Connecticut's Medical Examining Board has rejected a consent order that proposed probation and monitoring for a physician charged with puncturing a patient's spleen, which later caused his death, according to a Hartford Courant report.
According to the report, Michael Waldman, MD, was performing a thoracentesis on a patient, which requires insertion of a needle to remove fluid. Dr. Waldman recognized he had punctured the patient's spleen but had failed to scan the patient or perform prolonged monitoring of the patient. Dr. Waldman also recognized he had not notified the patient of the puncture and had not given adequate discharge instructions, according to the report.
The patient was later brought back to New Milford Hospital, where the procedure was performed, and died.
Although Dr. Waldman recognized his actions, he would not admit to allegations of negligence. New Milford Hospital has since submitted a correction plan in response to the incident. Dr. Waldman and state health department investigators drafted a consent order, which recommended probation and monitoring. The medical board swiftly shot down the proposal, calling it "insufficient."
Read the news report about Dr. Michael Waldman.
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According to the report, Michael Waldman, MD, was performing a thoracentesis on a patient, which requires insertion of a needle to remove fluid. Dr. Waldman recognized he had punctured the patient's spleen but had failed to scan the patient or perform prolonged monitoring of the patient. Dr. Waldman also recognized he had not notified the patient of the puncture and had not given adequate discharge instructions, according to the report.
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The patient was later brought back to New Milford Hospital, where the procedure was performed, and died.
Although Dr. Waldman recognized his actions, he would not admit to allegations of negligence. New Milford Hospital has since submitted a correction plan in response to the incident. Dr. Waldman and state health department investigators drafted a consent order, which recommended probation and monitoring. The medical board swiftly shot down the proposal, calling it "insufficient."
Read the news report about Dr. Michael Waldman.
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