecutors also faulted Duntsch's employers for not reporting him. For instance, he upbraided him for missing the signs that Martin was bleeding out, saying that, "You can't not know [that] and be a neurosurgeon. 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. 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. He realized he'd seen that hole for three straight days Duntsch hadn't changed his scrubs all week. Why Did Dr. Death Do It? 'Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story' Explains In a long running series of complaints, a Texas doctor has been found guilty of a felony in one medical malpractice case. This was the time when Dr. Christopher Duntsch started to turn into Dr. Death. For the last three days, jurors listened to testimony in the . Over the course of 18-months, the nefarious ex-surgeon performed a spree of botched . Jerry Summers believed that his best friend Christopher Duntsch was a talented neurosurgeon who would cure his chronic neck pain. 5 of Dallas County (opinion)", "Texas Court of Appeals Affirms Conviction of 'Dr. He refused to abort the surgery even after a trauma surgeon colleague and an anesthesiologist warned him about the blood loss. [12], Initially, Duntsch focused heavily on the PhD half of his degree. Anatomy of a Tragedy: The Story Behind 'Sociopath Surgeon' Christopher With Brown still in the ICU, Duntsch took another patient into surgery that morning. When he woke up, he was a quadriplegic with incomplete paralysis. Dr Death, un nuevo programa que llegar a Peacock el jueves (15 de julio), se basa en la historia de la vida real de Christopher Duntsch, un ex neurocirujano que era, como dijo un famoso titular de ProPublica, "tan malo que era criminal".. Joshua Jackson interpreta a Duntsch, que ahora tiene 50 aos y cumple cadena perpetua despus de ser condenado en 2017 por mutilar a uno de sus . Updated Dec 9, 2022 at 3:25pm. Over this period, Duntsch performed back surgeries that left his patients in a worse condition, paralyzed, or deceased. But police say an email Duntsch wrote in 2011 points to his mind-set in the months before he "intentionally, knowingly and . The operation should have taken less than ninety minutes; it ultimately lasted four and a half hours. Morguloff sought a second opinion on his excruciating pain from Dr. Michael Desaloms. He ran two labs, gained experience writing grants, and earned more than $3 million in funding for research projects. Base compensation was $600,000 a year for two years, beginning on June 14, 2011. Wendy Young had just given birth to their son and lived there with him. He then prescribed Muse so much Percocet that a pharmacist refused to fill the prescription. Ratings for Dr. Christopher D. Duntsch, Inactive. In May 2013, Dr. Randall Kirby was invited to a dinner by University General Hospital to meet their new neurosurgeon, Dr. Duntsch. 'Dr. Death' Condemns Christopher Duntsch, but the Real Culprit Is Texas [2][4][19][7], Duntsch moved to Dallas Medical Center in Farmers Branch, where he was granted temporary privileges until hospital officials could obtain his records from Baylor Plano. While there, he damaged patient Jeff Cheney's spinal cord, leaving him without feeling on the right side of his body. In 2017, Duntsch was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of maiming one of his patients. A Surgeon So Bad It Was Criminal ProPublica In effect, plaintiffs have to prove a tough case without access to the necessary hospital records. He will not be eligible for parole until 2045, when he will be 74-years-old. They argued that Duntsch was motivated to continue operating because the lucrative salary of a neurosurgeon would solve his mounting financial problems. The patient was Mary Efurd coming in for a second operation. [37][4], Over objections from Duntsch's lawyers, prosecutors called many of Duntsch's other patients to the stand in order to prove that his actions were intentional. He declared bankruptcy after listing debts of over $1 million. [40][41] On May 8, 2019, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused Duntschs petition for discretionary review. Jeff Cheney later learned that part of his spinal cord had been cut during the operation. [7] While operating on Jacqueline Troy, Duntsch cut one of her vocal cords and an artery and also damaged her trachea. She was 27, and he was 40. The director of neurosurgery at UT Southwestern, Carlos Bagley, testifying for the defense, said that "the only way this happens is that the entire system fails the patients." [19] Prosecutors sought a sentence long enough to ensure that Duntsch would never be able to practice medicine again. He will not be eligible for parole until 2045, when he will be 74-years-old. Pic credit: Dallas County Sheriff's Office. 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 DallasFort Worth metroplex. In my opinion, we had a serial killer in our medical community, Dr. Randall Kirbysays of Christopher Duntsch in "Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story.". It was Duntsch, babbling about his family being in danger. 'Dr. Death': Texas Neurosurgeon Sentenced to Life in Prison - Peoplemag "[20][4] Under heavy lobbying from Kirby and Henderson, the Texas Medical Board suspended Duntsch's license on June 26, 2013. It involves the case of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a spinal neurosurgeon who left a trail of dead and permanently disabled . He performed only one surgery with the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute. 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=1139253982. By the end of the week, administrators told Duntsch he would no longer be operating at Dallas Medical Center. 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 . Duntsch's next patient was Jeff Glidewell. [10][7], Duntsch completed his residency having participated in fewer than 100 surgeries. Prosecutors sought a sentence long enough to ensure that Duntsch would never be able to practice medicine again. Summers remained quadriplegic for the rest of his life. They didn't have enough evidence to stop him because he hadn't done anything wrong yet. 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." Just one day after his suspension had ended, Duntsch operated on Kellie Martin. Duntsch told Mayfield's wife it went well, but she instantly knew something was wrong as she walked into his room. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "[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. Having exhausted his football eligibility, Duntsch decided to switch to a career in medicine. Her husband could not hold himself up; he had no support of his own and could barely speak. Christopher Duntsch, 44, faces up to life in prison if convicted. Over objections from Duntsch's lawyers, prosecutors called many of Duntsch's other patients to the stand to prove that his actions were intentional. In 2014, he developed syringomyelia, a painful condition that causes fluid-filled cysts on the spinal cord. Texas neurosurgeon nicknamed 'Dr. Death' found guilty of maiming woman The surgery was supposed to take less than 45 minutes and ultimately lasted over four hours. On May 24, 2011, Christopher Duntsch signed a physician services agreement with Rimlawi and Won's Minimally Invasive Spine Institute (MISI) in Dallas. 'Dr. Death': Who Is Kim Morgan, and What Happened to Her? Muse woke up in considerable pain, but Duntsch convinced him it was normal. On November 7, 2011, Dr. Duntsch was scheduled to perform his first surgery at Baylor Plano on Kenneth Fennell for his back pain. He is not eligible for parole until 2045; he will be 74 years old by then. His mother, Susan, was a school teacher. He refused to acknowledge anything was wrong, hindering the, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 04:48. [26][4], After leaving Dallas Medical Center, Duntsch received privileges at South Hampton Community Hospital in Dallas and also took a job at an outpatient clinic named Legacy Surgery Center (now Frisco Ambulatory Surgery Center) in Frisco. Where is Christopher Duntsch AKA Dr. Death now? By this time, however, Brown was brain dead. The process involves cutting a hole in the skull to relieve the pressure in the brain. 0:05. In October 2011, she registered articles of incorporation to form Duntsch's practice, the Texas Neurosurgical Institute. Duntsch's next stop was at Dallas Medical Center. Immediately, he started yelling and cussing at me, saying, 'How dare you? He recommended fusing two of her vertebrae and the insertion of "hardware" in her spinal area. His resume looked brilliant on paper," journalistMatt Goodman said of Christopher Duntsch's ability to continue to gain employment at Texas hospitals despite a deadly track record. Dr Death, un nuevo programa que llegar a Peacock el jueves (15 de julio), se basa en la historia de la vida real de Christopher Duntsch, un ex neurocirujano que era, como dijo un famoso titular de ProPublica, "tan malo que era criminal".. Joshua Jackson interpreta a Duntsch, que ahora tiene 50 aos y cumple cadena perpetua despus de ser condenado en 2017 por mutilar a uno de sus . [4] Duntsch also claimed to have graduated magna cum laude from St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital with a doctorate in microbiology a program that the hospital did not offer at the time he allegedly attended. [4], Upon applying for work, he looked extremely qualified on paper: he had spent a total of fifteen years in training (medical school, residency and fellowship), and his curriculum vitae was twelve single-spaced pages. Dr. Christopher Duntsch appeared to havean impressive resume, but left a trail ofpain and devastation for those who trusted him with their health. 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. ", "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? Not only was he not qualified for and held no privileges to perform brain surgery, but Dallas Medical did not have the proper equipment or personnel for such an operation. Christopher Duntsch - Wikipedia Dr. Christopher Duntsch's patients ended up maimed and dead, but the real tragedy is that the Texas Medical Board couldn't stop him. Duntsch initially attended Millsaps College to play Division III college football, and later transferred to Division I Colorado State University. Jodi Smith. Mayfield also suffered from random fainting spells that happen every few weeks. To top it all off, he was operating on the wrong portion of her back. 5 chilling details about Christopher Duntsch - sportskeeda.com [16] Kirby also recalled that Duntsch's skills in the operating room left much to be desired; as Kirby put it, "he could not wield a scalpel".[4]. Dr. Duntsch assured Muse that the pain was normal and prescribed him, strong pain killers, causing him to spiral into an addiction. B. Ellis Unit outside Huntsville. Duntsch told his friends and family that Passmore would be fine in a day or two and to not worry about it. [46], Dr. Death, a TV mini-series based on the podcast, began streaming on Peacock on July 15, 2021. We've had a catastrophic event here. He called Duntsch's fellowship supervisor in Memphis, as well as 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. "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. Christopher Duntsch is currently imprisoned at the O.B. Duntsch arrived at the hospital about 45 minutes after Efurd's surgery had been scheduled. [8] Duntsch returned home to attend Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis). Dr. Robert Henderson was brought in on July 28, 2012, to perform a revision surgery on Efurd. The series follows two other surgeons, along with . [19][25][7] She later recalled waking up feeling "excruciating pain", a "ten-plus" on a scale of 1 to 10. Trusty would later find out there was no award and it had just been a paid advertisement. Their fling was confined to his office at Baylor Plano, and Morgan said in her deposition that he frequently drank vodka and did medical research for hours. 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. 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. 11:15 PM on Mar 1, 2014 CST. The staff told Duntsch that Brown, his patient from the day before, was in critical condition. When he called Duntsch's office, he was told it would "go away." Watch the trailer for Dr . I dont know if hes there to harm me or what his true intentions were, Wendy Young said of the harrowing alleged encounter with Christopher Duntsch. "[32][9] ADA Michelle Shughart, who led the prosecution of Duntsch, later recalled that Henderson, Kirby, and Lazar contacted her demanding to testify against Duntsch; according to Shughart, doctors almost never testify against each other. However, things soon went south. He also reported shooting pains throughout his body. Prince Charming, Im gonna change your life, Wendy Young said of the promising start to her romance with Christopher Duntsch. Duntsch's defense blamed their client's actions on poor training and lack of hospital oversight. To stop the bleeding, he packed the space with so much anticoagulant foam that it constricted Summers' spine. D MagazineChristopher Duntsch a.k.a. Then, on December 6, 2011, he operated on seventy-four-year-old Mary Efurd. Patient paralyzed by Dr. Death 'guarantees' there are other surgeons 0:57. From 2011 to 2013, dozens of patients in the Dallas area woke up after their surgeries with horrible pain, numbness and, paralysis. Written by Patrick Macmanus, the show will only be available exclusively on Peacock. No one came out and spoke with Kellie Martin's family or informed them of her condition during this time. Passmore told D Magazine during an interview that he is uncomfortable receiving any attention but knows he must do so if anyone is going to listen. He knew this couldn't have been a one-time mistake. Barry Morguloff, the owner of a pool service company, was left with bone fragments in his spinal canal after Duntsch tried to pull a damaged, Jerry Summers, a longtime friend of Duntsch's, came to Plano to have, Kellie Martin was undergoing a routine back operation when Duntsch cut through her spinal cord and severed an artery. In his deposition, Summers admitted he made up the pre-surgery cocaine binge because he felt Duntsch had abandoned him, as both his doctor and his friend. The night before his surgery, he read online about Kellie Martin's death just months earlier. [7] He likened what he found when he opened Efurd up to the results of a child playing with Tinkertoys or an erector set. Mr. The suit alleged that Baylor Plano made an average net profit of $65,000 on every spinal surgery performed by Duntsch. Troy was left barely able to speak above a whisper, had to be sedated for weeks and had to be fed through a feeding tube for some time as food was getting into her lungs. B. Ellis Unit outside Huntsville. After 13 days of trial, the jury needed only four hours to convict him for the maiming of Efurd, and on February 20, 2017, he was sentenced to life in prison. A Texas neurosurgeon accused of intentionally botching multiple spinal surgeries, resulting in the death of two .