Becker's Spine Review

31 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Court orders Cincinnati Children's Hospital to pay $2M in Dr. Atiq Durrani medical malpractice lawsuit By Jackie Drees A n eight-person jury ordered Cin- cinnati Children's Hospital to pay $2 million in damages to a former patient of fugitive spine surgeon AtiqDurra- ni, MD, Cincinnati Business Courier reports. Here are seven details: 1. e jury found the hospital guilty of acting with malice by allowing Dr. Durrani to perform an improper or medically unnecessary spinal surgery on Jacob Cotter, then 12, in 2008. 2. e lawsuit alleged Dr. Durrani used a biologic device during surgery that was not approved by the FDA without informing Mr. Cotter or his family. 3. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed Mr. Cotter developed a staph infection postoperatively af- ter his incision tore open. Because of this, Mr. Cotter missed half of a year of school to receive antibiotics through an IV and he currently ex- periences worse pain than before his proce- dure. He is required to take pain medications and muscle relaxants, the report stated. 4. e jury ruled that Cincinnati Children's Hospital is vicariously liable for Dr. Durrani's actions and that the organization was negli- gent in allowing Dr. Durrani to perform Mr. Cotter's surgery and use the biologic without the consent of the patient or family, according to the report. 5. In 2013, Dr. Durrani was indicted on 46 federal charges, including allegations that he knowingly le a guide wire inside a patient during surgery without the patient's consent and allegations he let another surgeon oper- ate in his name. 6. Dr. Durrani fled to Pakistan in December 2013 aer pleading not guilty to the federal charges, the report stated. 7. According to the report, more than 500 law- suits were filed against Dr. Durrani and hos- pitals he operated at. In September, Cincinna- ti-based UC Health and West Chester Hospital settled with 14 of his former patients, accord- ing to Cincinnati Business Courier. n Florida hospital neurosurgeon, physicians vote 'no confidence' in CEO: 5 details By Mackenzie Garrity P hysicians and staff at Naples (Fla.) Community Hospital unanimously voted "no confidence" in CEO Allen Weiss, according to NBC 2. Five details: 1. The emergency meeting to vote against Mr. Weiss fol- lowed his decision to implement a new, controversial ad- mission policy. The new policy does not allow physicians outside of NCH to write prescription orders. 2. A few of the physicians said the new policy is being used as a scare tactic to bully surgeons and staff. 3. Neurosurgeon Michael Lusk was among those who ex- pressed dissatisfaction with the CEO and new admission's policy. "One group at a time has slowly been picked out, moved on or replaced," he told NBC 2. 4. Other physicians think the new admissions policy is a way for Naples Community Hospital to transition into a re- search center. 5. In 2018, Naples Community Hospital issued a different pilot program that only allowed hospital-based physicians to treat patients. Naples Community Hospital's new policy bars admission to independent physicians. n Wisconsin spine group makes partnership to join ACO: 3 details By Mackenzie Garrity N eenah, Wis.-based Neuroscience Group part- nered with Appleton, Wis.-based ThedaCare to join the health system's ACO, according to the Waushara Argus. For the past 30 years, Neuroscience Group has combined neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedic spine surgery, inter- ventional and non-interventional pain management and physical therapy at its various locations throughout the state. The spine group partners with primary care provid- ers to administer improved spine and neurologic care. Three details: 1. ThedaCare welcomed Neuroscience Group as the pre- ferred partner for brain, spine and pain care. ThedaCare's ACO brings together more than 1,100 employees and af- filiated healthcare providers to collaborate on quality, cost and overall care. 2. The Neuroscience Group comprises 40 caregivers, in- cluding 17 physicians and 23 associate providers. 3. The spine group will remain an independent physi- cian-owned clinic; however, it will work with ThedaCare to strengthen its care. n

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