Unnecessary surgery; it sounds like something out of a horror story. For scores of people in the Cincinnati area, however, it may have been reality. Patients of a Cincinnati spinal surgeon have complained of increased pain and suffering after the doctor persuaded them to undergo unnecessary surgery for back pain and other issues.
Cincinnati Surgeon Accused Of Performing Unnecessary Surgeries
The revelation of fraud and malpractice charges against Dr. Atiq Durrani, a Cincinnati spinal surgeon, likely came as a shock to a lot of people. Most of us believe that our doctors have our best interest at heart. We trust them with our health and often our lives. In the case of Dr. Durrani, however, that trust may have been misplaced. Dr. Durrani was a spinal surgeon with offices in Evendale, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. In July 2013, he was charged with fraudulently billing public and private health insurance programs after convincing patients to endure unnecessary surgeries. According to his patients, Dr. Durrani would often sell the surgery by telling them that the alternatives were either death or paralysis. After the surgeries, a number of his patients complained of an increase, rather than a decrease in pain. Over 100 patients brought charges of medical malpractice against Dr. Durrani, who has since fled the country. The first malpractice trial proceeded in January, without Dr. Durrani present. The jury found him guilty of negligence, lack of informed consent and fraudulent misrepresentation. The jury awarded the plaintiff over $1 million, which was reduced to $790,000 by Ohio law.Have You Undergone Unnecessary Surgery Or Medical Negligence?
Unnecessary surgery or medical negligence can have a devastating impact on your health and quality of life. In addition to the physical pain and suffering, you could be subjected to financial hardships from lost wages and medical expenses for surgeries to correct the original surgery. If you believe that your doctor does not have your best interest at heart, or has been negligent in his care for you:- Trust your instincts; if what your doctor is suggesting feels wrong to you, get a second opinion.
- Be persistent in getting full and complete answers to all of your medical questions.
- Visit review websites to see what other patients have experienced under your doctors care.
- Have a family member or friend accompany you to important visits
- If you have reservations about the treatment your doctor is suggesting, then voice them.
