Las Vegas NowI-Team: Inaction at the Board of Medical Examiners, Part 2
The doctor that treated 36-year-old Brian Pappa was found guilty of malpractice.
Erik Pappa says medical consumers need more access to information on doctors.In a place where introductions simply aren't possible, Erik Pappa struggles to humanize his little brother. In 2001, two days after Christmas, Brian Pappa went to MountainView Hospital complaining of nausea and chest pains.
By New Year's Day, Brian Pappa was dead. He was 36-years-old.
"We thought he'd be treated, he'd be fine and he'd go on with his life. Didn't work out that way," said Erik.
The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners found Pappa's admitting physician, Doctor Dolue Ezeanolue guilty of malpractice for failing to use reasonable care, skill or knowledge in the diagnosis of Pappa.
In September of 2006, the board issued a two sentence press release noting only the malpractice finding and the penalty.
"I would want to know if that person died, if that person lost a limb, if that person is now confined to a wheelchair as a result of what a doctor did. Those are the kinds of things I think medical consumers want to know and nowhere is that information available in this news release," said Pappa.
Or in most of the news releases issued by the board. Some additional information can be gleaned from the agency's public records. But instead of availability on a website, they require a phone call to obtain.
"I think the public records should be more accessible," said medical board vice president Dr. Benjamin Rodriguez. "Do we need to put a two or three page synopsis on each of these things? If that's what will satisfy the public's urge for information, that may be able to be done. I'm not opposed to that at all."
Rodriguez however is one voice among nine. Recent meeting minutes reveal regular debate about what should and should not appear on the website.
In May of 2007, Dr. Javaid Anwar argued there is no need to include the number of complaints against a doctor. Then in March of 2008, public member Donald Baepler, now deceased, insisted most people don't understand malpractice suits and settlements.
Returning them to website he explained, could put the board "at war with the physicians."
"It's not like running a red light. That's cut and dry. There's so many factors in human care," said Dr. Rodriguez.
Just by example, in the last month, the state medical board has initiated two separate actions against ophthalmologist Stella Chou. Channel 8 reported on them, yet you won't find so much as a mention on the board's own website.
A new website is in the works that may include malpractice information. There are on-going discussions about what else should be on it.
As Pappa visits his brother in the only place he can, his mind wanders to the moments he can't quite put into words and reels with the regret of what could've been.
"That shouldn't have been the end result. He should've -- had there been a physician who diagnosed him properly, treated him early, he would've walked out on his own two feet."
Dr. Ezeanolue sued the board and won, forcing it to revoke its reprimand. Judge Michelle Leavitt, in her order, noted "the board's findings were arbitrary, capricious and characterized by an abuse of discretion."
Last year a civil malpractice suit ended in a hung jury. A second trial is scheduled for next year.
