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In this episode of American Greed,
Christopher Dunge is a young spine
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with a big salary and an ego to match.
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They thought they had a young, hot
neurosurgeon with cutting
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-edge skills and excellent training.
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But instead of helping patients, he
hurts them badly.
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I mean, it was the worst.
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I mean, I've never seen anything like
it. Leaving one after another maimed,
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paralyzed.
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Even dead.
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First thing I remember is not being able
to move.
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What was going through my head at that
time was, what did he do to me?
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And yet this killer surgeon keeps on
operating.
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American Greed sits down with some of
those closer to the story to find out
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drives Dunch's reign of terror from the
delusions of grandeur.
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Anyone close to me thinks that I am
likely something between God, Einstein,
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the Antichrist.
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To the mounting depths.
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Surgery was his out.
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That was how he was going to make his
big buck.
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To the hospitals that passed the buck,
according to lawsuits.
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When hospitals look at somebody like
Christopher Dunch, I think they see
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on. Leaving Dunch's victims at the mercy
of the man now known as Dr.
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Death.
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In March 2012, a school librarian goes
to a Dallas hospital for a routine back
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surgery and bleeds to death.
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Three months later, another patient
comes to another hospital for a neck
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surgery, where she suffers a stroke and
later dies.
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The day after this operation, a third
woman goes under the knife hoping to fix
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her back issues, then wakes up screaming
in pain.
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What all three have in common is surgeon
Christopher Dunch, seen here in a
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cramped interrogation room at Dallas
Police Headquarters.
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You moved here from Tennessee, is that
right?
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Correct. Okay, so you just started, you
did all your schooling there and then
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you came? Yeah, med school, Ph .D.,
graduate school, residency, fellowship
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spine. It all sounds impressive.
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But a prosecutor will say that in
Dallas, Dunch injures 33 out of 38
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less than two years.
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And now the once promising doctor has
gone from an operating room to an
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interrogation room.
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Hi, Dad, this is Christopher.
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I was supposed to come home tonight, as
you know, and I'm not now.
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Unexpectedly, the police came and picked
me up regarding the DA issues that I
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mentioned to you.
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This is the phone of one of the
detectives. If you would please call him
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he'll tell you what's going on. I had no
idea what's going on with Bond and
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what's going to happen next.
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So I'll call you as soon as I can. Love
you. Thanks.
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Christopher Dunch's career as a doctor
starts many years earlier in Memphis,
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Tennessee.
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There, he completes a joint MD -PhD
program.
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and a neurosurgery residency at the
University of Tennessee at Memphis
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of Medicine.
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Then, he remains in the city to complete
a spine surgery fellowship.
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His resume is about 12 pages long, so he
looks really good on paper, exactly the
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kind of doctor that you'd be looking
for.
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In all, Dunge spends 15 years in med
school, his residency, and his
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A process meant to ensure he's got what
it takes.
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Martin Lazar is a Dallas neurosurgeon
who first reviewed some of Dunch's cases
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on behalf of plaintiff's attorneys.
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When you operate on the brain or the
spinal cord, the good job has to be a
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good job.
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It can't just be journeyman.
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But Dunch's resume reveals an
overwhelming interest in the Ph .D. part
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dual M .D. Ph .D. degree.
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With his name on multiple academic
papers, patents, and biotech startups,
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clearly met with some early success, and
he doesn't keep it to himself.
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In emails, he describes himself as a
supernova, sophisticated savant, and the
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best surgeon and scientist in everything
I decide I want to be.
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I can't remember how he phrased it.
One's having, like, God knowledge, I
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believe, is what...
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How he referred to his knowledge.
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That was like, you know, one of our
problems.
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In her first television interview, Wendy
Young tells American Greed she meets
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the up -and -coming spine surgeon in
Memphis one late night.
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I had worked at a strip club before.
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And I've seen him around.
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I thought he was cute.
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And then, you know, it was like towards
the end of the night. It was very loud,
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and all the girls were over there.
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I think they knew he was a doctor.
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So, of course, that's where you're going
to go for your money.
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Dunge and Young will eventually have two
children together.
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But by the time they meet, the up -and
-coming doctor is facing a mounting pile
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of debt.
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Bankruptcy records later show that he
owes $112 ,000 on one student loan.
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and $19 ,000 on another, $127 ,000 on a
home, and he has debts to his
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father that will grow to equal $220
,000.
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All added up, Dunge is nearly a half a
million in the hole.
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I think he learned very early on that
research maybe wasn't where he was going
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to be making his money.
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And so surgery was his out.
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That was how he was going to make his
big bucks.
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If Dunch's goal really is making big
bucks, he's chosen the right specialty.
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The amount of money that a hospital gets
for what we do is in the millions
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and millions of dollars for a single
neurosurgeon.
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Dunch is recruited to work as a spine
surgeon in Dallas in 2010.
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His starting salary?
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$600 ,000 a year plus bonuses.
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Kay VanWay is an attorney who will later
represent many of Dunch's patients.
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He was dead broke when he came to
Dallas.
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Here was an opportunity for him to start
right off with a very, very handsome
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salary and with opportunity to make tens
of millions of dollars.
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At first, Dunch will operate at Baylor
Medical Center at Plano, now called
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Baylor, Scott, and White.
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They thought...
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They had a young, hot neurosurgeon with
cutting -edge skills and
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excellent training, and therefore he
would be a very profitable addition
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to their medical staff.
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They're not alone in thinking they've
landed a catch.
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Dallas is originally where I'm from.
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And I decided, you know, if you go to
Dallas, I'll go with you. You know, in
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beginning, he talks about marriage.
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I'm Mr. Prince Charming. I'm going to
change your life.
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You know, I left with him and then
believed in him.
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And then, you know, he just kind of fell
apart.
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Next on American Greed, Dunch's true
skills as a surgeon become painfully
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apparent. I mean, he could not wield a
scalpel. It was pathetic.
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And later...
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One curious doc hears a disturbing
allegation about Dr.
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Dunge. Some woman had anonymously placed
a phone call saying that he liked to do
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drugs before he went to outbreak.
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Now in Texas and about to start a $600
,000 a year job, young surgeon
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Christopher Dunn seems to be feeling
confident.
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In an email, he says he's come to the
city to do my thing, build my empire,
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party with models without knowing their
names to make money.
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Doing so involves something Dunn seems
to be good at, self -promotion,
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this paid infomercial.
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I treat all patients non -surgically at
birth, if at all possible.
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And then if they fail that sort of stage
of the process, then they come back to
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me to discuss surgical options.
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But Dunch has other ways of letting
everyone know just how good he is.
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When he was in conversations with
colleagues, he would just talk about his
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training. He was going to be the
greatest minimally invasive spine
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Dallas. and he came down to Dallas to
clean everything up because most of the
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work here was being done wrong.
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These were extraordinary statements
coming out of the mouth of someone that
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got finished training.
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I'd never heard anyone talk like that in
my entire career.
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If Dunge's words to his colleagues are
troubling, they're nothing compared to
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the deeply delusional thoughts he shares
in private.
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In December 2011, he writes the
following in an email.
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Anyone close to me thinks that I'm
likely something between God, Einstein,
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the Antichrist. Because how can I do
anything I want and cross every
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boundary like it's a playground and
never, ever lose?
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What I am being is what I am.
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One of a kind. A mother stone cold
killer that can buy or own or steal or
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or build whatever he wants.
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Three weeks after Dunge sends this rant.
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Vascular surgeon Randall Kirby operates
alongside Dunge, giving him the chance
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to evaluate the new arrival's self
-proclaimed skills.
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I mean, he could not wield a scalpel. I
mean, it was pathetic.
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And so I knew he had a real problem.
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Alarmed at what he sees, Kirby later
testifies at trial that he voices
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to Baylor Plano.
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But Dunge keeps operating.
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unaware of or unconcerned about his own
shortcomings.
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One of his new patients is Jerry
Summers, who also happens to be Dunch's
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friend. As their 1988 high school
yearbook shows, they've been together
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they were teens.
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In February 2012,
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Summers comes to Baylor Plano so Dunch
can fuse together vertebrae in his neck,
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a surgery that does not go according to
plan.
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I think everybody in the OR became
pretty concerned because Dr. Dunge was
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pulling a lot of muscle tissue out of
Jerry's neck, and there was just a lot
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of bleeding.
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When it's all over, complications arise.
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Dunge goes MIA, and things go from bad
to worse.
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Let's talk about what you remember when
you woke up. What's the first thing that
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you remember?
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The first thing I remember is not being
able to move.
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And I just was kind of freaking out.
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The surgery leaves Summers a
quadriplegic.
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And a nurse will later testify at trial
that when she comes to see Summers a few
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days after his operation, he makes a
startling claim.
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He told this nurse, you know, I want to
report a crime.
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I was doing drugs with Dr. Dunch the
night before the surgery. I was doing
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balls, and eight balls is slang for
cocaine.
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Dunch has denied this, as has Wendy
Young, the mother of his children, who
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living with him at the time.
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And Summers later recants, testifying
that with Dunch missing post -surgery,
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mentioned eight balls to get his
friend's attention.
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Dunge is never prosecuted for any crime
related to this incident.
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But the nurse makes a complaint to
higher up.
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Baylor Plano begins a formal peer
review, and Dunge takes a leave of
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They immediately approach Dr. Dunge and
ask him, you know, to go take a drug
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test. When he went to take his drug test
the first time, he did not take his ID,
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so they couldn't do the drug test, but
he went back later and did end up
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ultimately taking a drug test, and those
results came back negative. I think
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it's important to note that when he had
the negative drug test, that it was
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actually done five days after Jerry
Summers' surgery, and cocaine gets out
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the body in three days.
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With Dunge having passed his test, an
outside reviewer tells the hospital...
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there's no indication Dunch has drug or
psychological issues, and Baylor Plano
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reinstates his surgery privileges.
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But they ask Dunch to only perform minor
surgical procedures.
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His very next operation takes place on
Monday, March 12th, when a 55 -year -old
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school librarian named Kelly Martin
comes in for what should be a routine
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operation.
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During the procedure, Dunch punctures a
blood vessel.
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According to trial testimony, when
warning signs arise that Martin is
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out, Dunch does nothing to fix the
problem and insists that everything is
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He just didn't know what he was doing.
You can't not know it and be a
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neurosurgeon.
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That's how basic this is.
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She essentially bled to death in a
upscale hospital.
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In a major metropolitan city in the 21st
century,
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patients aren't supposed to go in for a
routine, simple back
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surgery and bleed to death.
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00:14:46,770 --> 00:14:52,289
Hearing about her death, Dr. Randall
Kirby testifies at trial that he calls
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Texas Medical Board.
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Still, Dunge keeps going.
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Up next.
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With Dutch's growing record of bad
outcomes, he couldn't possibly find a
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gig.
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00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:05,810
Or could he?
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He's got live bodies ready to go on the
operating room table, and they were off
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to the races with Dutch.
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00:15:28,970 --> 00:15:33,749
Hospitals are supposed to track problem
doctors using something called the
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National Practitioner Data Bank.
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00:15:37,110 --> 00:15:42,789
The National Practitioner Data Bank,
it's put in place to identify people
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Christopher Dunch.
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00:15:44,130 --> 00:15:48,749
That's what Congress did. They put that
in place to identify people, bad doctors
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like Christopher Dunch, and shut them
down.
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Hospitals are responsible for reporting
the dangerous doctors they find in their
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00:15:56,370 --> 00:15:59,620
ranks. But it doesn't always work out
that way.
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00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:06,559
On April 18th, a committee at Baylor
Plano determines Dunch failed to meet
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standard of care in his last two
disastrous cases.
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00:16:11,180 --> 00:16:16,699
But two days later, he resigns his
privileges, a known loophole that keeps
229
00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:19,260
databank entry appearing spotless.
230
00:16:20,580 --> 00:16:22,380
Had he been fired...
231
00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:28,659
That would have been reportable to the
National Data Bank. So he was able to
232
00:16:28,660 --> 00:16:35,459
circumvent a major safety feature
233
00:16:35,460 --> 00:16:41,839
in the system. When Dunch later goes on
trial, one veteran physician testifies
234
00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,320
that doctors know all about this
loophole.
235
00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:49,400
Prosecutor Michelle Shugart says that in
general, others do as well.
236
00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,779
Everybody knows when you're required to
report, and nobody likes to destroy
237
00:16:53,780 --> 00:16:59,859
anybody's reputation. And so they use
these little techniques to find ways to
238
00:16:59,860 --> 00:17:01,480
avoid having to report somebody.
239
00:17:04,260 --> 00:17:09,699
Plaintiff's attorney Kay Van Way says
that's because in Texas, hospitals face
240
00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:14,539
much heftier damages in a lawsuit from a
doctor claiming to have been unfairly
241
00:17:14,540 --> 00:17:16,880
reported than they do from a patient.
242
00:17:17,349 --> 00:17:19,290
claiming to have been badly treated.
243
00:17:20,349 --> 00:17:25,429
It's easier for a hospital to just kick
the can down the road and let the doctor
244
00:17:25,430 --> 00:17:31,270
become some other hospital's problem
than to risk backlash from the doctor.
245
00:17:31,610 --> 00:17:37,149
Citing patient privacy and the
privileged nature of the case, Baylor
246
00:17:37,150 --> 00:17:42,810
White declined to comment, but said they
are focused on providing high -quality,
247
00:17:42,830 --> 00:17:44,010
trusted health care.
248
00:17:44,970 --> 00:17:48,980
Now, out of a job, Dunch is facing
growing financial pressure.
249
00:17:49,460 --> 00:17:54,839
Having arrived in Dallas with
significant debt, bankruptcy records
250
00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,080
since borrowed hundreds of thousands
more.
251
00:17:57,860 --> 00:18:02,180
And the doctor who calls himself the
strongest, smartest, coolest, fastest,
252
00:18:02,260 --> 00:18:05,140
slickest, isn't about to call it quits.
253
00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:10,879
I think he was highly driven by money.
He had tons of debt out there that he
254
00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:11,779
wanted to pay off.
255
00:18:11,780 --> 00:18:14,190
I think that was very much driving force
for him.
256
00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:19,779
Fortunately for him, Dunch is recruited
to operate at this hospital, Dallas
257
00:18:19,780 --> 00:18:23,920
Medical Center, just three months after
leaving Baylor Plano.
258
00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:28,959
As part of the process, officials there
run an obligatory check of the National
259
00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:30,440
Practitioner Data Bank.
260
00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,150
They don't find anything in the data
bank.
261
00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,160
Nothing has been reported about him.
262
00:18:35,420 --> 00:18:40,299
Though they do request detailed files
from Baylor Plano, Dallas Medical Center
263
00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:45,200
grants Dunch temporary privileges while
they wait for all his records to arrive.
264
00:18:46,140 --> 00:18:49,100
Dallas Medical Center was struggling
financially.
265
00:18:49,420 --> 00:18:54,499
He tells them he's got live bodies ready
to go on the operating room table, and
266
00:18:54,500 --> 00:18:56,820
they were off to the races with Dunch.
267
00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:03,620
On July 13th, Dunch gets an email saying
the red carpets are rolled out.
268
00:19:04,140 --> 00:19:09,539
A week later, he gets his temporary
privileges, and within days, he's back
269
00:19:09,540 --> 00:19:13,500
the OR, scheduling three surgeries
during his very first week.
270
00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,980
Some of those he works with will later
say he's a mess.
271
00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:24,660
One nurse testifies he asks a colleague
if Dunch is on something.
272
00:19:25,580 --> 00:19:28,580
Dunch did not respond to multiple
requests for comment.
273
00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:34,079
According to findings by the state
medical board, during his second surgery
274
00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:39,119
Dallas Medical Center, Dunch lacerates a
blood vessel supplying his patient's
275
00:19:39,120 --> 00:19:40,170
brain.
276
00:19:40,540 --> 00:19:41,880
Experts testify...
277
00:19:42,190 --> 00:19:46,590
He then packs it with too much of a
substance meant to stop the bleeding.
278
00:19:47,010 --> 00:19:53,729
In doing so, he completely obstructed
that vital brain blood
279
00:19:53,730 --> 00:19:59,849
supply, and the patient died as a
consequence of that blood vessel being
280
00:19:59,850 --> 00:20:00,900
obstructed.
281
00:20:01,530 --> 00:20:05,450
Now, two of Gunch's last three patients
have died.
282
00:20:06,690 --> 00:20:11,459
In a statement to American Greed, Dallas
Medical Center says they've come under
283
00:20:11,460 --> 00:20:16,499
new ownership and management since
Dunch's days there and that they follow
284
00:20:16,500 --> 00:20:19,320
guidelines to ensure the safety of their
patients.
285
00:20:21,020 --> 00:20:26,619
Coming up, as patient after patient is
harmed, one doctor goes searching for
286
00:20:26,620 --> 00:20:27,960
info on Dunch.
287
00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:34,359
It occurred to me that this was an
imposter who obviously had a few screws
288
00:20:34,360 --> 00:20:38,300
and was willing to pretend to be a
surgeon.
289
00:20:56,940 --> 00:21:01,139
After the surgery at Dallas Medical
Center that leads to the death of one
290
00:21:01,140 --> 00:21:07,159
patient, Christopher Dunn botches the
operation on another patient, a 74 -year
291
00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,120
-old woman named Mary Efert.
292
00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:14,899
Some of the other people in the OR were
concerned about his intoxication state
293
00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:17,220
at that point, that his pupils were
dilated.
294
00:21:18,020 --> 00:21:22,799
After Efert's surgery, administrators at
the hospital yank Dunn's temporary
295
00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,960
privileges and call in surgeon Robert
Henderson.
296
00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:28,360
to take over Eford's care.
297
00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:35,359
Miss Eford couldn't get out of bed. She
was screaming in pain. She couldn't bear
298
00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:39,180
weight on her legs. They were
essentially flaccid.
299
00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:45,259
Henderson will later testify that Dunge
operated in the wrong place on Eford's
300
00:21:45,260 --> 00:21:50,359
back, that he amputated a nerve root,
and that he botched the implantation of
301
00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:52,920
device meant to stabilize her spine.
302
00:21:54,590 --> 00:22:00,869
device he was trying to implant was
supposed to uh end up in here
303
00:22:00,870 --> 00:22:07,689
in the middle of this space but the
implant when i found it it was just
304
00:22:07,690 --> 00:22:12,229
floating in the muscle he just made a
hole in the muscle with a coring device
305
00:22:12,230 --> 00:22:19,169
and and suspended the metallic implant
in that space it was touching no
306
00:22:19,170 --> 00:22:23,110
bone i couldn't imagine anybody who had
taken
307
00:22:23,850 --> 00:22:29,869
an anatomy course in medical school
doing this much damage. That's how bad
308
00:22:29,870 --> 00:22:36,589
was. And so it occurred to me that this
was an imposter who obviously had a few
309
00:22:36,590 --> 00:22:43,510
screws loose and was willing to pretend
to be a surgeon.
310
00:22:45,390 --> 00:22:49,689
Wondering if the guy in Dallas is really
the guy who completed a prestigious
311
00:22:49,690 --> 00:22:52,270
spine surgery fellowship in Memphis.
312
00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:55,660
Henderson calls Dunch's fellowship
supervisor.
313
00:22:57,120 --> 00:23:03,099
I had obtained a picture of Dr. Dunch,
and I faxed it to him
314
00:23:03,100 --> 00:23:07,739
while we were on the phone, and he
confirmed that, yes, that was
315
00:23:07,740 --> 00:23:13,519
Dunch. Looking for more information,
Henderson also records a call with the
316
00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,640
director of Dunch's residency program.
317
00:23:15,860 --> 00:23:21,720
He hears about an alleged incident
involving Dunch from back in late 2006.
318
00:23:22,830 --> 00:23:26,289
The year before his trip here, he got a
phone call from the hospital
319
00:23:26,290 --> 00:23:33,089
administration saying that some woman
had anonymously placed a phone call
320
00:23:33,090 --> 00:23:36,250
that he liked to do drugs before he went
to operate.
321
00:23:36,251 --> 00:23:40,389
So I said, well, fine, send him down to
his place. I'm going to get his urine
322
00:23:40,390 --> 00:23:46,409
checked. And he went down and checked in
and said, I can't pee right now. I'll
323
00:23:46,410 --> 00:23:49,000
be back in an hour and disappeared for
several days.
324
00:23:49,930 --> 00:23:54,689
And when he showed back up, obviously
that prompted a referral to the impaired
325
00:23:54,690 --> 00:24:01,089
physicians group. And because of his
university house staff, it was all
326
00:24:01,090 --> 00:24:05,889
by the university. And they sent him
back to us after a period of being off
327
00:24:05,890 --> 00:24:11,109
evaluation and said, we don't find
anything wrong, keep training him. So as
328
00:24:11,110 --> 00:24:12,950
as I know, he was okay.
329
00:24:15,070 --> 00:24:17,730
Though UT Memphis would not comment.
330
00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:23,159
The director of Dunch's residency
program said he was advised Dunch was
331
00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,640
impaired and that his training should
resume.
332
00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:31,020
Dunch's fellowship supervisor says he
was never informed of the incident.
333
00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:37,039
These doctors said there were no
failures in Dunch's residency training
334
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:42,179
fellowship and that they never observed
any surgical issues with Dunch while he
335
00:24:42,180 --> 00:24:43,219
was in Tennessee.
336
00:24:43,220 --> 00:24:47,100
No issues with his procedures there are
known to exist.
337
00:24:48,010 --> 00:24:52,409
The doctor who headed the UT
neurosurgery department at the time of
338
00:24:52,410 --> 00:24:57,330
residency did not respond to multiple
emailed requests for comment.
339
00:24:58,510 --> 00:25:04,449
But in an email, Dunge says he sometimes
partied every night of the week, always
340
00:25:04,450 --> 00:25:09,889
showing up for residency five minutes
before rounds. All the while, the
341
00:25:09,890 --> 00:25:11,530
neurosurgical resident.
342
00:25:12,460 --> 00:25:17,600
And in a video deposition, a transcript
of which was filed in civil proceedings,
343
00:25:17,940 --> 00:25:22,819
a young woman who once dated Dunch's
friend, Jerry Summers, testifies about
344
00:25:22,820 --> 00:25:24,580
Dunch during his residency.
345
00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:29,920
When was the first time you remember
seeing Christopher Dunch use illegal
346
00:25:30,820 --> 00:25:32,880
It was at his birthday party.
347
00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:38,740
There was LSD, acid, which is LSD,
cocaine.
348
00:25:40,540 --> 00:25:45,579
Long after Dunge leaves Tennessee, the
woman alleges that after witnessing
349
00:25:45,580 --> 00:25:51,799
dropping acid and hoovering up lines of
coke, she sees him don a white lab coat
350
00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,580
as he prepares to do rounds at a
hospital.
351
00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:58,190
And he left to go to work? Left to go to
work like it was nothing.
352
00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:04,360
After you had witnessed him doing
cocaine and LSD all night long?
353
00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:05,610
All night long.
354
00:26:05,900 --> 00:26:10,520
Dunch will later tell a reporter he's
never had a drug and alcohol problem.
355
00:26:11,220 --> 00:26:15,819
After hearing the story about Dunch
during his residency and seeing the
356
00:26:15,820 --> 00:26:21,580
of his surgeries in Texas, Dr. Henderson
says he calls the Texas Medical Board.
357
00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:27,719
Kirby, who says he's already called
them, testifies he learns about Dunch's
358
00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:31,100
catastrophes and begins calling once a
month.
359
00:26:32,270 --> 00:26:37,569
We tried everything we could, but, you
know, it took a long time to get the
360
00:26:37,570 --> 00:26:39,029
moving in the right direction.
361
00:26:39,030 --> 00:26:42,349
And unfortunately, there were some
patients that, you know, were injured
362
00:26:42,350 --> 00:26:43,189
of it.
363
00:26:43,190 --> 00:26:47,549
The board tells American Greed that in
order to act, they need written
364
00:26:47,550 --> 00:26:52,909
complaints, that complex cases take
time, and that changes to hospital
365
00:26:52,910 --> 00:26:54,270
require legislation.
366
00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,680
Up next, can Dr. Dunge be stopped?
367
00:26:58,681 --> 00:27:01,779
I have one last thing to remind the
Texas Medical Board.
368
00:27:01,780 --> 00:27:06,139
Your mission is to protect the public.
Dr. Dunge is a clear and present danger
369
00:27:06,140 --> 00:27:07,460
to the systems in Texas.
370
00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:09,330
Morning.
371
00:27:15,580 --> 00:27:20,659
Christopher Dunge has been operating in
Dallas for just over a year, allegedly
372
00:27:20,660 --> 00:27:23,560
botching the surgeries of 10 patients.
373
00:27:24,220 --> 00:27:27,120
leaving one a quadriplegic and two
others dead.
374
00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:33,599
But the doctor who says he has more
education and degrees than God just
375
00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:34,579
stop.
376
00:27:34,580 --> 00:27:38,979
Prosecutor Michelle Shugart will later
argue at trial that a flawed system
377
00:27:38,980 --> 00:27:44,080
allows Dunge to slither between
hospitals that she says failed the
378
00:27:45,770 --> 00:27:51,169
The financial incentives are a huge part
of what was driving him and what was
379
00:27:51,170 --> 00:27:55,729
driving the people all around him to
continue to believe in him and invest in
380
00:27:55,730 --> 00:27:58,560
him despite the fact that there were all
these red flags.
381
00:27:58,670 --> 00:28:03,129
Luckily for him, Dallas Medical Center
did not report him to the National
382
00:28:03,130 --> 00:28:04,770
Practitioner Data Bank either.
383
00:28:05,030 --> 00:28:07,390
And so his record was still clean.
384
00:28:07,850 --> 00:28:10,430
That's another one of those loopholes
where...
385
00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:14,799
He was never actually on full staff
there. He just had temporary privileges.
386
00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:19,719
you're not required to report somebody
resigning temporary privileges under bad
387
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:20,770
circumstances.
388
00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:23,700
In January 2013,
389
00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:29,939
Dunge received surgery privileges at the
Legacy Surgery Center of Frisco, whose
390
00:28:29,940 --> 00:28:35,279
new administrator tells American Read,
the hospital now goes by a new name, has
391
00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,380
a new owner, and new managers.
392
00:28:38,570 --> 00:28:43,249
When hospitals look at somebody like
Christopher Dunch, who has a great
393
00:28:43,250 --> 00:28:47,289
educational background and is a
neurosurgeon, I think they see dollar
394
00:28:47,290 --> 00:28:53,609
because neurosurgeons are one of the
most lucrative aspects of a
395
00:28:53,610 --> 00:28:54,870
hospital's business.
396
00:28:56,030 --> 00:29:00,650
Among the business Dunch brings in is
patient Philip Mayfield.
397
00:29:01,490 --> 00:29:06,909
Mayfield is a father of three and a
former Navy man who spent years driving
398
00:29:06,910 --> 00:29:07,960
truck.
399
00:29:07,961 --> 00:29:11,539
Being a truck driver and having to do a
lot of driving, long -distance driving,
400
00:29:11,540 --> 00:29:17,900
a lot of hours and lifting a lot, I
began to experience problems with my
401
00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:19,400
getting shocks and tingling.
402
00:29:19,620 --> 00:29:25,040
And then I recall one time I was lifting
something and my arm gave out.
403
00:29:26,340 --> 00:29:31,019
After reading about Dunge on the
Internet, Mayfield and his wife meet the
404
00:29:31,020 --> 00:29:35,539
who says his surgery will be one of
thousands he's performed without
405
00:29:35,540 --> 00:29:36,590
complications.
406
00:29:37,930 --> 00:29:41,970
The surgery would take approximately,
you know, 45 minutes.
407
00:29:43,330 --> 00:29:48,989
And the healing time from the surgery
was, I think, I think approximately six
408
00:29:48,990 --> 00:29:50,040
eight weeks.
409
00:29:50,041 --> 00:29:53,749
And then I would be right back there,
you know, driving trucks and doing what
410
00:29:53,750 --> 00:29:55,289
normally do. That's what he said.
411
00:29:55,290 --> 00:29:57,530
But it didn't turn out that way.
412
00:29:58,950 --> 00:30:03,850
When Mayfield comes to Legacy Surgery
Center for his operation, his wife,
413
00:30:03,890 --> 00:30:06,030
Angela, waits for him up front.
414
00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:12,880
Dr. Dunst did come out of the surgery
and told me that everything had gone
415
00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,919
So when I went back there in the back, I
kind of noticed that he was just laying
416
00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:21,740
there. I was fading in and out. I could
see everyone around me was, you know,
417
00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:25,380
the nurses were frantic. I was in a lot
of pain, for sure.
418
00:30:25,660 --> 00:30:29,400
I remember I couldn't move from the neck
down.
419
00:30:29,780 --> 00:30:35,580
What was going through my head at that
time was, you know, what did he do to
420
00:30:36,650 --> 00:30:41,489
After being transported to another
hospital, Mayfield finds out what Dunch
421
00:30:41,490 --> 00:30:42,269
to him.
422
00:30:42,270 --> 00:30:47,609
Another doctor will later testify the
spine surgeon damaged his spinal cord
423
00:30:47,610 --> 00:30:53,789
a drill, leaving him with a leg that
will never return to normal and pain
424
00:30:53,790 --> 00:30:55,630
will likely get worse over time.
425
00:30:56,050 --> 00:30:58,810
But Dunch still isn't done in Dallas.
426
00:30:59,170 --> 00:31:03,649
For months, doctors Randall Kirby and
Robert Henderson have been trying to get
427
00:31:03,650 --> 00:31:06,280
the Texas Medical Board to stop Dunch.
428
00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:12,899
In late May 2013, they learn he's landed
at yet another facility, University
429
00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:15,880
General Hospital, which is now closed.
430
00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:20,640
I got an invitation to meet Christopher
Dunch.
431
00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:25,019
They were going to have a big
celebratory dinner for him. The
432
00:31:25,020 --> 00:31:29,879
putting this on, and so Henderson and I
both got the invitation, and we went and
433
00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:32,540
ate, for lack of better words.
434
00:31:32,541 --> 00:31:36,959
You know, I called the owner of the
hospital and I said, you're going to be
435
00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:38,010
big trouble.
436
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:43,960
But Kirby testifies that the hospital
lets Dunch keep his surgery privileges.
437
00:31:44,380 --> 00:31:49,279
The administrator Kirby said he spoke to
did not respond to American Reed's
438
00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:50,330
request for comment.
439
00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:56,079
Another official at University General
told reporters that their decision to
440
00:31:56,080 --> 00:32:01,259
give Dunge privileges came after they
received no negative information from
441
00:32:01,260 --> 00:32:03,800
Baylor Plano or Dallas Medical Center.
442
00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:08,540
Two weeks after his initial warning,
Kirby's phone rings.
443
00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:13,859
The owner of the hospital said that they
had a patient that Dr. Dunge had done a
444
00:32:13,860 --> 00:32:18,479
cervical fusion on that had a hole in
his esophagus and a retained sponge and
445
00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:19,800
was septic and about to die.
446
00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:25,139
According to findings by the state
medical board, in addition to puncturing
447
00:32:25,140 --> 00:32:30,540
patient's esophagus, Dunch has left a
surgical sponge inside his body.
448
00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:36,300
Then he's sewn him up and failed to deal
with the complications he's created.
449
00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,500
I mean, it was the worst.
450
00:32:40,500 --> 00:32:46,359
I mean, I'd never seen anything like it.
It was like a maniac went in there and
451
00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,160
purposely hurt the patient and left.
452
00:32:50,110 --> 00:32:55,589
According to news reports, by this time,
the Texas Medical Board has already
453
00:32:55,590 --> 00:32:58,670
received multiple calls about Dunch.
454
00:32:59,110 --> 00:33:03,309
There were lots of complaints early on
from those patients, even at Baylor
455
00:33:03,310 --> 00:33:07,429
Plano, and he went to three other
hospitals after that, and they continue
456
00:33:07,430 --> 00:33:08,480
complaints.
457
00:33:08,850 --> 00:33:14,629
Now, Kirby packages up files on five
patients and sends them to the board
458
00:33:14,630 --> 00:33:16,110
with an urgent warning.
459
00:33:17,550 --> 00:33:21,669
The Texas Medical Board must stop the
sociopath Dunge immediately or he will
460
00:33:21,670 --> 00:33:23,909
continue to maim and kill innocent
patients.
461
00:33:23,910 --> 00:33:26,680
I have one last thing to remind the
Texas Medical Board.
462
00:33:26,890 --> 00:33:31,289
Your mission is to protect the public.
Dr. Dunge is a clear and present danger
463
00:33:31,290 --> 00:33:32,590
to the citizens of Texas.
464
00:33:33,510 --> 00:33:38,969
Kirby's letter is impossible to ignore,
and he says it finally forces the board
465
00:33:38,970 --> 00:33:39,809
to act.
466
00:33:39,810 --> 00:33:41,030
They asked Dr.
467
00:33:41,250 --> 00:33:46,450
Martin Lazar to review four of Dunge's
cases, and days after Kirby writes them,
468
00:33:46,970 --> 00:33:49,730
they temporarily suspend Dunch's
license.
469
00:33:50,230 --> 00:33:52,910
That December, they revoke it
altogether.
470
00:33:54,750 --> 00:34:00,050
After 18 months, Dunch's days as a
Dallas surgeon have come to an end.
471
00:34:00,470 --> 00:34:06,029
But as prosecutor Michelle Shugart
points out, Dunch has already harmed 33
472
00:34:06,030 --> 00:34:09,969
patients. For them, it's too little, too
late.
473
00:34:10,790 --> 00:34:15,909
Up next, Dunch heads to trial, and the
jury hears his disturbing words.
474
00:34:16,590 --> 00:34:22,729
What I am being is what I am, one of a
kind, a mother, stone cold killer that
475
00:34:22,730 --> 00:34:27,230
can buy or own or steal or ruin or build
whatever he wants.
476
00:34:44,730 --> 00:34:49,269
Christopher Dunch's case lands on the
desk of Dallas County Assistant District
477
00:34:49,270 --> 00:34:51,110
Attorney Michelle Shugart.
478
00:34:52,070 --> 00:34:57,249
When we first got this case, we tried to
see if there were any other cases like
479
00:34:57,250 --> 00:35:02,469
it where doctors had been prosecuted for
things they did in a surgery, and we
480
00:35:02,470 --> 00:35:04,640
just couldn't find anything like it at
all.
481
00:35:04,930 --> 00:35:10,679
To help her understand the complex
medical issues at play, Shugart consults
482
00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:14,280
Drs. Martin Lazar, Robert Henderson, and
Randall Kirby.
483
00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:19,059
Most of the time, you don't have
physicians who are willing to testify
484
00:35:19,060 --> 00:35:23,999
other physicians, but in this case, they
were demanding to. They were insisting
485
00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:25,640
on somebody listening to them.
486
00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:32,519
After Shugart receives their help,
police arrest Dunch at a hotel in Dallas
487
00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:33,720
July 2015.
488
00:35:33,721 --> 00:35:38,149
Hi, Dad, this is Christopher. I was
supposed to come home tonight, as you
489
00:35:38,150 --> 00:35:39,210
and I'm not now.
490
00:35:40,150 --> 00:35:44,809
Unexpectedly, the police came and picked
me up regarding the DA issues that I
491
00:35:44,810 --> 00:35:45,860
mentioned to you.
492
00:35:48,230 --> 00:35:50,030
In February 2017,
493
00:35:50,870 --> 00:35:56,009
Dunge goes to trial on a single charge
of injuring an elderly person, his
494
00:35:56,010 --> 00:35:57,270
patient Mary Evert.
495
00:35:57,850 --> 00:36:02,530
Over Dunge's objection, jurors will hear
from many other victims.
496
00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:07,799
But the case centers around the charge
involving Everett's care, which brings
497
00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:10,340
with it the possibility of a life
sentence.
498
00:36:11,260 --> 00:36:14,360
I had excruciating pain.
499
00:36:15,980 --> 00:36:19,200
I've never had pain like that before.
500
00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:25,719
It was just almost, it was a 10 plus, if
you know what that means, on a scale of
501
00:36:25,720 --> 00:36:26,770
1 to 10.
502
00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:32,699
Shugart argues that because of earlier
failures, Dunge should have known he was
503
00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:34,160
likely to hurt Evert.
504
00:36:34,740 --> 00:36:36,960
His lawyers place blame elsewhere.
505
00:36:37,720 --> 00:36:41,330
They didn't even try to defend the
things that he had done in the surgery.
506
00:36:41,500 --> 00:36:46,479
So instead, they went with the idea that
basically it was everybody else's
507
00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:51,159
fault. It was either the people who
trained him didn't train him right, or
508
00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:55,120
hospital that he was working at should
have stopped him.
509
00:36:55,450 --> 00:36:57,980
Anybody's fault except for Christopher
Dunch's.
510
00:36:58,610 --> 00:37:04,510
But Shugart argues Dunch knew exactly
what he was doing and chose not to stop.
511
00:37:05,550 --> 00:37:11,829
She shows the jury the chilling email he
sent on December 9, 2011, right as his
512
00:37:11,830 --> 00:37:14,830
first surgeries in Dallas were starting
to go wrong.
513
00:37:16,410 --> 00:37:20,670
What I am being is what I am, one of a
kind, a mother.
514
00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:27,139
stone cold killer that can buy or own or
steal or ruin or build whatever he
515
00:37:27,140 --> 00:37:28,190
wants.
516
00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,640
On February 14th, the jury reaches their
verdict.
517
00:37:34,220 --> 00:37:40,059
When the jury unanimously finds
Christopher Daniels guilty of
518
00:37:40,060 --> 00:37:44,859
intentionally or knowingly causing
serious bodily injury to an elderly
519
00:37:44,860 --> 00:37:45,910
individual.
520
00:37:48,650 --> 00:37:54,609
Just one week later, Dunch receives a
life sentence, a move that some see as
521
00:37:54,610 --> 00:37:57,910
only way to stop him from practicing
medicine ever again.
522
00:37:58,890 --> 00:38:04,629
Now, the woman who once dreamt Dunch
would be her Prince Charming hears from
523
00:38:04,630 --> 00:38:05,830
only by phone.
524
00:38:06,350 --> 00:38:08,410
He has a job inside the prison.
525
00:38:08,610 --> 00:38:10,090
I don't know what it is.
526
00:38:11,130 --> 00:38:15,949
He works out, he reads, he studies the
Bible, you know, he'll call and say
527
00:38:15,950 --> 00:38:17,030
goodnight to his boys.
528
00:38:17,180 --> 00:38:22,260
Sometimes he'll have bedtime stories and
try to be as normal as possible.
529
00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:28,659
For those who suffered by his hand,
seeing Dunst locked up brings some sense
530
00:38:28,660 --> 00:38:29,710
closure.
531
00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:35,720
But nothing can alleviate the pain still
felt by victims like Phillip Mayfield.
532
00:38:37,100 --> 00:38:38,660
It's on another level.
533
00:38:39,240 --> 00:38:44,420
You know, I had times where the nerve
pain would be so bad that my skin would,
534
00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:46,600
you know, burn and peel.
535
00:38:47,240 --> 00:38:53,139
Headaches that were just, you know,
blinding. I've had times where my whole
536
00:38:53,140 --> 00:38:54,220
just shuts down.
537
00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:55,960
Literally, it shuts down.
538
00:38:56,320 --> 00:38:57,370
And I'm out.
539
00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:03,020
According to trial testimony, Mayfield
is not alone in his suffering.
540
00:39:03,790 --> 00:39:10,389
Based upon my clients alone, I can tell
you we have multiple
541
00:39:10,390 --> 00:39:17,090
instances of severe spinal cord damage
resulting in paraplegia,
542
00:39:17,150 --> 00:39:23,689
spastic quadriplegia, horrific 24 -7
pain
543
00:39:23,690 --> 00:39:28,310
that cannot be controlled with any
amount of medicine.
544
00:39:28,650 --> 00:39:31,090
And then there's the people who...
545
00:39:31,690 --> 00:39:37,190
Practically bled to death, but didn't
bleed to death and lived.
546
00:39:37,930 --> 00:39:40,930
And those are the success stories, I
suppose.
547
00:39:43,110 --> 00:39:47,610
Some patients testify they are homebound
and have lost jobs.
548
00:39:48,850 --> 00:39:54,349
Others, like Dunch's one -time best
friend Jerry Summers, have said Dr.
549
00:39:54,350 --> 00:39:58,170
botched surgeries did more than just
wreck their bodies.
550
00:39:59,150 --> 00:40:01,380
What kinds of activities do you miss
doing?
551
00:40:05,170 --> 00:40:11,749
Generally everything because nothing
552
00:40:11,750 --> 00:40:14,950
is much fun anymore.
553
00:40:19,270 --> 00:40:21,390
How do you feel about Chris these days?
554
00:40:34,090 --> 00:40:37,530
I don't know. I don't really know.
555
00:40:38,450 --> 00:40:43,389
Though numerous lawsuits have been filed
involving Dutch and the hospitals where
556
00:40:43,390 --> 00:40:47,650
he operated, many were settled with no
admission of wrongdoing.
557
00:40:48,190 --> 00:40:52,150
Still, many ask, how did it all go so
wrong?
558
00:40:52,470 --> 00:40:58,529
How did such a seemingly promising
doctor do so much damage? And why didn't
559
00:40:58,530 --> 00:40:59,580
stop himself?
560
00:41:00,610 --> 00:41:02,150
Dutch was so...
561
00:41:03,900 --> 00:41:10,519
so desperate, and so completely
unwilling to accept the fact that
562
00:41:10,520 --> 00:41:16,219
he was incapable of doing a good job,
that he was hurting people and taking
563
00:41:16,220 --> 00:41:18,200
himself out of the equation.
564
00:41:18,820 --> 00:41:24,419
His debt was definitely one of those
factors that had him just keep going. He
565
00:41:24,420 --> 00:41:28,719
needed this money, so he had to keep
operating and doing these things. And
566
00:41:28,720 --> 00:41:29,800
others wonder...
567
00:41:30,090 --> 00:41:35,110
If Dunge was incapable of stopping
himself, why didn't somebody else step
568
00:41:35,570 --> 00:41:38,450
It's the whole system that didn't stop
him.
569
00:41:38,670 --> 00:41:40,950
I think they say he started this like in
2011.
570
00:41:41,450 --> 00:41:44,710
My surgery was in April the 9th of 2013.
571
00:41:44,950 --> 00:41:46,710
Why was he even allowed to touch me?
572
00:41:47,270 --> 00:41:51,249
You know, knowing that he had harmed so
many patients before me. There was an
573
00:41:51,250 --> 00:41:54,090
enormous failure, almost like a perfect
storm.
574
00:41:54,410 --> 00:41:56,530
There's blood on a lot of people's
hands.
575
00:41:57,170 --> 00:42:03,199
Many of the decisions that were made, In
this case, by multiple people along the
576
00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:09,019
line who had the legal obligation and
the moral obligation to do the right
577
00:42:09,020 --> 00:42:14,539
thing, their decision -making was
colored and tainted by financial
578
00:42:14,540 --> 00:42:20,680
considerations. And that is just wrong
on every level that I can imagine.
579
00:42:20,730 --> 00:42:25,280
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