You might have seen Dr. Paul Mackoul’s name in the headlines recently, well, for those who don’t know yet, he is a well-known gynecologist famed for his fine skills in minimally invasive procedures, especially for issues like endometriosis and fibroids, you know? For sure, he has been the lead surgeon for many surgeries through his innovation in the field and he was one of the major contributors to the founding of the CIGC, which is a completely different type of clinic, an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), that is the only place where people can go for outpatient procedures without causing overnight hospitalizations.
But, such great things also come with unique risks since they are the type of surgeries that do not have proper oversight like hospitals. In fact, a recent lawsuit that CIGC and Dr. Mackoul were subjected to raises questions about the safety and accountability of ASCs. So, let’s just go over what this Paul Mackoul MD Lawsuit is all about, and what are the major concerns. Here we go.
The Incident That Started the Lawsuit
Well, back in 2015, Dr. Mackoul performed a procedure on a patient with uterine cancer by placing a catheter in her chest. Though, as mentioned in the details, he was apparently not qualified to treat cancer and this was a massive issue that came up during the lawsuit. Regrettably, attempts were made with a missed blow and consequently, the patient died of complications which the family blamed on Dr. Mackoul’s work.
Like, they claimed he punctured the vein so that blood could not flow and the lung would collapse. Hence, the patient’s family filed the lawsuit, promising that it was Dr. Mackoul’s inability to qualify for the procedure that was the direct reason for her demise, and that’s why they are filing the lawsuit. For sure, this tragic case brought the awful spectacle of public exposure to Dr. Mackoul’s practice, prompting an investigation that further deepened the suspense around his qualifications and the CIGC safety protocols.
What Are the Allegations Against Dr. Mackoul?
That just doesn’t end there, you see, the allegations being put against Dr. Mackoul are, for the most part, medical malpractice allegations, that is, complaints of errors or negligence that have the potential to harm patients. Like, the accusations made the family claim that Dr. Mackoul committed surgical mistakes, did not provide adequate post-surgery care, and did not fully inform patients of possible risks. Not just that though, in addition to this case, Dr. Mackoul has come in for several complaints over time. Like, in one widely publicized case, Rola Taleb, the patient, claimed that the doctor did not pay attention to the symptoms and missed a serious diagnosis, which led to pain and complications that have lasted to this day.
And sure, the Maryland State Board of Physicians investigated Dr. Mackoul for the above case, and then in 2021, the ruling was against him, and the ruling stated that he was guilty of “unprofessional conduct”. Back then, a one-month suspension of his medical license, a fine of $50,000, and a referral to a specific course of treatment with strict supervision were not able to provide a satisfactory resolution by the Board, the families said.
How Does Owning the Surgery Center Factor Into the Case?
The lawsuit against Dr. Mackoul is significantly based on the fact that he owns CIGC, which is where he does the surgery, and why is that a big point in this case? Well, just so you know, this ownership is a red flag for any conflicts of interest and raises concerns because he is financially benefiting from his own clinic. Similar questions about business practices and consumer safety have emerged in other industries, as seen in the Poppi Soda Lawsuit where ownership and transparency issues also affected consumer trust. It is important to mention that when doctors are the ones who have a financial interest in the centers that they work in, a profit motive may sometimes prevail over doctors’ commitment to their patient’s safety.
