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Posted 3/20/2011 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
The reverberations in Las Vegas on the doctor who was reusing once use tools during prostate cancer biopsies made for a busy week for yours truly. I was interviewed by the media 5 times and had a full house meeting on Thursday. Below is an article...

www.lvrj.com/news/doctor-accused-of-reusing-needle-guides-leaves-patients-angry-118320774.html

Also Mike Scott did a very nice write up on the InfoLink. It was only about trying to do the right things, but very nice...The original story is posted in Mikes piece...

prostatecancerinfolink.net/2011/03/18/a-study-in-media-management-for-prostate-cancer-support-group-leaders/

Sheesh...I already have 5 messages today and it's 10:30am...

Tony

Post Edited By Moderator (James C.) : 3/20/2011 11:44:36 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/20/2011 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Good discussion - covers why support groups have that initial gentleman's argeement on privacy.
Posted 3/20/2011 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
During my biopsy there was a female medical assistant who was handing materials and otherwise assisting the doctor and who was putting the samples into the proper receptacles and tagging them according to location. Surely someone was assisting Dr. Kaplan, and that person had to be aware of his allegedly sloppy procedures.
Posted 3/20/2011 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Clock,
That somebody was likely the whistle blower. It's important to note as was said in the article, Kaplan did have a strong reputation and he was helpful in starting our group 16 years ago...

His associate was cleared and that did not surprise me. He is a good guy and does not even work in the same building or use the same equipment.

The good news is that we received a great deal of publicity in the media. For that I am very thankful. It's just too bad the circumstances. As I said elsewhere we were completely unable to get media attention as a feel good story. I tried to get the press to come out to our open house in January...no go...But now we are blended into the headlines...And a lot more men in Las Vegas know we are there for them...

Tony
Posted 3/20/2011 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
The article mentions that he has been a defendant in 9 malpractice cases in the last 16 years.  I understand the whole "innocent until proven guilty", but that sure sounds high.  Does anyone have any idea how to put that into context with other surgeons?
Posted 3/21/2011 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Mack,
I dunno to be honest. I once heard that if a doctor hasn't had a malpractice settlement he hasn't had enough patients. I have no idea how to confirm that one, but this case is beyond just that. This case is a mess and it should never have happened. Whatever lies ahead in the discipline of this doctor will be appropriate I am certain. Las Vegas was rocked by a huge nationwide headline event 3 years ago when a doctor (Dipak Desai) was reusing syringes at a gastroenterology center. We, the folks of Las Vegas, I'm sure had hoped that the directions were properly read on such devices moving forward.

Sigh!

Tony
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