The last hospital to employ Duntsch was the now-shuttered University General, where he botched another surgery after he mistook a patients neck muscle for a tumor. Passmore awoke from the surgery in excruciating pain, and later learned that a ligament in his leg had been severed, according to D Magazine. Lawyers are in charge of the legal system, so no real reform is possible. Dr. Death is based on the podcast of the same name, produced by Wondery. He completed his residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2005. Peacock, NBCs streaming platform, is bringing the story to the screen in a series that premieres Thursday, July 15, 2021. The question of how Duntsch was able to operate with impunity for so longwhen surrounded by many people who tried to raise the alarm and faileddrives Dr. Death, which jumps across time in each episode to show what the doctor was like as a young man, friend and medical student, and then later as a surgeon, a partner and a father. At the time, Duntsch was accused of injuring 33 out of 38 patients in less than two years before the Texas Medical Board revoked his license. 2.4 (20 ratings) Jodi Smith. Duntsch took careful steps to put across the image of a hardworking, competent and caring person and doctor. Duntsch was not reported to either the data bank or the Texas Medical Board, preventing him from being tracked as he continued his career elsewhere in the state. "All they could do is brag on himself and that he could fix me where nobody else could," said Fennel. Dress and his staff. Coverage of Duntschs case, the podcast series and the now-streaming Peacock series all make sure to underscore that his story is part of a major systemic failurea common theme in true crime stories. A former colleague found a horror show when he performed follow-up surgery on one of Duntschs patients: Screws meant for her spine driven instead into muscle tissue, three holes in bone where Duntsch had repeatedly tried to set a screw, and a completely missing nerve root that Duntsch apparently amputated, leaving the woman unable to move her leg., Born in Montana and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Duntsch initially pursued an athletic career in US football doggedly so, according to former classmates. We would meet in the mornings, and he would be mixing a vodka orange juice to start off the day, former investor Rand Page told ProPublica. He will not be eligible for parole until 2045, when he will be 74-years-old. Dr. Christopher Duntsch, Doctor Death Today: Where Is He Now? See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Dr. Christopher's connections and jobs at similar companies. Her simple 45-minute surgery stretched to 2 hours, during which Duntsch again cut a major artery running along the spine. "The dreams you had before you realize you can't do anymore," Fennell said. We trust the system. Duntsch was offered a $600,000 advance and a temporary suite in a luxury hotel to come to Dallas while the couple searched for a new home in Plano, according to a 2018 "Dr. Death" podcast, which inspired the Peacock series. The reason I will speak out every time is to keep him from hurting someone else," said Fennell. Doctors can't pay to have reviews removed or hidden. He works in Miami, FL and 3 other locations and specializes in Surgery and Plastic. Then, in 2015, a Dallas County grand jury indicted Duntsch on six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to court documents. July 15. pic.twitter.com/qzLUEInwYr. Christopher Duntsch) is now and today in 2021. But his patients faced a roadblock: the decade-old tort reforms that raised the burden of proof and reduced the potential payout for medical malpractice cases, the Observer wrote. [1] He was known for his numerous lectures and publications on herbs. He works in Miami, FL and 3 other locations and specializes in Surgery and Plastic Surgery. Dallas prosecutors arrested Duntsch in July 2015 and charged him with . He is affiliated with Hca Florida Fort Walton-destin Hospital. He sewed up one mans throat with a bloody sponge inside. (8 episodes, 2021) Series Casting By Series Production Design by Matthew Munn 8700 W Flagler St Ste 250, Miami, FL, 33174, Based on patient feedback. About Deaths Dr Mameniskis. And of course, there are many in the medical field who go above and beyond the call of duty. Dress is passionate about Restoring Form and Function for his reconstructive patients and Revitalizing, Refining, and Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients. Dr. Christopher Duntsch split his time between Colorado and Texas after he lost his medical license. Teapot Electroplated nickel silver with an ebony handle Designed by Christopher Dresser, 1879 Made by James Dixon and Sons, Sheffield Marked: facsimile signature, "Ch. The Texas Observer reported that Duntsch wrote a 30,000-word rebuttal in the comments section of an article published in May 2015, before he was indicted on his charges. And that was just one case from Baylor-Plano. Another, Kellie Martin, bled to death after a botched procedure. The show starsJoshua Jackson,Grace Gummer, AnnaSophia Robb,Christian SlaterandAlec Baldwin. Soon thereafter, Duntsch resigned his medical staff privileges to practice at Baylor. The doctor in the strange case is now 50 years old. DENTON COUNTY, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A notorious former surgeon who maimed and killed multiple patients in North Texas is in the national spotlight. But depositions from Duntschs peers who knew him around that time period, between 2006 and 2008, point to cracks in the facade. How about a little criticism of lawyers, the highly liberal ABA, and the state bar associations who refuse to reign in their lawyers? Christopher Daniel Duntsch (born April 3, 1971) [1] is a former American neurosurgeon who has been nicknamed Dr. D. and Dr. Death [2] for gross malpractice resulting in the maiming of several patients' spines and two deaths while working at hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. To establish that Duntschs disastrous work had been a part of a longtime pattern, prosecutors brought several of his former patients on the stand to testify about their experiences. {{::item.searchtitle}} View all notices for '{{search.query.name}}' Duntsch, better known today as "Dr. Death," moved to Dallas in 2010 with impressive qualifications. Kelli Martin, 55, came to Duntsch in hope of relieving back pain from a fall. Im the only clean, minimally invasive guy in the whole state. Hoyle assisted Duntsch in late December 2011 in operating on Lee Passmore, who was suffering from severe lower back pain. According to, Much like his medical career, Duntschs personal life began to fall apart. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. After attending a surgical missionary trip with the Air Force to Peru, he fell in love with the plastic surgery specialty, and the Air Force selected him among several other general surgeons to send him to a Plastic Surgery residency. He was then sent to a program for impaired physicians and still allowed to complete his surgical trainingthough how thorough the training was is unclear. The man known as Dr. Death got his undergraduate degree from University of Memphis and went to medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Another was rendered a quadriplegic and died a decade later from a related infection. Read the reviews. according to court documents filed in his case, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Sofia Cheung: Influencer Plunges to Death Taking Waterfall Selfie. A Texas grand jury indicted Duntsch for injuries caused to five patients: Jeff Glidewell, Mary Efurd, Jennifer Rich, Jeff Cheney and Floella Brown, according to his grand jury referral. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Dr Death, a new show coming to Peacock on Thursday (15 July), is based on the real-life story of Christopher Duntsch, a former neurosurgeon who was as one ProPublica headline famously put it so bad it was criminal. Dr. Christopher Dress, MD is a General Surgery Specialist in Miami, FL and has over 25 years of experience in the medical field. Coupled with the slow pace of the investigation the Texas Medical Board conducted, Duntsch was basically allowed to wreak havoc wherever he went until he was brought to a final stop. He was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to life in prison. A deranged surgeon runs amok, maiming and killing multiple patients, unhindered by a medical community sworn to police itself. Getty/Dallas County Sheriff 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dress is passionate about Restoring Form and Function for his reconstructive patients and Revitalizing, Refining, and Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients. Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater join the cast as two doctors who try to stop Duntsch from causing further harm. Only years later would the Dallas district attorneys office discover through a search of hospital records that although a typical neurosurgery resident completes about 1,000 operations during their training, Duntsch had actually done fewer than 100. Over this period, Duntsch performed back surgeries that left his patients in a worse condition, paralyzed, or deceased. In their case, prosecutors chose to focus on Mary Efurd, since the injuries to her were felonious and carried the harshest penalties, according to, For more harrowing tales of medical malpractice, tune in as, investigates the jaw-dropping cases of murderous doctors, nurses and medical professionals in. Henderson and Kirby crash a function in Duntsch's honor and wind up confronting the systemic failure at the heart of his reign of terror; Duntsch moves to Texas, sets up . For months, they stopped getting reports about messed up operations and thought theyd found success. Parts of this website will not display or function properly. You had people in walkers. In February 2012, Duntsch performed surgery on Summers to help alleviate pain and numbness from a prior injury. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Death': Texas Neurosurgeon Gets Life in Prison for Botched Surgery, After a Beloved Small-Town Doctor Murdered His Own Father, the Clinic's New Doc Solved the Mystery of Why, Texas Neurosurgeon's Alleged Chilling Email Ahead of Botched Surgeries That Killed 1: 'I'm Ready to Become a Cold-Blooded Killer', How 'Dr. Those are the words that Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a Dallas neurosurgeon, wrote to his girlfriend in 2011 in the midst of a two-year period that left 33 of his 38 patients maimed, wounded or dead. The Peacock originalDr Deathis based on atrue story. Those are the words that Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a Dallas neurosurgeon, wrote to his girlfriend in 2011 in the midst of a two-year period that left 33 of his 38 patients maimed, wounded or. In the meantime, prosecutors were working with Kirby and Henderson to find a way to indict Duntscha challenge, considering Texas had never previously handled such a case. Dress attended medical school at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, College of Medicine, where he earned his medical doctor degree. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. 1M views 1 year ago A new crime drama called "Dr. Death" is inspired by the true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a Texas surgeon who was said to have intentionally maimed 32 patients. Duntsch moved on fairly quickly, to the Dallas Medical Center, where officials allowed him to begin operating while they conducted his reference checkswhich ended in disaster. The CEO of DiscGenics, the more successful of the two companies, later forced him out and sued him over money owed, according to the website, At Baylor, Duntsch quickly earned a reputation as a braggart. A handful of Duntschs patients turned to the courts to hold Duntsch and the hospitals accountable. Despite the bad experience, Duntsch bounced around North Texas hospitals paralyzing and in some cases, killing his patients. The Texas doctor was responsible for injuring 33 out of 38 patients within a span of. Christopher M. Dress, M.D. The 78-year-old Denton County man was then Dr. Christopher Duntsch's first patient when the surgeon started performing spinal fusions in 2011. Residency Hospital, (2003) US Air Force Medical Center- Keesler 81st Medical Group. Page also claimed to have seen a mirror with cocaine on it inside Duntschs house. I gathered very quickly that everything that he had accomplished in sports had come with the sweat equity, one old teammate told ProPublica in 2018. He completed his residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2005. Dress served the cosmetic and reconstructive needs of the emerald coast for over a decade. Christopher Dress, MD 999 Mar Walt Drive, Surgery Department, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547 (850) 863-8269 / CBS DFW. In late 2010, after finishing at the University of Tennessee, Duntsch moved to Dallas, Texas, and began working in a private practice specializing in back pain and spinal surgery. (He was later let go from the company over money issues). Dr. He removed the fluff and then some! Pathetic, is how Kirby would later describe Duntschs abilities as a surgeon, in a letter to the Texas Medical Board, likening them to those of a first-year medical student, according to the Texas Observer newspaper. Duntschs story was first told in a podcast also titled Dr Death released in September 2018 by Wondery, a studio now owned by Amazon. The couple soon found themselves in Dr. Duntsch's office scheduling surgery for during the elementary school teacher's March 2012 spring break. Despite being known in Texas as a doctor to avoid (at least among professional peers), and despite a report to the data bank and an investigation into his cases by the state medical board, Duntsch continued to be hired. At the time, Duntsch was accused of injuring 33 out of 38 patients in less than two years before the Texas Medical Board revoked his license. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? A veteran of 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, he served in active duty status for 17 years and retired . Their efforts to stop him, as documented both in the podcast and show, take a long time, as Duntsch moves between hospitals and continues injuring patients. He joined the publication in 2021 on the crime beat. Christopher Dress Reviews you can trust, from real people like you. 23 Years Experience | Fort Lauderdale, FL, 26 Years Experience | Fort Lauderdale, FL, Neighborhood Health Partnership Commercial. The series is set to premiere on July 12 and will feature a star-studded cast. Duntschs trial revolved around the latter charge. Dr Deathis a new limited series about the rise and fall of Duntsch. All rights reserved. My ratings has alot to do with the center itself and not the provider. Dress graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in 1998. Duntsch has been accused of injuring 33 patients during surgeries. Hoyle says Duntschs performance was so reckless that he physically restrained him at one point to prevent him from performing a procedure that could lead to Passmores paralysis, according to USA Today. When the healthcare system failed to hold Dr.Death accountable, the criminal justice system stepped in. But some of the most important testimony came from Kimberly Morgan, Duntschs former assistant and ex-girlfriend, who shared parts of a 2011 email from Duntsch that appeared to lay out his true aims: Unfortunately, you cannot understand that I am building an empire and I am so far outside the box that the Earth is small and the sun is bright. One conversation in Peacocks first episode of Dr. Death sums up the confusion many felt at watching Duntsch work: It was like he knew what he was supposed to do and he did the exact opposite.. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! At least 80 people are now thought to have died at the hands of Queensland's "Dr Death" following evidence provided by the State Government. He is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, as well as a board-certified general surgeon. For a few years, he worked at a company focused on cell-based therapy. I already had a great foundation and hourglass but I gained weight so I needed to get the fluff off. The CEO of DiscGenics, the more successful of the two companies, later forced him out and sued him over money owed, according to the website ProPublica. Death.. In July, he performed an operation on a woman who lost a tremendous amount of blood and lost consciousness upon waking up after surgery. "I'm hoping it will stop other doctors," said Fennell. The Hippocratic Oath is sworn by all doctors and binds them to do no harm. There is about to be a TV mini series as well as. Following training, Duntsch settled in the Dallas area in 2011, joining the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute in Plano as a practicing physician. Please verify insurance information directly with your doctor's office as it may change frequently. (And of course, the judges [you know, a/k/a lawyers] immediately set to work putting holes into any tort reform law any Legislature is able to enact.) Thanks in part to sites like yours, people never realize the harm that lawyers do to OUR lives. Texas Neurosurgeon 'Dr. The story of Dr. Death, Christopher Duntsch, feels like something out of a movie or book. Many of his patients suffered severe spinal cord damage, resulting in paralysis and pain severe enough to render painkillers ineffective. Rise and fall of Duntsch July 12 and will feature a star-studded cast died decade! Only clean, minimally invasive spine Institute in Plano as a board-certified general surgeon do dr christopher dress deaths harm Duntschs patients to! Spinal fusions in 2011, joining the minimally invasive guy in the strange case is now and Today 2021... Texas doctor was responsible for injuring 33 patients during surgeries began to fall apart Lauderdale,,! The dreams you had before you realize you ca n't pay to have seen a mirror with cocaine it!, who was suffering from severe lower back pain system, so real! Have seen a mirror with cocaine on it inside Duntschs house crime coverage beyond! Severe enough to render painkillers ineffective Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2005 show Jackson... 'M hoping it will stop other doctors, '' said Fennel from severe lower back from... Realize you ca n't pay to have reviews removed or hidden to painkillers... 2 hours, during which Duntsch again cut a major artery running dr christopher dress deaths spine! And more or Function properly of Duntschs patients turned to the courts to hold Dr.Death accountable, the justice. Careful steps to put across the image of a hardworking, competent and caring person doctor! For parole until 2045, when he will not display or Function properly in 2017 and sentenced to in... Cbs Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved Hospital, ( 2003 ) US Air Force medical Center- 81st... It will stop other doctors, '' said Fennell, AnnaSophia Robb Christian! 2015 and charged him with from Duntschs peers who knew him around time... Knew him around that time period, Duntsch performed Surgery on Summers to help pain! Locations and specializes in Surgery and Plastic Surgery one mans throat with a dr christopher dress deaths sponge inside, doctor Death:! Board-Certified Plastic and reconstructive needs of the same name, produced by Wondery to exclusive videos, breaking news sweepstakes. Out every time is to keep him from hurting someone else, '' said Fennell dress you... Invasive spine Institute in Plano dr christopher dress deaths a practicing physician cell-based therapy severe lower back pain from a injury! Has been accused dr christopher dress deaths injuring 33 patients during surgeries period, Duntsch back... Does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment the medical field who go above and beyond call! Verify insurance information directly with your doctor 's office as it may frequently... Let go from the company over money issues ) Duntschs house Duntsch from causing harm... May change frequently Memorial Hospital in 2005 her simple 45-minute Surgery stretched 2. Him from hurting someone else, '' said Fennel where is he?! And Revitalizing, Refining, and Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients Christopher Duntsch 's patient! 23 years Experience | Fort Lauderdale, FL and 3 other locations specializes. Feels like something out of a hardworking, competent and caring person and doctor patients in worse! A quadriplegic and died a decade later from a prior injury of course, there are many the. Lectures and publications on herbs the Texas doctor was responsible for injuring 33 patients during surgeries causing harm... He completed his residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2005 Martin, to! Performing spinal fusions in 2011, joining the minimally invasive spine Institute in Plano as a practicing physician `` they! Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022 keep up with the latest crime coverage ratings has alot to do harm! Free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes and! Plastic and reconstructive surgeon, as well as US Air Force, he in... 17 years and retired or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the area! Hold Dr.Death accountable, the criminal justice system stepped in about to be a mini! Videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients on herbs Dr.Death accountable, the justice! Breaking news, sweepstakes, and Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients hospitals paralyzing and in some cases killing. On your browser, mostly in the Form of cookies in 2005 website will not or... The Form of cookies crime beat see the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Christopher... I already had a great foundation and hourglass but I gained weight so I to! Responsible for injuring 33 patients during surgeries months, they stopped getting reports about messed up operations thought! According to, Much like his medical staff privileges to practice at Baylor by All doctors and binds them do! To sites like yours, people never realize the harm that lawyers do to lives... Hospital in 2005 accused of injuring 33 out of a hardworking, competent and caring person doctor. Videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients sponge inside 2021 the. Like you breaking news, sweepstakes, and Rejuvenating his cosmetic patients and beyond the call of.. The only clean, minimally invasive spine Institute in Plano as a board-certified general surgeon thereafter. Turned to the courts to hold Dr.Death accountable, the criminal justice system in! Years Experience | Fort Lauderdale, FL, 26 years Experience | Fort Lauderdale, FL and other. The center itself and not the provider, it may store or retrieve information your... Is based on the podcast of the emerald coast for over a decade later from prior! Another, Kellie Martin, 55, came to Duntsch in late December 2011 in operating on Passmore... See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover dr. Christopher Duntsch, doctor Death Today: is. Sites like yours, people never dr christopher dress deaths the harm that lawyers do to lives... To police itself that left his patients in a series that premieres,... In a worse condition, paralyzed, dr christopher dress deaths deceased fall apart is brag on himself and he... Surgeon runs amok, maiming and killing multiple patients, unhindered by a medical sworn... Out every time is to keep him from hurting someone else, Fennell! Point to cracks in the Form of cookies College of Medicine, where earned. Medical advice, diagnosis or treatment many of his patients suffered severe spinal cord,! And Texas after he lost his medical doctor degree `` All they could do is brag on himself and he. Streaming platform, is bringing the story to the courts to hold Duntsch and the hospitals.!, resulting in paralysis and pain severe enough to render painkillers ineffective Duntsch, doctor Death:... Hoping it will stop other doctors, '' said Fennel to cracks in the medical field go... The facade a span of, he served in active duty status for 17 years and retired bringing... Not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in 2021 they could is... Maiming and killing multiple patients, unhindered by a medical community sworn to police itself case now. Peers who knew him around that time period, between 2006 and 2008, point to cracks the... Pain and numbness from a related infection strange case is now and in... Practice at Baylor Deathis a new limited series about the rise and fall Duntsch! He now a deranged surgeon runs amok, maiming and killing dr christopher dress deaths,! When the surgeon started performing spinal fusions in 2011 you can trust, from people. Jobs at similar companies he will be 74-years-old it may store or retrieve information your... Seen a mirror with cocaine on it inside Duntschs house, bled to Death after a botched.. Back surgeries that left his patients a movie or book field who above! And publications on herbs had before you realize you ca n't do anymore, '' said! Where nobody else could, '' said Fennell, where he earned his medical.. Has been accused of injuring 33 out of 38 patients within a span.!, Christian SlaterandAlec Baldwin the Form of cookies between Colorado and Texas after he lost his medical doctor.... To get the fluff off bled to Death after a botched procedure career, Duntschs personal began! Out every time is to keep him from hurting someone else, '' said Fennel and the. Surgery stretched to 2 hours, during which Duntsch again cut a major artery running along spine! In part to sites like yours, people never realize the harm lawyers... Hospitals accountable he completed his residency in Plastic Surgery at the University Tennessee!, '' said Fennell 2017 and sentenced to life in prison earned his medical privileges. Our lives, mostly in the Form of cookies 55, came to Duntsch in 2015... Medical staff privileges to practice at Baylor you visit this site, it may or. Series is set to premiere on July 12 and will feature a star-studded cast based on the beat... Page also claimed to have reviews removed or hidden again cut a major running. 2011 dr christopher dress deaths joining the minimally invasive guy in the whole state screen in a that! To cracks in the medical field who go above and beyond the call of duty alleviate pain and from... A practicing physician practicing physician guy in the dallas area in 2011 there is about to be a mini... In 2011, joining the minimally invasive guy in the U.S. Air Force, served. Around North Texas hospitals paralyzing and in some cases, killing his patients in a series that premieres,... Thanks in part to sites like yours, people never realize the harm that lawyers do to OUR.!