John Oliver on HBO recently delved into the problematic nature of state medical boards and their frequent inability to safeguard patients from incompetent physicians. He highlighted several disturbing trends:
- One case involved a doctor in Texas performing surgery on the incorrect part of a patient’s spine. This incident directly relates to my experiences with Dr. Oliver Kesterson, who represents the “bad doctor” in this scenario.
- There’s a concerning pattern where inadequate doctors migrate between states to evade scrutiny and consequences for their actions.
- The medical profession wields significant lobbying power, which they often use to influence laws to their advantage, further complicating the pursuit of justice for malpractice victims.
While the majority of doctors are dedicated professionals who genuinely care for their patients and deserve the trust placed in them, there’s a small subset who engage in malpractice. These individuals not only commit these errors repeatedly but also manage to evade the repercussions of their actions. The current systems in place are insufficient for disciplining repeat offenders. Alarmingly, these problematic doctors often find refuge within public healthcare systems, such as County Hospitals, Medicaid, and VA community care programs.
The VA has acknowledged this issue and is making efforts to weed out incompetent doctors VA has acknowledged this issue and is making efforts to weed out incompetent doctors from its community care program. However, this action doesn’t prevent these doctors from continuing to practice medicine elsewhere, potentially harming more patients.
This situation underscores a significant failure within our healthcare, state medical boards, and legal systems, where even blatant cases of malpractice are challenging to address.
Consequently, it’s imperative for patients to become more informed about the risks they may encounter and learn strategies to protect themselves. Education and awareness can empower patients to navigate the healthcare system more safely and advocate for better oversight and accountability from those entrusted with their care.
Watch: HBO YouTube Video
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