This story examined the case of Christopher Duntsch, a neurosurgeon who practiced in Dallas from 2011 to 2013. He earned the nickname Dr. Death after the vast majority of his patients ended up severely injured. Two died. The story not only looks at Duntsch’s actions, but how the health care system, starting with his medical school and residency program, was complicit in the tragedy. He was passed on from hospital to hospital – he worked at 4 total – who chose to get rid of their problem surgeon by quietly letting him go. The story leaves the question: if the system can’t protect people from a surgeon this bad, who does it protect us from?
