~Disturbing discovery in malpractice case
I found some disturbing information in my research of Dr. Barry Eppley’s malpractice lawsuits.
In one case, Dr. Pawel Stachowicz is listed as co-defendant. This is the same resident who assisted in my surgery. I have always wondered just how much of my operation was left in the hands of this resident, whom Dr. Eppley never informed me, before signing the consent form, that a resident would be involved in my operation.
Residents do not assist in PRIVATE clinics like Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, Indianapolis. They perform surgery within the confines of the teaching hospital. One of the major factors in my decision to undergo surgery by Dr. Eppley was his assurance that my case was his “big case of the day” and that he “had not scheduled any cases” after mine, so he could “take his time”.
Not only did he cut my operation short by one hour, but was in the OR with another case when I awoke from anesthesia, a nightmare I will never forget. Dr. Eppley did not even SEE me at all until the next day.
He lied to me about my surgery being his last case of the day. He lied about taking his time. He lied about having a resident assist. For all I know, the resident may have been the one to botch my operation. In any case, Dr. Eppley provided me with FALSE information upon which I based my consent to surgery.
I wrote to Dr. Pawel Stachowicz a few months after my surgery, asking him for information. He never responded. I wrote to him again in 2002, again no response. I will now contact the plaintiff’s attorney listed in the malpractice case in which Dr. Stachowicz is listed as one of the defendants. Details on the case show that the plaintiff dismissed her charges against Dr. Stachowicz with prejudice, meaning that the charges have been dismissed outright.
The opinion of the review panel shows a finding of malpractice against Dr. Barry Eppley and University Plastic Surgery Associates. The case is listed as active.
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