Ex-Cardio License Suspended

[KimC]

Greetings!

I've mentioned that my former cardio was in hot water for substance abuse, namely, attending to a patient in heart failure while under the influence. (The ER nurse turned him in).

Our local hospital temporarily suspended the doctor?s license with the stipulation that he would seek rehab, which he did. He recently failed a drug test, however and his license was suspended again.

It gets worse.

I felt sorry for him until our local paper started receiving calls from doctors, nurses, hospital staff and patients regarding his competence and integrity. His former wife even called to report that he lied about his personal and medical background.

He lied about his American citizenship to get his local driver?s license then lied to local hospital about his medical education. He led the Board to think that he studied at St. George?s; he did but not St. George?s in London as a Rhodes Scholar. He studied at St. George?s in Grenada. The feds have charged him with posing as an American citizen -- he may go to prison for three years if proven guilty.

It gets even worse ...

Under federal and state laws, hospitals are not allowed to perform non-life threatening caths unless an open-heart operating room is standing by. From 1997-2000, my former cardio directed the cath lab at the hospital and performed hundreds of non-emergent caths at a great profit to him and the hospital under the guise of an ongoing research study.

Federal Health officials have collected data and files from our local hospital, and the state oversight committee charged with monitoring medical practice in our state is under fire.

The editor-in-chief of our local paper called me tonight to ask if the breaking news story gave me any sense of retribution. I said, ?Thank you and congratulations,? and that?s about it. He said we basically have no medical oversight in our state.

I had terrible, irresponsible care from my former cardio. I went through hell, experienced near death and now will probably live a shorter life span. I honestly don?t know if there?s anything my former cardio could?ve have done for me, (except return my phone calls when I was having chest pain the week before I gave birth to my son)!

I guess I do feel some sense of justice. This man shouldn?t practice medicine: he?s a pathological liar; he misdiagnosed me, altered my records after I sought a second opinion from another cardio and I have no proof ? but I know, and God knows. And the medical community knows from their experience working with this man.

This definitely helps bring closure to the past two years. I don't know what God's plans are for me, but I'm feeling stronger and stronger and more confident that whatever happens, I'll be just fine. I've got an angel looking out for me.

All the best,

 

[MichyB]

That is absolutely SCARY. Just goes to show that you cannot trust a good name, a good reputation, the named chair of this organization, the named professor of that hospital ... etc. You can only trust your gut when it comes to medicine.

I'm so glad you found out before he did any further damage to you, and I'm sorry that you went through hell. Unbelievable.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Awful Kim, just awful. I have a pit in my stomach right now just thinking about it. How on earth could that hospital not formally check his credentials? How many others are out there like him? Don't they have to pass boards in the US before opening up shop? Gosh, I feel for you and pray you are in better hands.

Take care.

 

[Ross]

Is this the same guy that asked you about your Coke use?

 

[Kay]

Kim,

Praise God that you survived that horrible experience! I can't even imagine what a scary and life-threatening thing you've endured.

This doctor tops any of the horror stories I've ever heard. We had one in Dallas recently that was pretty bad but doesn't hold a candle to yours. Believe it or not, he was not any kind of a doctor - something like an insurance agent I think - and he had a bunch of phony degrees and liscenses printed up and became a "gynecologist" !!! He actually advertised in The Dallas Morning News that he would do free pelvic exams and pap smears as a way of giving back to the community. Sadly, many low-income women lined up at his office for treatment. He set up his "practice", performed exams, did pretend pap smears, and got away with it for a few weeks. Finally one of our local TV investigative reporters pretended to be a patient and took in hidden cameras and asked him a bunch of questions. He got very agitated with all her questions and then the police moved in. It was all on film. The guy looked like a normal businessman and his shocked and hysterical (and unknowing) wife looked like the typical suburban housewife. She didn't have a clue. It was unbelievable. But your doctor takes the cake. Our phony gynecologist was at least not as life-threatening.

With all the information available at our fingertips on the internet, these two cases should be a lesson to us all. There are sites to check doctors' credentials as well as the times they've been written up for violations. There's a nominal cost at some of the sites but would definitely be money well spent.

I pray you escaped physically unscathed from your treatment from this criminal and that the emotional trauma will soon heal now that the truth is out about him.

 

[Nancy]

Oh Kim-

How absolutely terrible. How these scam artists get to have so much responsibility in the medical profession is one of medicine's dirty little secrets.

It goes to show you just how gullible we all are. Just 'cause someone touts his/her own expertise is not a good reason to believe them or put them on a pedestal. Liars come with many different coats.

When that little inner voice starts to nag you and you feel uneasy with any profesional relationship, it's time to move on. Things like not returning calls, ignoring symptoms, telling you it's all in your head, not prescribing meds when you need them, are all BIG red flags.

You have great strength of character, Kim. You will get stronger and stronger as time goes on. Once something likes this happens to us, we are ever vigilant, and that is a very good thing.

Require excellent medical care, go to the best doctors and cherish them, and do everything you can to understand the nature of your own personal medical problems, so that you can know when something isn't going right with your care. Be proactive and ask as many questions as you need to understand what is going on with you. And make sure you get all the answers.

I also want to ask the same question that Ross asked, is this the one who asked you about coke??

 

[KimC]

Thank you ... very well-said and taken to heart (and head).

No, this is the cardio who consulted with the surgeon and my father in Ft. Wayne regarding my case. The surgeon asked if I did coke. Isn't that interesting?

You can be sure that I'm copying and sending the front page newspaper articles to my Dad and the surgeon.

The good news is that I found a decent cardiologist on the island, and since I've been treated, my symptoms are less noticable. I've been able to move on with my life in many ways. (I was a neurotic mess a few months ago).

The longer I live on this island, the more I wonder if it's the right place for my family in the run long. It seems like paradise but I'm finding all kinds of lies hidden in the moss of the Live Oaks. (OK, maybe that's a bit dramatic).

Blessings,

 

[KimC]

P.S. Nancy

P.S. Nancy

If you don't mind, I'm going to write a Letter to the Editor with some of the gems in your post! I promise not to quote you.

 

[Nancy]

"The longer I live on this island, the more I wonder if it's the right place for my family in the run long. It seems like paradise but I'm finding all kinds of lies hidden in the moss of the Live Oaks. (OK, maybe that's a bit dramatic)."

Sounds like the opening lines of a good book. Now get writing, Kim. Make a ton of money from this tragedy. You deserve it.

 

[Marguerite53]

Thank goodness it's all out in the open now

Thank goodness it's all out in the open now

Oh, Kim. I just wanted to weep! The most difficult part was the injustice you were forced to endure (and the consequences that may continue). And that the man had no heart, after all. You sound very strong in character as you've relayed your responses to us. You have taken the high road and for that you must be commended. Truly.

If you are wondering whether "this island" is the best place, you might want to plan some vacations elsewhere to check out some communities (preferably closer to a great hospital). While your children are young, it is a great time to move them. Once you get connected with schools, teachers and families the roots really start to grow and you lose your sense of trust and village and have to start all over. Maybe your island should become your vacation spot and your home should be more a more practical location. ??

Either way, at least you know that your horrible experience was not a figment of your imagination or an exagerrated drama. I am so glad that they caught the b******!

Marguerite

 

[Georgia]

Kim, all I can say is thank God he's finally been outed.

Our community spawned a doc who was a mass murderer; I think in a way this guy you had was worse, mainly because there are so many more of the quiet incompetents than the psychotics.

 

[Karlynn]

Kim,
Truth is stranger than fiction. If someone had made a movie with that character they would have accused the writer of going over-board.

You should feel a sense of justice from this. It's not often we get to see those who wronged us, in some way, have to account for themselves.

 

[Abbanabba]

I'm rendered almost "speechless" reading about him Kim!! I'm just SOOOOOOO glad you listened to your gut-feelings and found someone else to look after your health..... and they HAVE to be an improvement!!!

A : )

 

[McCln]

KimC

KimC

Just feel better that he has been caught and will pay a heavy price for everything he has done to everyone. This is why politicians want caps for malpractice suits. So that these terrible people, who are not real doctors, play the part, getting rich and run and hide. I will pray for your health. Take care.

 

[Harpoon]

"The longer I live on this island, the more I wonder if it's the right place for my family in the run long. It seems like paradise but I'm finding all kinds of lies hidden in the moss of the Live Oaks. (OK, maybe that's a bit dramatic)."

Sounds like the opening lines of a good book. Now get writing, Kim. Make a ton of money from this tragedy. You deserve it.

Oooohhhh.... A nice mystery type novel filled with suspence and intrigue.

The antagonist is a cardiologist with ill-gotten credentials who's been practicing for years without the slightest hint of impropriety. He's well respected within the island community. Very well known and even loved for all the community service work he does and his financial generosity to those in the community who've been in need. He has all the support in the world from his peers on the island and off. He's the one everyone seeks out even if their problems are not heart related.

The protagonist, a patient who remains skeptical of the cardiologist's diagnoses and course of treatment but has little or no way of proving her suspicions are justified until.....



Heeheehee.... I shoulda' been a novelist.