After Being Run Out Of 3 States, Doctor Granted Refuge In Texas

Alex Winslow

After Being Run Out Of 3 States, Doctor Granted Refuge In Texas

After Being Run Out Of 3 States, Doctor Granted Refuge In Texas
Texas Medical Board Should Repeal License of Dangerous Doctor

Dr. Pamela L. Johnson was forced out of three states after questions arose about her skills. But, after promising to protect patients in the wake of so-called tort “reform” the Texas Medical Board recently gave her a license to practice medicine in Texas. So much for the promise of strict oversight and vigorous licensure standards. Instead, our state is becoming the nation’s dumping ground for dangerous doctors.

This should serve as a wake up call for other states who are thinking about imposing Texas-style tort “reform” on its patients.

According to the Washington Post, Dr. Johnson, an obstetrician/gynecologist, has had her medical license suspended in both Virginia and New Mexico, and was fired by Duke University Medical School in North Carolina after officials questioned her surgical skills. The Post has also reported that six separate families have filed malpractice claims against Johnson.

Now, Dr. Johnson has set up shop in Texas. This makes one wonder: Are doctors from around the country seeking refuge in the Lone Star state? Is Texas becoming the dumping ground for our nation’s bad doctors? Could this happen in other states who shield bad doctors from responsibility? Sadly, the answer to all of these questions is, “You bet!”.

In a letter to the Texas Medical Board, I implored the Medical Board to reconsider its decision to grant Dr. Johnson a license to practice medicine in our state. Granting physicians of Dr. Johnson’s ilk and background a license to practice medicine, sends the wrong message to patients and – even worse – threatens patient safety. The Texas Medical Board claims that its mission is to “protect and enhance the public’s health, safety and welfare … .” Allowing doctors like Pamela Johnson into our state does nothing to fulfill this mission.

Not only does this threaten to endanger Texas patients, it also tarnishes the licenses of all Texas physicians. As Public Citizen has reported, just 5.4% of all doctors commit 56.2% of the nation’s medical malpractice. If our standards are not high enough to keep doctors with a track record of negligence and incompetence out of our state, then how can the licensure process be taken seriously?

It remains to be seen whether or not the Texas Medical Board will continue to thumb its nose at the needs of Texas patients by serving as a rubber stamp for unqualified doctors or if it will reject Dr. Johnson’s application. One thing is clear though: patients need real legal reforms that include stronger safety standards and stiffer accountability measures.

Posted at 9:51 AM, Dec 07, 2006 in Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Comments

What exactly is the connection between tort reform and poor licensure oversight? That state medical boards are deficient at the latter does not say much of anything about the merit or lack there of of the former.

Frankly, even without tort reform, the ability to collect a million bucks in non-economic damages shouldn't mean that citizens are ok with doctors like this getting licenses to practice ....

"even without tort reform, the ability to collect a million bucks in non-economic damages shouldn't mean that citizens are ok with doctors like this getting licenses to practice ...."

Agreed. Perhaps the call for tort "reform" from the medical community would be more persuasive if they first policed their own.

"What exactly is the connection between tort reform and poor licensure oversight? That state medical boards are deficient at the latter does not say much of anything about the merit or lack there of of the former."

No, but limiting liabiity certainly can attract incompetent doctors. And that was the point. From what I have read and seen from personal experience, most states do not provide remotely adequate oversight of physicians. One small example.... a doctor I had in Colordao finally lost his license. What did it take? Well, the state medical board figured out after 10 years of complaints that he had falsely advertised he was board certified all that time. Then there was the death of a woman attributed to his negligent administration of anesthesia, 5 years before he lost his license. There was insurance fraud, grossly inadequate record keeping, and oh yes, 3 criminal charges of sexual assault. How do I know? I got a copy of the public record.

After he lost his license there, it still took some time for the two other states in which he was licensed to "catch up".

A moron would have done more sooner. Unfortunately, I do not think this is a remote example. Now it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this kind of oversight, coupled with "tort reform" + limited liability = haven for bad doctors.