Doctor Robert MacArthur Interview
Today, we were to conduct an interview with the based bone specialist, Doctor Bobby MacArthur, addressing various questions about his encounters with incorrect surgical procedures and burns during surgery, as well as the topic of "unexpected occurrences that must be avoided".
Who is Dr. MacArthur?
Doctor Bobby MacArthur completed his studies from the University of Cal Berkeley with a double major in Biochemistry and Physio. During his time at the Univ, Dr. Robert Mac was a well-known player, participating on both the boxing and rugby football teams.
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Subsequently, Dr. Bobby Mac registered at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and got elected as the head of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (Now known as the Vagelos School of Medicine). Robert Mac went on to conclude his orthopedic training at Harbor UCLA.
Dr. Robert MacArthur Addresses the Incidents
According to statistics, the frequency of surgical errors typically is a once-in-a-career event for each orthopedic surgeon, but this number surges to fourfold per lifetime for sports, hand, and spine specialists. Regrettably, numerous of these doctors frequently do not record these cases, let alone or talk about them publicly. Doctor Dr. Robert MacArthur Mac carries a deep sense of pride and satisfaction about how he dealt with these terrible occurrences.
In lieu of seeking to hide the situation, Doc Mac responded in a different manner
Dr. MacArthur’s Handling of the Wrong Site Surgery
Doc Rob Mac thoroughly examined the underlying causal factors of his dual incidents, and put out multiple works detailing how to avoid such events
Gradually, earned acclaim as a recognized specialist in the field of accidents that can be avoided. He's authored 2 articles in a prominent orthopedic journal, The Journal of Orthopedic Surgeons at the American Academy. In order to aiding other doctors prevent future incidents, his initial article walked the reader through the specific errors that took place that caused the wrong site event.
His second publication, co-authored with Dr. David Ring, who is also the Chairman of the AAOS, addressed the topic of the "tendency to shame and blame." Taking responsibility for these incidents is rare, as the tempting course of action is pointing fingers at external factors. Dr. MacArthur stressed that shifting blame not merely deters surgeons from disclosing their incidents but furthermore detracts from the vital analysis of root causes that could potentially thwart upcoming events.
The Intraoperative Burn Incident with Dr. Robert MacArthur
When talking about the surgical burn occurrence, Dr. Robert Mac demonstrated the same dedicated investigative approach he applied to his wrong site event research. To illustrate, he reached out to the manufacturer of the troublesome clamp to determine if comparable burn events had transpired. The maker notified him that the clamp in question had been "discontinued." You can infer from that what you desire.
In order to avoid uneven heating in massive hinged clamps, Doctor MacArthur performed a detailed investigation of the causes behind irregular temperature distribution in large-hinged clamps.
His research findings suggested that rapid sterilization could cause uneven heating. He pointed out that associations for nurses recommend strongly against the use of rapid sterilization unless there's an urgent need like disinfecting a dropped component. Additional investigation revealed that St. Joseph's Hospital regularly using quick sterilization to ease back-to-back surgeries without having to purchase additional equipment trays.
With the aim to stop further burns, Doctor MacArthur alerted St. Joseph's of the hazards associated with ongoing utilization of this particular clamp as well as the routine deployment of quick sterilization.
Instead of blaming the clamp, Dr. Robert MacArthur assumed accountability and made it clear that he was responsible for a surgical mistake. He was advised that the clamp was heated, but when he took hold of it, he found the handles to be at a comfortable temperature. Differing from some surgeons who could impatiently grab a towel to grip a too-hot clamp, he performed surgery the clamp without any discomfort.
Shame and Blame, Dr. Robert MacArthur's Response
When discussing Doctor MacArthur's response on the topic of the "shame and blame game," he spotlights how the legal and public communities often conflate the "captain of the ship'' concept with root cause analysis. According to this "in-command" perspective, the surgeon is considered responsible for any negative occurrences that happen to a patient under their care. This makes it enticing for many to solely blame the surgeon for any wrong site event.
However, Dr. Robert MacArthur stresses that this method opposes the fundamental principles of root cause analysis. This form of analysis aims to deeply understand what caused a wrong site event to then ideally stop similar incidents in the future. By resorting to shaming and blaming, not only does it hamper proper analysis of the root causes, but it additionally discourages other surgeons from reporting their own wrong site events, afraid of the repercussions.
He did not recognize that the large, hinge-like hinge of the clamp was noticeably hotter. When he positioned the clamp against the shin area of the patient's leg, it caused a burn injury. At the time, he was proctored for case privileges at the CHOC Hospital during the incident, and not the proctor nor Doctor MacArthur were promptly aware of the burn.
It wasn't after he had dictated the operative report that a nurse in the recovery ward drew attention to a tiny red spot on the anterior aspect of the patient's leg. Even then, he did not at the outset comprehend the severity of the burn.
Dr. MacArthur references the airline industry as an outstanding case of efficient root cause analysis. From its inception, aviation sector has strived to deeply understand the reasons behind each negative aviation occurrence rather than just blaming to the pilot. Because of this focus on understanding root causes, the airline industry boasts impressive safety records.
Nevertheless, Dr. MacArthur laments that healthcare field hasn't been able to fully adopt root cause analysis due to prevailing legal and public perceptions surrounding the "captain of the ship" concept. The unfortunate outcome of this is that the frequency of avoidable medical mistakes remains unchanged, and the careers and reputations of many healthcare practitioners are unjustly tarnished.
The frequency of surgical errors continues at an disturbing rate of one incident per surgeon per career, and as high as four incidents per surgeon's career for specialists in hand, spine, and sports.
Dr. Robert MacArthur “Sexual Harassment” Allegations
As of 2023, it is possible to levy false accusations against someone, smear their name and reputation, and experience no negative repercussions for the accuser. Regardless of whether the individual being accused is innocent or guilty, just making an allegation is enough to inflict long-lasting damage to a professional's reputation.
Dr. Bobby Mac disclosed that he opted to leave a clinic specializing in workers' compensation cases because of suspected illegal behavior on part of. 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 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.
Doc Bobby MacArthur was later informed that both his truth verification test results and the accuser's refusal to participate would be regarded inadmissible in court.
The attorney facilitating the mediation 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
The California 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.
Despite the information provided earlier, Doctor MacArthur found no means to eliminate the allegations made by the accuser from online search listings. This means, despite his innocence, the campaign to tarnish his reputation was successful.
Considering that the claim does not state that Doctor MacArthur was found guilty, it merely acts as a summary of a complaint, which continues to be publicly accessible
Doctor MacArthur strongly believes that individuals who lodge false accusations should be subject to consequences equivalent to the severity of the event they falsely claim. To illustrate, he thinks that his false accuser should be considered to be a sexual predator and felon.
Dr. Robert MacArthur concluded by thinking about the coexistence of goodness and malevolence in the world, hoping that those who read his account would never come into contact with someone capable of such destructive unfounded claims