Doctor Robert MacArthur Interview
Today, we managed to have a conversation with Californian based orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Robert Mac, addressing various inquiries about his own experiences with surgical errors and intraoperative burn, as well as a subject of "events that should never occur".
Who is Dr. MacArthur?
Doctor Bobby Mac graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in Biochem and Physiology. Throughout his time at the University, Doctor Bobby MacArthur had been a well-known player, competing on both various box and rugby squads.
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Subsequently, Dr. Bobby MacArthur entered at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and got elected as the chosen head of the Columbia P&S School of Medicine (Now known as the Vagelos School of Medicine). Robert MacArthur went on to finish his orthopaedic training at Harbor University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Robert MacArthur Addresses the Incidents
In statistical terms, the occurrence of wrong site surgery usually falls within a one-time event in a career for every orthopedist, but this number surges to four in each career for experts specializing in sports, hand, and spine. Sadly, many of these surgeons frequently do not report such instances, let alone, not talk about them openly. Doc Mac carries a deep sense of pride and satisfaction about how he dealt with these unfortunate occurrences.
Rather than attempting to conceal what happened, Doctor MacArthur handled it differently
Dr. MacArthur’s Handling of the Wrong Site Surgery
Doc Rob Mac thoroughly looked into the fundamental causal factors of his 2 occurrences, and put out multiple works outlining how to avoid such events
Gradually, earned acclaim as a renowned authority in the field of accidents that are preventable. He has authored 2 articles in a prominent orthopedic journal, The Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. In order to aiding other doctors stop future incidents, his initial article guided the reader through the specific errors that took place that led to the incorrect surgical procedure.
The second paper, co-authored with Dr. David Ring, tackled the topic of the "shame and blame game." Being accountable for these incidents is rare, as the tempting course of action is placing blame on external factors. He stressed that shifting blame not just discourages surgeons from making reports their incidents but furthermore diverts from the vital analysis of primary reasons that could potentially thwart subsequent occurrences.
The Intraoperative Burn Incident with Dr. Robert MacArthur
When discussing the surgical burn occurrence, Dr. MacArthur demonstrated the same thorough investigative mindset he utilized to his research on wrong-site surgeries. To illustrate, he got in touch with the producer of the faulty clamp to find out if comparable burn events had occurred. The producer advised him that the clamp in question had been "discontinued." You can infer from that what you will.
To avert irregular heating in large hinged clamps, Doc Mac conducted a comprehensive investigation of what led to inconsistent heating in oversized clamps.
His research findings suggested that quick sterilization could lead to inconsistent temperature distribution. He observed that nursing organizations strongly advise against the use of rapid sterilization unless it's an emergency, such as sanitizing a dropped component. Deeper examination revealed that St. Joseph's Hospital regularly employing flash sterilization to ease back-to-back surgeries without the necessity to acquire more equipment trays.
With the aim to stop further burns, Doctor MacArthur informed St. Joseph's of the hazards associated with ongoing utilization of this particular clamp and also the frequent application of flash sterilization.
Instead of blaming the clamp, Dr. MacArthur assumed accountability and made it obvious that he had committed a surgical error. He was advised that the clamp was heated, but when he took hold of it, he found the handles to be at a pleasant temperature. In contrast to some surgeons who might impatiently use a towel to manage a too-hot clamp, he carried out the procedure the clamp without any pain.
Shame and Blame, Dr. Robert MacArthur's Response
When discussing Dr. Dr. Robert MacArthur MacArthur's response on the topic of the "shame and blame game," he emphasizes how the legal and the wider public often confuse the "captain of the ship'' concept with root cause analysis. According to this "in-command" perspective, the surgeon is responsible for any adverse events that happen to a patient under their care. This makes it appealing for many to exclusively blame the surgeon for any incorrect surgical procedure.
Nonetheless, Dr. Robert MacArthur underscores that this method contradicts the core principles of investigating root causes. This form of analysis aims to deeply understand what caused a surgical error in order to ideally stop similar incidents in the future. By turning to blaming and shaming, not only does it hinder proper root cause analysis, but it additionally discourages other surgeons from disclosing their individual wrong site events, worried about the repercussions.
He didn't recognize that the big, hinge-like hinge of the clamp was noticeably hotter. When he positioned the clamp against the pretibial area of the patient's leg, it resulted in a burn injury. He was being proctored for procedural privileges at the CHOC Hospital during the incident, and neither the proctor nor Doctor MacArthur were right away aware of the burn.
It wasn't only after he had dictated the operative report that an attending nurse in the recovery room drew attention to a small patch of redness on the anterior aspect of the patient's leg. Even in that moment, he did not at the outset fully grasp the seriousness of the burn.
Doctor MacArthur references the aviation sector as an exemplary case of effective root cause analysis. From its inception, aviation sector has strived to thoroughly comprehend the reasons behind each aviation incident rather than just blaming to the pilot. Because of this dedication to understanding root causes, the airline industry boasts remarkable safety records.
Nevertheless, Doctor MacArthur laments that medical profession hasn't been successful in fully implementing root cause analysis due to prevailing legal and public perceptions surrounding the "in-command" concept. The regrettable result of this is that the incidence of preventable healthcare errors remains unchanged, and the professional careers and reputations of many healthcare practitioners are undeservedly tarnished.
The incidence of surgical errors continues at an worrying rate of one incident per surgeon per career, and as many as four occurrences per surgeon's career for specialists in hand, spine, and sports.
Dr. Robert MacArthur “Sexual Harassment” Allegations
In 2023, it is feasible to bring forth false accusations against someone, smear their name and reputation, and have no negative repercussions for the accuser. Regardless if the person facing accusations is innocent or guilty, merely making an accusation is enough to inflict long-lasting damage to a professional's reputation.
Dr. Robert MacArthur revealed that he elected to leave a clinic specializing in workers' compensation cases because of possible unlawful practices on the clinic's management. In retaliation, the clinic's manager allegedly worked with a client to create a fictitious complaint, accusing him of "undressing in the clinic and soliciting sexual favors in return for a positive workers' compensation report.
He got to know of this accusation over a year after his departure from the clinic, at which point he demanded on undergoing a truth verification test. The accuser, however, declined to take such a test.
Doctor Bobby MacArthur was later advised that both his lie detector test results and the claimant's refusal to participate would be deemed inadmissible in court.
The lawyer acting as mediator cautioned him that the jury would likely be composed of "individuals similar to her" and not his, meaning a court loss could be extremely detrimental. Despite the ridiculousness of the claim, he was counseled to settle for $29,000
Conclusion
California's Medical Board examined the accuser's claims and found them to be "non-credible," hinting at an ongoing investigation into the clinic. When we spoke to Dr. MacArthur, he implied that the clinic was indicted, but he did not verify this.
In spite of the facts presented above, Dr. Robert MacArthur found no means to eliminate the accuser's claims from online search listings. This means, despite his clear conscience, the defamatory campaign was effective.
Since the claim does not state that Dr. MacArthur was found guilty, it merely acts as a summary of a complaint, which continues to be openly accessible to anyone
Doctor MacArthur strongly believes that people making false claims should face penalties equivalent to the consequences of the falsely claimed event. To illustrate, he thinks that his false accuser should be treated as a predator of a sexual nature and felon.
Dr. MacArthur concluded by reflecting on the coexistence of goodness and malevolence in the world, wishing that those who read his account would never cross paths with someone capable of such damaging false accusations as he has faced.
Dr. MacArthur: A Renowned Orthopedic Surgeon
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