A neurosurgeon in Dallas, Texas is facing a life sentence after being convicted of aggravated assault and injury to the elderly. According to a recent Medscape report, the 45-year-old neurosurgeon, Christopher Duntsch, MD, botched dozens of surgeries in the two years he worked in the Dallas area. At least two patients were killed due to botched operations and others were left paralyzed or in constant pain after their surgeries.
Repeated Harm to Patients
The prosecution was quick to point out that this wasn’t a case of a few bad outcomes for the self-described “Best Spine Surgeon in Dallas.” There was repeated and demonstrated harm done to patient after patient. Equally disturbing were emails that emerged showing a glimpse into Duntsch’s warped state of mind.
Botched Spinal Surgeries by Killer Neurosurgeon
According to Medscape, Duntsch performed a total of 49 surgeries on 39 patients in the nearly two years he worked in Dallas. Of those cases, 24 patients did not benefit from their operations, and many of them were worse off. Two of his patients died. Four patients suffered from spinal cord damage that resulted in full or partial paralysis. 10 patients required additional surgical procedures, and 21 had chronic pain after their initial operations. Other doctors and medical professionals complained about his arrogance and dangerous behavior. A general surgeon, described him as “the most careless, clueless and dangerous spine surgeon” he had ever seen.
Email of a “Cold-Blooded Killer”
Not only was Duntsch completely incompetent and dangerous as a neurosurgeon, an email to a former colleague shows a very disturbing outlook and warped state of mind. In an email, Duntsch wrote, “I am ready to leave the love and kindness and goodness and patience that I mix with everything else that I am and become a cold-blooded killer.” In that email, he referred to himself again as a “stone cold killer that can buy or own or steal or ruin or build whatever he wants.” On February 20, 2017, Duntsch was sentenced to life in prison for aggravated assault and injury to the elderly.
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