MD Whistleblower

Gallbladder removal, known as cholecystectomy, is one of the most common surgical procedures performed.  Over a million Americans will give up their gallbladders this year.  The most common gallbladder symptom is abdominal pain which is usually caused by gallstones.  There are other reasons that gallbladders are removed which I will leave aside in this post. It’s very gratifying for physicians when a patient enjoys a pain free life after gallbladder removal.  However, every gastroenterologist and general surgeon has seen patients whose abdominal pain lives on after cholecystectomy.  This is a frustrating scenario primarily for patients but also for the medical professionals.  Some of these disappointed patients had consulted with numerous physicians for advice on their abdominal pain.  Did all of these physicians mess up?  How could this happen? Of course, physician error can never be excluded since we doctors, like everyone, are flawed member...

I wouldn't call it rogue, but at times we do go it alone.   In fact, I recently performed a medical procedure on a patient without obtaining formal informed consent. Was this a brazen violation of medical ethics? Should I be reported to the Ohio Medical Board? Could my action be considered as a criminal battery? Hopefully, none of the 3 above inquiries will be responded to in the affirmative. Obtaining informed consent for medical testing and treatment is a bedrock precept of medical ethics.   Patients are entitled to know the risks, benefits and alternatives to our proposed recommendations.     Too frequently, informed consent is regarded as a pro forma exercise.    Signing consent forms drafted by hospital attorneys may offer the hospital legal protection, but this is not obtaining informed consent as I understand it.     I have summarily signed my own medical consent forms without reading through the documents.   I surm...

 A few days before preparing this post, I greeted a patient who was about to undergo her 5 th colonoscopy.  I was the pilot for the 4 prior excursions.   “You should’ve signed up for the rewards program,” I quipped.  “This one would’ve been free!”  Our patients, with rare exceptions, enjoy our light atmosphere seasoned with some humor.  This does not detract from our seriousness of purpose and commitment to their welfare, and they know it.  Our endoscopy team is comprised of outstanding medical professionals. I care for many patients for whom I have performed all of their colonoscopies, which may exceed 10 procedures.   I recently performed an examination on one of my colitis patients who has unique findings which have remained stable for years.   I know his colon as well as I know his face!   Indeed, if I were shown a photo of his colon, I would immediately be able to name the individual.   So, when we gastroenterologists c...

Over the last decade, I’ve shared many vignettes about many gastroenterology medical conditions, diagnostic strategies and treatment options.  However, this is not a medical blog; it’s a medical commentary blog.  In other words, these posts are not a resource for readers who want understand how the pancreas works or how best to treat Crohn’s disease.  My angle would be more likely discussing why patient with Crohn’s might think twice before pursuing a second opinion.  I don’t present the diagnostic possibilities of abdominal pain that could serve as a primer for patients.  But I might point out why a CAT scan casually ordered on patient with stomach pain can tear open Pandora’s box. Pandora should have 'kept a lid on it!' So, in this spirit I’ve prepared a 3-question quiz for readers with the answers found at the foot of this post.   Regular Whistleblower readers will cut through all three of them like a buzz saw    Even t wo of correct answers ...