christopher duntsch website

His case is receiving renewed attention in the media. But police say an email Duntsch wrote in 2011 points to his mind-set in the months before he "intentionally, knowingly and . The Terrifying True Story Behind Peacock's Dr. Death - E! Online He also reported shooting pains throughout his body. According to D Magazine, Duntsch did so well in medical school that he was allowed to join the prestigiousAlpha Omega Medical Honor Society. [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. Once, he stopped by to pick up some paperwork. Dr. Phil airs on weekdays. [4] Mayfield died of COVID-19 in February 2021; according to his wife, he had been vulnerable to the virus due to complications caused by Duntsch's botched surgeries. Duntsch moved into a five-bedroom house not far from the hospital. She also said that he kept a pile of cocaine on his dresser in his home office. 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. 11:15 PM on Mar 1, 2014 CST. Dr. Henderson thought the operation on Mary Efurd was so botched that Christopher Duntsch had to be an imposter. Left: Christopher Duntsch in surgery, Right: Christopher Duntschs mugshot. But he yearned to play linebacker for a Division 1 team and set his sights on the Colorado State Rams. 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. His very first operation at the hospital would once again turn deadly. Many readers may recognize the name Christopher Duntsch, a doctor who allegedly was negligent in his practice for years before finally being stripped of his medical license. Henderson then cleaned out bone fragments and discovered that one of Efurd's nerve roots was gone entirely. That same month, the two began an affair. [9][24][19][7] After several days, Kirby was brought in to repair the damage and later described what he found after opening Glidewell back up as the work of a "crazed maniac". Dr. Frederick Boop, chief of neurosurgery at the hospital where Duntsch was completing his residency, said that university officials asked Duntsch to take a drug test. [27], While attempting to remove degenerated discs in Marshall "Tex" Muse's back, Duntsch left surgical hardware floating between the spine and muscle tissue. The deal required Duntsch to attain privileges at Baylor Regional Medical Center in Plano. She was dancing at a strip club in Memphis, and Duntsch's issues with his business, DiscGenics, grew more severe. [19][16] Kirby claimed that it looked as if Duntsch had tried to decapitate Glidewell and contended that such a botched surgery "has not happened in the United States of America" before. In one particularly disturbing episode, in March 2015, she said she arrived home to her front door had been locked with a deadbolt from the inside. [4], Longtime spine surgeon Robert Henderson performed the salvage surgery on Efurd. Mr. His father, Donald, was a physical therapist and Christian missionary. The television series Dr. Death based on the incident, began streaming on Peacock in July 2021. 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. No show's ever made you as terrified of doctors as 'Dr. Death' will Chris Dozois, a fellow linebacker with the Rams, recalled Duntsch struggling, even with basic drills, but begging to run them over and over until he got it right. I am sorry in advance that this blog post is so long. Philip Mayfield, one of Christopher Duntschs patients, who was paralyzed after his surgery. An investigator by trade and nature, Passmore started digging into Dr. Christopher Duntsch. 'Killer' Surgeon Gets Life for Maiming Patient - Medscape Who is Christopher Duntsch and what did he do? | The US Sun "[20][4] Under heavy lobbying from Kirby and Henderson, the Texas Medical Board suspended Duntsch's license on June 26, 2013. Due to the debilitating pain, Fennell later had a second operation by Duntsch to relieve it, and was left significantly paralyzed in his legs. Duntsch recommended fusing Morguloff's L5-S1 vertebrae, and the surgery was scheduled for January 11, 2012. Jurors convicted Duntsch Tuesday of injury to an elderly person in the botched July 2012 surgery that put Mary Efurd in a wheelchair. 'Sociopath' neurosurgeon accused of botching operations Dr. Death, read about how reckless surgeon Robert Liston killed his patient and two bystanders. Joshua Jackson on Not Playing Dr. Death as an Evil Man 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. Christopher Duntsch was just a regular guy who became Dr. Death after he decided to be a neurosurgeon. Since receiving his life sentence, Dr Death is currently housed in the O.B. It stars Joshua Jackson as Duntsch, Alec Baldwin as Robert Henderson, Christian Slater as Randall Kirby and AnnaSophia Robb as Michelle Shughart. Anatomy of a Tragedy: The Story Behind 'Sociopath Surgeon' Christopher 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. Dr. Death: The Long & Bloody Road to Justice for Dallas' Deadly Doctor My experience with this doctor has been great. The patient was Mary Efurd coming in for a second operation. Ellis Unit prison in Huntsville, Texas. He proved to be Duntsch's last surgery; University General pushed him out soon afterward. Vaccinated people who catch Covid are reporting unique symptoms - the 4 signs to watch for, Man, 34, charged with murder after woman, 63, killed in house fire as family vow 'you'll never be forgotten', Six dead after private jet crashes and explodes in fireball between two houses sparking forest blaze near golf course. Did Christopher Duntsch have a wife and kids? Duntsch stuffed Glidewell's throat with a surgical sponge to attempt to stop the bleeding. Base compensation was $600,000 a year for two years, beginning on June 14, 2011. The hospital initiated another peer review, but Duntsch resigned rather than face certain termination. ", "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? 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. Prince Charming, Im gonna change your life, Wendy Young said of the promising start to her romance with Christopher Duntsch. Where is Christopher Duntsch AKA Dr. Death now? - The US Sun Duntsch's next patient was Jeff Glidewell. Around 2006 and 2007, Duntsch began to become unhinged. Troy was sedated for weeks and forced to eat through a feeding tube because food was getting into her lungs. She says she even filed a temporary protective order against him in April 2012, after he showed up banging on her window at 2 am. When other doctors discovered the sponge, Duntsch refused to return to help remove it. He has taken Baylor Plano to court over changing the Texas law requiring patients to prove that a hospital intended to harm them when it granted privileges to someone unsafe. [35], The last charge was for the maiming and paralyzing of Efurd. She witnessed Duntsch put on his lab coat and make his rounds the following morning as if nothing had happened. He didn't wear underwear. Lee Passmore's screams poured out from the ICU and down the hallway. [18] He damaged patient Philip Mayfield's spinal cord, drilling into it and leaving him partially paralyzed from the neck down. Death.. The day that Brown suffered her stroke, Duntsch operated again. No one came out and spoke with Kellie Martin's family or informed them of her condition during this time. Dr. Death in surgery. Since receiving his life sentence, Dr Death is currently housed in the O.B. 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. The case highlights the risks of allowing a troubled physician to move to another hospital . MISI representatives stated he would brag about his capabilities and be critical of the work of other surgeons. Dr. Duntsch came from a good family and showed considerable potential at medical school. 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. He didn't contact a lawyer, although he struggled with the decision. 5 of Dallas County (opinion)", "Texas Court of Appeals Affirms Conviction of 'Dr. "I called Dr. Duntsch up, and I said, 'I saw this online.' A patient who was left barely able to walk and in constant pain after undergoing two botched surgeries at the hands of killer neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch says he 'guarantees' there are other . As Burke says in "Dr. Death," "No matter what happens, no matter what somebody does to you or the people you love, all you're gonna get is $250,000. Christopher Duntsch a.k.a. 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." Im the only clean minimally invasive guy in the whole state.. Christopher Duntsch | True Crime Buzz | Oxygen Official Site As part of their investigation, prosecutors obtained a December 2011 email written by Christopher Duntsch. 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. 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.". [31][16] The inquiry went nowhere until 2015, when the statute of limitations on any potential charges was due to run out. Dr. Death was fired before the end of his first week for the damage hed inflicted on Brown and Efurd. An anesthesiologist and Dr. Anson Fulton, who assisted with the surgery, warned Duntsch about the blood loss, and he continued to ignore them and operate. Dr. Randall Kirby, a general and vascular surgeon, assisted with Morguloff. Duntsch is a former Dallas neurosurgeon who, through . Here's All That Has Happened to the Real Christopher Duntsch A - Yahoo! He refused to acknowledge anything was wrong, hindering the, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 04:48. [42] The four hospitals that employed Duntsch have ongoing civil cases against him. 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. Duntsch, 40 at that time, bought an appletini for Young, 27, and they started their relationship. 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's trial has been called a precedent-setting case, as it's the first time that a physician has been convicted on criminal charges for actions in the course of their medical work and malpractice involving botched surgery. "If he wasn't doing research, he was out with Jerry Summers, partying," Morgan said in her deposition. He thought it was odd that Duntsch wasn't working at Baylor Plano anymore, so he called his insurance company, who stated Christopher Duntsch was in good standing. Around this time, Christopher Duntsch's behavior became noticeably erratic. [9], In March 2014, three former patients of Duntsch's Mary Efurd, Kenneth Fennel, and Lee Passmore filed separate federal lawsuits against Baylor Plano, alleging the hospital allowed Duntsch to perform surgeries despite knowing that he was a dangerous physician. When Morgan asked Duntsch about the woman in his house, he said she was just his secretary and friend. 'Dr. Death' Case Holds Lessons for Risk Managers, Hospitals The process involves cutting a hole in the skull to relieve the pressure in the brain. Christopher Duntsch. This case was filed in Dallas County District Courts, Dallas County Civil District Courts located in Dallas, Texas. [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. During surgery, Duntsch damaged Summers' vertebral artery causing it to bleed uncontrollably. (The Associated Press) A Texas neurosurgeon branded a "sociopath" by his colleagues could be facing 99 years in prison over multiple charges of intentionally botching . Your trust is important to us. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Duntsch, aka Dr Death, was sentenced to life in prison in 2017, Dr Death - Trailer for the Peacock series based on the true story of Christopher Duntsch. 'Dr. Death': Texas Neurosurgeon Sentenced to Life in Prison - Peoplemag [7], While in Memphis, Duntsch began a long-term relationship with Wendy Renee Young. They argued that Duntsch was motivated to continue operating because the lucrative salary of a neurosurgeon would solve his mounting financial problems. As a young neurosurgeon in Texas, Duntsch killed . Kenneth Fennell, the first patient Duntsch operated on at Baylor Plano, was left with chronic pain after Duntsch operated on the wrong part of his back. [9] Texas Medical Board Revocation Order. He then prescribed Muse so much Percocet that a pharmacist refused to fill the prescription. For the last three days, jurors listened to testimony in the . Jeff Glidewell Today: Where Is Dr. Death's Last Patient Now? - Heavy.com The two went back to Duntsch's home and danced under a disco ball he had in his office. 5 years after 'Dr. Death,' doctors still come to Texas to leave pasts He remained there for several months before being allowed to return to the residency. On December 30, 2011, Duntsch operated on Lee Passmore. He moved in with his parents in Colorado and filed for bankruptcy, claiming around one million dollars in debt. Following his blunders, Duntsch resigned from Baylor Plano in April 2012 before they could fire him. Dubbed "Dr. Death," the case gained national attention, revealing For instance, he came to work wearing the same tattered scrubs for three days in a row. Ratings for Dr. Christopher D. Duntsch, Inactive. Christopher Duntsch Early Life Story, Family Background and Education. Finally, Dr. Kirby received a call from Hassan Chahadeh. In December 2012, Jacqueline Troy was left barely able to speak above a whisper after Duntsch cut her vocal cords and one of her arteries. 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. [9] Duntsch's defense blamed their client's actions on poor training and lack of oversight by the hospitals. Was Wendy Renee Young Dr. Death's Wife? - Heavy.com One of the patients who suffered disastrous consequences was Jerry Summers, the boyfriend of Megan Kane and a friend of Christopher Duntsch. The appalling actions of the rogue surgeon and their repercussions on his unsuspecting patients were . He was held in the Dallas County jail for almost two years until the case went to trial in 2017. Baylor Regional Medical Center in Plano (now Baylor Scott and White Medical Center - Plano). The surgical disasters of neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch led to his jailing in 2017, setting a legal precedent. Lazar was scathingly critical of Duntsch's work. He was smart. After interviewing dozens of Duntsch's patients and their survivors, prosecutors concluded that Duntsch's acts were indeed criminal, and nothing short of imprisonment would prevent him from practicing medicine again. 'Dr. Death': Who Is Kim Morgan, and What Happened to Her? Christopher Daniel Duntsch was born in Montana on April 3, 1971, and raised alongside his three siblings in an affluent suburb of Memphis, Tennessee. His father was a missionary and physical therapist and his mother was a school teacher. Baylor Plano again ordered Duntsch to take a drug test. Shughart countered that the 2011 email, sent after his first surgeries went wrong, proved that Duntsch knew his actions were intentional. The suit alleged that Baylor Plano made an average net profit of $65,000 on every spinal surgery performed by Duntsch. He is currently appealing this sentence. He did his surgical residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, spending five years studying neurosurgery and a year studying general surgery. Texas Doctor Found Guilty of Felony in Medical Malpractice Case Lee Passmore is still fighting. Dr. Mark Hoyle, a surgeon who worked with Duntsch during one of his botched procedures, told D Magazine that he would make extremely arrogant announcements such as: Everybody is doing it wrong. Christopher was raised along with his three younger siblings in a wealthy suburb in Memphis, Tennessee. Pic credit: Dallas County Sheriff's Office. Dallas Magazine states that Duntsch became key in supplying samples to scientists for research. You'd like to think . Though he appealed his conviction in 2018, it was denied. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy | Compact with Texans | Website Linking Policy; Please contact Pre-Licensure, Registration and Consumer Services at . Duntsch was in a long-term relationship with Wendy Renee Young, after the pair met at a bar in Memphis when she was 27 and he was 40. He will be up for parole in 2045, when he is 74 years old. Duntsch continued operating despite clear signs that Martin was losing massive amounts of blood. He had a bedroom upstairs in their Plano house. Passmore met with Dr. Duntsch and was impressed by his confidence; he would fix him. He was put on probation for three weeks and told to stick to relatively minor procedures when he returned. At the time of their meeting, Young was working as a dancer in a strip club. Duntsch is the first physician sentenced to life in prison for his actions while practicing medicine. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! However, Mayfield still woke up with paralysis on occasion. To top it all off, he was operating on the wrong portion of her back. Dr. Death in surgery. The sponge triggered a severe blood-borne infection that caused Glidewell to become septic. He thought surgery might give him some relief and stop his need for drugs. The surgery was supposed to take less than 45 minutes and ultimately lasted over four hours. Young had family in Dallas and decided she would go with him if he picked that city. In October 2011, she registered articles of incorporation to form Duntsch's practice, the Texas Neurosurgical Institute. A Surgeon So Bad It Was Criminal ProPublica Watch the trailer for Dr . Christopher Duntsch ended up at Millsaps College in Mississippi to play football and was offered financial aid. 2-Dr.Randall Kirby, a hero. Legacy Surgery Center in Frisco (now Frisco Ambulatory Surgery Center). Passmore focused on recovery and getting back to work in the months following his surgery. Over the course of two years, Christopher Duntsch operated on 38 patients in the Dallas area. During a deposition, Megan Krane recalled Duntsch eating a paper blotter of LSD and taking prescription painkillers on his birthday. 5 chilling details about Christopher Duntsch - sportskeeda.com According to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, a neurosurgery resident does about 1,000 operations during training. [11] Several of his friends recalled him going to work after a night of doing drugs, with one of them saying he would never allow Duntsch to operate on him. So, Summers used the only thing he had left, his voice, to scream and yell, even telling the nurses that he and Duntsch had done an eight ball of cocaine the night before his surgery. The Texas Medical Board would later conclude that Brown died of excessive blood loss and a stroke, according to The Texas Observer .