Doctor Robert MacArthur Interview
On this particular day, we were to interview California's resident orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Rob Mac, in light of various inquiries about his encounters with surgical errors and surgical burn incidents, as well as the broader subject of "never should happen events".
Who is Dr. MacArthur?
Dr. Robert Mac graduated from the Univ of UC Berkeley with a dual degree in Biochem and Physiology. In the course of his time at the University, Doc Bobby MacArthur was a well-known sportsman, engaging on both several box and Rugby squads.
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Following that, Doctor Robert MacArthur enrolled at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and became elected leader of the Columbia P&S (Now known as the Vagelos Medical School). Robert Mac continued to conclude his orthopaedic training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Dr. Robert MacArthur Addresses the Incidents
According to statistics, the occurrence of incorrect surgical procedures typically is a one-time event in a career for each bone specialist, but this number surges to fourfold in each lifetime for sports, hand, and spine specialists. Sadly, numerous of these doctors often do not document these cases, let alone or discuss them publicly. Dr. Mac carries a profound sense of pride and accomplishment about how he dealt with these harrowing occurrences.
Rather than attempting to cover up what happened, Doctor Mac responded in a different manner
Dr. MacArthur’s Handling of the Wrong Site Surgery
Doc Rob MacArthur extensively investigated the underlying root causes of his two events, and put out numerous works outlining how to stop such events
Gradually, became acknowledged as a published expert in the field of preventable accidents. He has authored two articles in a prominent orthopedic journal, The Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. To assisting other doctors prevent upcoming events, his initial article guided the reader through the specific errors that occurred that led to the wrong site event.
The follow-up article, co-authored with Dr. David Ring, tackled the topic of the "culture of shame and blame." Being accountable for these incidents is seldom, as the tempting course of action is pointing fingers at other parties. He stressed that accusations not merely discourages surgeons from making reports their incidents but additionally detracts from the vital analysis of primary reasons that could potentially thwart future incidents.
The Intraoperative Burn Incident with Dr. Robert MacArthur
When discussing the intraoperative burn incident, Dr. Robert Mac displayed the same investigative vigor he utilized to his research on wrong-site surgeries. To illustrate, he reached out to the producer of the problematic clamp to determine if comparable burn events had transpired. The maker notified him that the clamp in question had been "no longer in production." You can draw your own conclusions from that what you will.
To avert unequal temperature distribution in large hinged clamps, Doc Mac carried out a detailed investigation of what led to inconsistent heating in big-hinged clamps.
His research findings suggested that rapid sterilization could lead to irregular sterilization. He noted that nursing organizations strongly advise against the use of quick sterilization unless an emergency situation arises like sterilizing a fallen instrument. Additional investigation revealed that St Joseph's Hospital regularly utilizing rapid sterilization to ease back-to-back surgeries without the necessity to purchase additional equipment trays.
In a bid to prevent future burns, Dr. MacArthur alerted St. Joseph's of the risks associated with the continued use of this specific clamp and the frequent application of flash sterilization.
Instead of blaming the clamp, Dr. Robert MacArthur accepted responsibility and made it evident that he had committed a surgical mistake. He was informed that the clamp was hot, but when he grasped it, he found the handles to be at a pleasant temperature. In contrast to some surgeons who may impatiently reach for a towel to grip a too-hot clamp, he operated the clamp without any discomfort.
Shame and Blame, Dr. Robert MacArthur's Response
When discussing Dr. MacArthur's response on the topic of the "shame and blame game," he highlights how the legal and the wider public often confuse the "in-command'' concept with analyzing the fundamental causes. According to this "captain of the ship" perspective, the surgeon is held accountable for any unfavorable outcomes that occur to a patient under their care. This makes it appealing for many to only blame the surgeon for any surgical errors.
Nevertheless, Doctor MacArthur stresses that this method contradicts the core principles of identifying underlying causes. This form of analysis strives to thoroughly comprehend what caused a surgical error to then optimaly prevent similar incidents in the future. By adopting blame and shame, not only does it impede proper investigation into the fundamental reasons, but it also discourages other surgeons from reporting on their individual wrong site events, afraid of the repercussions.
He did not recognize that the sizeable, substantial-sized hinge of the clamp was noticeably hotter. When he positioned the clamp against the pretibial area of the patient's leg, it triggered a burn injury. He was being proctored for surgical privileges at the CHOC Hospital during the incident, and not the proctor nor Dr. Robert MacArthur were immediately aware of the burn.
Not until until after he had dictated the operative report that a recovery room nurse pointed out a small red area on the anterior aspect of the patient's leg. Even in that moment, he did not at first comprehend the extent of the burn.
Dr. MacArthur references the aviation sector as an outstanding case of successful root cause analysis. From its inception, the industry has sought to thoroughly comprehend the reasons behind each negative aviation occurrence rather than just blaming to the pilot. Because of this commitment to understanding root causes, aviation sector boasts remarkable safety records.
However, Doctor MacArthur laments that medical profession hasn't been able to completely embrace root cause analysis due to prevailing legal and public perceptions surrounding the "in-command" concept. The regrettable result of this is that the frequency of avoidable medical mistakes remains unchanged, and the professional careers and reputations of many doctors and healthcare providers are unfairly tarnished.
The occurrence of wrong site surgery continues at an alarming rate of a single occurrence per surgeon per career, and as high as four occurrences per surgeon's career for hand, spine and sports subspecialists.
Dr. Robert MacArthur “Sexual Harassment” Allegations
In 2023, there exists the possibility to levy false accusations against someone, smear their name and reputation, and have no negative repercussions for the accuser. Regardless if the individual being accused is innocent or guilty, just making an allegation is enough to bring about long-lasting damage to a professional's reputation.
Dr. Bobby Mac shared that he chose to leave a workers compensation clinic because of potential illicit activities on the clinic's management. Robert MacArthur In retaliation, the clinic manager reportedly collaborated with a individual under treatment to create a fictitious complaint, accusing him of "stripping naked in the middle of the clinic and requesting sex in exchange for a favorable workers comp report.
He was informed of this claim over a year after his departure from the clinic, at which point he demanded on undergoing a lie detector test. The accuser, however, opted not to take such a test.
Dr. Bobby Mac was later notified that both his truth verification test results and the accuser's refusal to participate would be deemed inadmissible in court.
The mediating attorney cautioned him that the jury would likely be composed of "individuals similar to her" and not his, meaning a court loss could be potentially catastrophic. Despite the ludicrousness of the claim, he was counseled to settle for $29,000
Conclusion
The Medical Board of California examined the accuser's claims and found them to be "lacking credibility," 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 officially state this.
In spite of the facts presented above, Dr. Robert MacArthur found no means to remove the allegations made by the accuser from search engine results. Consequently, despite his lack of guilt, the defamatory campaign was achieving its goal.
Since the claim does not state that Dr. Robert MacArthur was found guilty, it merely serves as a summary of a complaint, which continues to be available to the public
Dr. MacArthur strongly believes that those who make baseless allegations 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 sexual predator and felon.
Doctor MacArthur concluded by contemplating the existence of both good and evil in the world, praying that those who read his account would never encounter with someone capable of such harmful baseless allegations as he has faced.
Dr. MacArthur: A Renowned Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Robert MacArthur is a highly regarded orthopedic