Investigation of Unneeded Heart Stents Expanded by Maryland Health Officials
Investigators from the Maryland health department have expanded their ongoing probe into unnecessary heart stent surgery procedures, after finding patterns that suggest there may be a number of doctors who placed unneeded stents into patients for profit. The investigation was sparked by hundreds of cases that have recently been identified where heart stents were implanted by Dr. Mark Midei at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, which the hospital has since acknowledged may not have required a stent placement.
>>MORE INFORMATION: St. Joseph Unneeded Stent Surgery Lawsuits
The Baltimore Sun reported this weekend that investigators are concerned that Dr. Mark G. Midei was not the only doctor inserting heart stents in patients who did not need them. The investigators have identified a number of cardiologists across the state who performed an unusually high number of the procedures, but have not yet released the names of those doctors.
Since late last year, St. Joseph Medical Center has sent letters to about 585 former patients of Dr. Midei that they may have undergone unnecessary heart stent implant surgery. However, our St. Joseph stent lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have been looking into potential cases for stent patients of Dr. Midei who have not received a St. Joseph letter, as it appears that the hospital’s investigation was very limited. While the hospital only looked at Dr. Midei stent implants back to 2007, our lawyers are independently investigating stent implant procedures since late 2003.
Given the financial incentive doctors have to implant a stent, which typically cost about $10,000.00, it is not entirely surprising that some doctors allowed financial incentives to guide patient treatment.
According to the Baltimore Sun report:
State investigators, after interviewing medical specialists and analyzing billing data reported by hospitals, have determined that doctors who perform a diagnostic test called a cardiac catheterization typically find blockage requiring treatment with a stent about 30 percent of the time.
But [Del. Peter A. Hammen] and other sources say the regulatory data suggests Midei performed stent procedures nearly twice as often, and that other Maryland doctors are high enough above the 30 percent benchmark to warrant a closer look.
UNNEEDED HEART STENT SURGERY LAWYERS
The heart stent attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential claims for individuals who received a permanent stent implant by Dr. Midei that may not have been necessary. We are also continuing to monitor the state investigation and what other cardiologists may have also implanted unneeded stents.
To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
