A new episode of CNBC's 'American Greed' brings to viewers the real story of Christopher Duntsch, otherwise known as "Dr Death." The Dallas-based former neurosurgeon is now in jail -- his botched surgeries left many patients disabled or in severe pain, or in some cases dead. According to Rolling Stone, out of 38 patients he operated on, 31 of them were left permanently paralyzed or seriously injured and two others did not survive. All these surgeries occurred between 2011 and 2013 when Duntsch was employed in four different Dallas-area hospitals.
When the law finally caught up with him, the disturbing details of negligence began to emerge. For instance, Duntsch would repeatedly misdiagnose patients and conduct unnecessary surgeries.In July 2012, he operated on Mary Efurd, which left her in a wheelchair. During a spinal fusion surgery, he severed one of Efurd's nerve roots and left surgical hardware in her back muscles. When another surgeon, Robert Henderson performed the corrective surgery on Efurd, he felt Duntsch's work was like a child playing with Tinkertoys or an erector set. Duntsch had drilled into her muscle instead of her bone and recklessly sliced into one nerve at the root, and deliberately twisted a metal screw into another. Efurd was left paralyzed as a result.
In April 2013, Duntsch operated on Phillip Mayfield who opted for surgery to alleviate chronic back pain. Duntsch's botched surgery on Mayfield had left his spinal cord completely deformed, which rendered him paralyzed.
Kelli Martin went for surgery for back pain as well, but Martin's artery was slashed during the procedure and she bled to death. Another patient, Floella Brown, had her vertebral artery -- one of the main blood vessels supplying blood to the brain -- slashed, and suffered a massive stroke, and died a week later. Duntsch's surgery on Mary Efurd was while Brown was still in the ICU. Another patient, Jackie Troy, woke up from her operation unable to talk - all but one of her vocal cords had been paralyzed after he cut into them. Her esophagus had been pinned under a plate that he placed near her spine, and her trachea had holes punctured in it. Similarly Jeff Glidewell also almost lost his voice forever after Duntsch mistook his esophagus for a tumor and sliced into it. Duntsch then stuck a sponge in the hole he had made and stitched Glidewell up, leaving the sponge inside him and forcing Glidewell to undergo emergency surgery.
Duntsch also operated on his childhood friend, Jerry Summers -- a tip reported that the doctor had allegedly used cocaine on the night before the surgery with Summers. Summers woke up unable to move his arms or legs from the spinal fusion surgery -- his vertebral artery was damaged and he lost two liters of blood while intubated.One patient, Lee Passmore, had part of his spine needlessly removed during an operation for back pain. During the surgery, he told Dr Mark Hoyle -- the general surgeon during Passmore's surgery -- that he was working by feel, not sight, resulting in heavy bleeding. Hoyle had to step in, stop the bleeding, and clean the wound before Duntsch continued.
Kenneth Fennell was having back troubles when he went to Duntsch in 2011 and got operated on by the doctor in November 2011. Fennell later found out that Duntsch operated on the wrong part of his back. Another patient, Barry Morguloff had bone fragments lodged in his spinal canal during an operation from Duntsch, which were only discovered months after the surgery when he sought a second opinion after having searing pain in his back and left leg.
'American Greed: Dr Death' airs on CNBC on Monday, February 1, at 10/9c.
Read more here:
'Dr Death': From paralyzing patients to killing them, Christopher Duntsch wreaked havoc on the operating table - MEAWW
- Actor Christopher Lee dies at 93 - CNN.com [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee dies at 93; screen star of 'Dracula' and ... [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee, the sexiest bloodsucker (Opinion) - CNN.com [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2015]
- Golf Players - CBSSports.com [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee Dead: Hollywood Mourns Horror Icon ... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- Late horror icon Christopher Lee wanted to be a comedian ... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- christopher lee profiles | LinkedIn [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- 22 Incredible Facts About The Life and Career Of Sir ... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- 'Dracula,' 'Lord of Rings' actor Sir Christopher Lee dead at ... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- Sir Christopher Lee Passes Away | StarWars.com [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee, Actor Who Made Dracula Count Again, Dies at ... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Biography - IMDb [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee, Legendary Movie Villain and Horror Icon ... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- Actor Christopher Lee dies at 93 - CBS News [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee, fantasy's dark knight, dies at 93 - CNET [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Rotten Tomatoes [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee Free listening, videos, concerts, stats ... [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2015]
- Christopher Lee (Creator) - TV Tropes [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Wookieepedia, the Star Wars Wiki [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2015]
- Making The Law Respect Gender Identity After Death : Code ... [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2015]
- Christopher Lee (Malaysian actor) - Wikipedia, the free ... [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2015]
- Christopher Gronlund I write things, I juggle, and podcast [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ... [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2015]
- Yvonne Craig and Christopher Lee snubbed in Emmy in ... [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - James Bond 007 Wiki [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Horror Film Wiki [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2015]
- Rhapsody - The Magic of the Wizard's Dream - YouTube [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2015]
- Christopher Lee - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2015]
- Sportsologist | Christopher Lee | Sports Marketing & Business [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2015]
- Christopher Plummer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2015]
- Overview for Christopher Lee - Turner Classic Movies [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2016]
- Christopher Lee (Malaysian actor) - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2016]
- Court lists - man had dagger, knife and knuckle duster - Lincolnshire Echo [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Minnesota advocacy groups add to legal tide against Trump order - Minneapolis Star Tribune [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Appeal to find wanted Weymouth man Christopher Lee Smith - photo - Blackmore Vale Magazine [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Police Reports for Feb. 6 - Opelika Auburn News [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Famous Character Composites Prove Everybody Looks the Same - Geek [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- Mel Brooks to be honored with BAFTA Fellowship - Page Six [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- Louisiana's non-unanimous jury system assailed as racially ... - Houma Courier [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- New blood pressure self-monitoring program is changing lives in Alabama - WIAT 42 [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Orleans judge denies challenge to Louisiana's non-unanimous jury ... - The Advocate [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Wagoner County District Court Records for the period ending Feb. 10, 2017 - Tulsa World [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Local roundup: Swimmer earns meet honor - The Republic [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- What time is Call the Midwife on BBC1 tonight, who's in the cast with Helen George and what's new in series six? - The Sun [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Thomasville man faces four arson charges - Greensboro News & Record [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Multiple arson charges announced after Light Road fires - Lexington Dispatch [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- The 3 Lees and their Fortune Handbook - Star2.com [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- New EastEnders star Lee Ryan reveals secret movie role that he's been playing for TEN YEARS - The Scottish Sun [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Man charged with killing 10-year-old girl last November - KTUU.com [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- State bill would prevent release of jurors' personal information - The Winchester Star [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Pretty Darn Famous: The magic of Li Nanxing, Mark Lee and Christopher Lee combined - Mothership.sg (registration) [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- North Carolina A&T men capture first MEAC indoor track & field title in 21 years - HBCU Sports [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Some Things You May Not Know About Cincinnati's Mayoral Candidates - WVXU [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Auburn man indicted for child porn - Auburn Journal [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- New York Today: Blasting Gum Off Sidewalks - New York Times [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Police arrest two in Longview bank robbery - Longview News-Journal - Longview News-Journal [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- For the Record - Palladium-Item [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Rick Eugene Summers | Obituaries | democratherald.com - Albany Democrat Herald [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Husband found guilty of killing wife - Chino Champion [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Fargo woman pleads guilty to child neglect - INFORUM [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2017]
- Hunt on for Level 3 sex offender charged with impregnating Twin Cities preteen girl - Minneapolis Star Tribune [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Police report -3-1-17; A neighbor's dog escaped confines and bit a man. - Statesboro Herald [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Fort Oglethorpe Arrest Report For Feb. 17-23 - The Chattanoogan [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- New Risks Loom for China Local Debt, This Time in Dollars ... - Bloomberg [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Eleven people in court following drugs raids - Liverpool Echo - Liverpool Echo [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Arrests, incidents reports for March 2, 2017 - Cullman Times Online [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Driver airlifted to Vidant Medical Center after early morning wreck in Onslow County - WNCT [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Docket for Sunday, March 5, 2017 - Amarillo.com [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Akira Kurosawa's Unmade Edgar Allan Poe Adaptation Will Finally Be Filmed - Nerdist [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- What time is Call the Midwife on BBC1 tonight, who's in the cast with Helen George and what's new in season six? - The Sun [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Police Log - NRToday.com [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Escambia and Santa Rosa felony and DUI arrests - Pensacola News Journal [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Police: Man drove 135 mph in chase, had meth, heroin - The Daily Nonpareil [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2017]
- Crime Stoppers: 3 wanted for felonies - WLNS [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2017]
- A Sign of the Times: More For-Rent Notices in Manhattan - New York Times [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2017]
- Ixia (XXIA) VP Christopher Lee Williams Sells 53437 Shares - The Cerbat Gem [Last Updated On: March 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 10th, 2017]
- Trump Abruptly Orders 46 Obama-Era Prosecutors to Resign - New York Times [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]