Doctor performs un-authorized secret sterilization

[AlrightyRoo]

I can't even say how appalled I am. I am sick to my stomach.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/08/doctor-receives.html?csp=34

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette says a doctor was reprimanded yesterday after admitting that she secretly sterilized a patient while performing a Caesarean section last year in Berryville, Ark.

Dr. Shirolyn Ruth Moffett told the Arkansas State Medical Board "she performed the tubal ligation — a form of birth control in which the fallopian tubes are surgically cut or blocked to prevent pregnancy — because she feared the lining of the patient’s uterus would burst if she got pregnant again," according to the paper.

Moffett didn't tell the patient, nor did she note the procedure on her medical chart. "I know now that was a mistake," she told regulators, according to the Associated Press. "I had not made this kind of error my whole medical career. I was appalled."

Under yesterday's 6-5 ruling, Moffett gets to keep her medical license.

Officials at St. John's Hospital kept Moffett from seeing patients after they learned about the unauthorized sterilization. In a statement, spokesman Michael Peters says they're "surprised" by the Board's decision.




She got to keep her license!?!

[vulturemom]

What a load of tripe. There is no way she should still be licensed.

I wonder when the patient found out and how upset she was about it. I can't understand why any one would insure her after this.

[jessiehannan]

I don't see how she got to keep her license either!

[Nipple_nectar]

Wow!

[RaisingThemLeft]

I would like to see the full story on that one! I'm surprised she kept her licence as well.

[joshsmom]

A "mistake"? Um. No. A mistake is we did something accidentally and it caused harm.

How is that not criminal?

[AlrightyRoo]

I don't know joshsmom. I was wondering that myself. I also hope that the mother will sue. This is definitely a case where it is justified, IMO.

Did you see this comment?

Moffett didn't tell the patient, nor did she note the procedure on her medical chart. "I know now that was a mistake," she told regulators, according to the Associated Press. "I had not made this kind of error my whole medical career. I was appalled."

She was appalled?!

[RaisingThemLeft]

I know, I didn't "get" that comment either. She was appalled at her own behavior? When? Right after? I don't get it. I mean, it's the patients own problem if she gets pg again and her uterus ruptures. It isn't a decision for the Dr. to make.

[HammBugga]

Was it Mrs Dugger? j/k

[Funmommy]

Was it Mrs Dugger? j/k

Oooohhh Bad (snicker, snicker, snicker) Bad LOL

Funmommy

[jessiehannan]

Was it Mrs Dugger? j/k
oh, it took me a while to get that...and now i feel so stupid....

[Indigo]

Wow how completely beyond the bounds of her right in any sense or the word. What a complete invasion and I am appalled that she has kept her license.

[Jacksmommy]

I'm curious to know more about the case.

[KerryS]

That is not an error. It was a medical procedure not immediately necessary performed w/o parental consent. I would not be using her as my doctor.

Parental consent? There was nothing in the article that indicated that the patient was a minor. I'm guessing she was probably an older grand multip.

[hotlama]

I wonder how many of her patients know about this.

[mtmomma]

What a load of tripe. There is no way she should still be licensed.

I wonder when the patient found out and how upset she was about it. I can't understand why any one would insure her after this.


I agree! She shouldn't be a free person either I think she needs her ass locked up!

[Prisca]

If she can exersize no better judgement and self control than that, then she should absolutely not be practicing at all.

[BeachMama]

Holy crap. That is unbelievable.

I wonder how the mom found out.

[JudyJudyJudy]

That is crazy! I can't believe she gets to keep her license.

[KerryS]

Holy crap. That is unbelievable.

I wonder how the mom found out.

I can only guess it was a whistle-blower who was in the operating room.

[QuiltyConscience]

Interesting. This article states that the patient had " learning difficulties".

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,400027,00.html

[QuiltyConscience]

http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/08/08/news/doc489c75acd8d93118351704.txt

The patient didn’t learn what happened until three weeks later, after Moffett admitted performing the procedure to a hospital administrator. Mark Dossett, Moffett’s lawyer, said the hospital offered to reverse the procedure, but the patient declined.

Dossett said the patient agreed to a settlement in December but the details were confidential.

In an e-mailed statement, Mike Peters, St. John’s vice president for public affairs, said the hospital revoked Moffett’s physician’s privileges after finding out about what she did. The statement also said the hospital was “surprised” by the medical board’s decision.

Board member Dr. Joseph Beck told Moffett that her testimony was not “all adding up.” He cited medical records that said the patient had such poor hygiene that she had to be showered and shampooed before she was examined.

Board members said documents showed that the patient was married to a 47-year-old, who Beck said was about twice the patient’s age.

“I worry there was a good reason, and a real reason, that you did what you did,” Beck said. “I think you were trying to help her in a way you never told us.”

Moffett denied any other motive for performing the procedure other than her concern that a future pregnancy would threaten the patient’s health.

[WalkingTittyBar]

Was it Mrs Dugger? j/k




I swear that was my very first thought!!!

[JudyJudyJudy]

“I worry there was a good reason, and a real reason, that you did what you did,” Beck said. “I think you were trying to help her in a way you never told us.”
Wow. Is there really a "good" reason for doing something like this?

[Teresa64]

God I hope I never have to have a c-section....that is sooo creepy. I would feel so violated.

[Prisca]

Wow. Is there really a "good" reason for doing something like this?


Seriously, as if doctors ever should be making the decision on who can and can't have babies. Very disturbing indeed. I think I'm even more disturbed by the one's who want her to keep her license, based on the hypothesis that she had "better" reason than not wanting the woman to suffer uterine rupture.

[AlrightyRoo]

http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/08/08/news/doc489c75acd8d93118351704.txt
Board member Dr. Joseph Beck told Moffett that her testimony was not “all adding up.” He cited medical records that said the patient had such poor hygiene that she had to be showered and shampooed before she was examined.

Board members said documents showed that the patient was married to a 47-year-old, who Beck said was about twice the patient’s age.


I really am not seeing how that has to do with anything. The fact that she had poor hygiene and her husband is older than her. Someone care to enlighten me?

Seriously, as if doctors ever should be making the decision on who can and can't have babies. Very disturbing indeed. I think I'm even more disturbed by the one's who want her to keep her license, based on the hypothesis that she had "better" reason than not wanting the woman to suffer uterine rupture.

I am disturbed by both equally, I think.

[Prisca]

I guess why the other disturbs me more, is one person could make it an isolated event. But multiple people condoning it just makes it even scarier to me. Does that make sense?

[AlrightyRoo]

Absolutely! I guess I am coming from a place of gut reaction. I have had two c-sections. The thought that a doctor could have taken it on themselves to alter my ability to have more kids because they thought it was too dangerous is just scary.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Absolutely! I guess I am coming from a place of gut reaction. I have had two c-sections. The thought that a doctor could have taken it on themselves to alter my ability to have more kids because they thought it was too dangerous is just scary.
Or worse, because they thought you had bad hygiene.

[Chib]

I mean, it seems unlikely, but is it possible that the woman who needed the C-section was being kept hostage, more or less, and her husband was forcing her to pop out babies? And the woman needed to keep under wraps that she asked for the procedure, lest her husband kill her or something?

I mean, it's more like some horror story you'd see on Oxygen or whatever, but the fact that the medical board decided not to revoke her license might suggest that it wasn't without patient consent... hopefully?

[JudyJudyJudy]

I mean, it seems unlikely, but is it possible that the woman who needed the C-section was being kept hostage, more or less, and her husband was forcing her to pop out babies? And the woman needed to keep under wraps that she asked for the procedure, lest her husband kill her or something?

I mean, it's more like some horror story you'd see on Oxygen or whatever, but the fact that the medical board decided not to revoke her license might suggest that it wasn't without patient consent... hopefully?
No, I don't think this was the case. If the patient had consented, there would have been no need for the hospital to settle the matter financially with the patient.

[AlrightyRoo]

Or worse, because they thought you had bad hygiene.

...or a learning disability, or a husband twice your age...

[JudyJudyJudy]

I know. It's awful.

[VegasLactivist]

HOLY SHIT. She kept her license?!?!?! OMG that is wrong on every level. And what a massive invasion of her privacy to discuss her hygeine in public. That's no ones business!

Sickening!

[Becca75]

I wonder if the doctor even had a good talk with the woman to really explain how unsafe it would be to have another baby. She has refused the hospital's offer to reverse the procedure, so it seems like she understands now. Of course she might just not ever trust anyone operating on her ever again too. It doesn't make any difference, I suppose, since the doctor took away her choice. I agree that she should lose her license.

[Indigo]

Or worse, because they thought you had bad hygiene.

Or that you just had enough kids. Not their call, not even to comment on. I can see a doctor who thought a patient would really have risks if they got pregnant again, strongly advising the patient not to have more kids but no, nothing beyond that is acceptable.

[Indigo]

I wonder if the doctor even had a good talk with the woman to really explain how unsafe it would be to have another baby. She has refused the hospital's offer to reverse the procedure, so it seems like she understands now. Of course she might just not ever trust anyone operating on her ever again too. It doesn't make any difference, I suppose, since the doctor took away her choice. I agree that she should lose her license.

Can you imagine finding out 3 weeks into healing from a section that you are unable to have more kids because the doctor took it upon herself to make the choice for you. Then having to decide if you want to go back under the knife, in the same hospital where you were just violated? To begin healing again, physically and to deal with placing yourself in their hands again? Not only the doctor was at fault. There were others in that OR and they didn't tell you or protect you either.

[Bellaelle]

I thought that doctor who carved his initials into his patient's abs was screwed, but this takes the cake.

I also find it disturbing that others in the OR had to know what was going on and did nothing to stop it.

[AlrightyRoo]

I thought that doctor who carved his initials into his patient's abs was screwed, but this takes the cake.



UGH! I didn't hear about that. That is completely disgusting.

[Bellaelle]

Here you go, Roo.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE4D6103DF931A15752C0A9669C8B 63

[AlrightyRoo]

Holy Fuck. I just want to barf. That poor woman!

''I feel like a branded animal,'' Dr. Gedz said at a news conference yesterday after The Daily News reported the incident. ''It was supposed to be one of the most exciting times in my life, but it was a nightmare.''

[JenniferH]

I worked in a Catholic hospital and, of course, no tubals were performed there. Many patients were upset about this. They had not realized when they came there to have their c-sections that they would not be able to have a tubal at the same time. More than one doctor said they wished they could have just done it while they were there without anyone knowing.

It makes me wonder if there was some sort of verbal consent on the part of the patient and the doctor thought she was doing her a favor. It would explain the "mistake" comments.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Here you go, Roo.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE4D6103DF931A15752C0A9669C8B 63
Crazy shit.

[Bellaelle]

I worked in a Catholic hospital and, of course, no tubals were performed there. Many patients were upset about this. They had not realized when they came there to have their c-sections that they would not be able to have a tubal at the same time. More than one doctor said they wished they could have just done it while they were there without anyone knowing.

It makes me wonder if there was some sort of verbal consent on the part of the patient and the doctor thought she was doing her a favor. It would explain the "mistake" comments.

I had my tubal done in a Catholic hospital. I just had to give my consent.