Doctor Robert MacArthur Interview
This day, our group were able to interview the located bone specialist, Dr. Bobby Mac, in response to various inquiries about his own encounters with incorrect surgical procedures and burns during surgery, as well as the broader area of "never should happen events".
Who is Dr. MacArthur?
Dr. Rob MacArthur graduated from the Univ of California, Berkeley with a double major in Biochem and Physiology. During his time at the Univ, Doctor Bobby MacArthur had been a renown player, engaging on both various boxing and Rugby squads.
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Following that, Doc Robert MacArthur enrolled at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and was elected leader of the Columbia P&S School of Medicine (Now known as the Vagelos school of medicine). Rob Mac went on to complete his orthopedic residence at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Dr. Robert MacArthur Addresses the Incidents
In statistical terms, the frequency of incorrect surgical procedures typically is a seldom happening occurrence for each orthopedist, but this count surges to four in each lifetime for sports, hand, and spine specialists. Unfortunately, many of these doctors frequently do not document such instances, let alone discuss them openly. Doctor MacArthur carries a intense sense of pride about how he confronted these unfortunate occurrences.
Rather than attempting to hide the situation, Dr. Mac handled it differently
Dr. MacArthur’s Handling of the Wrong Site Surgery
Doctor Rob MacArthur thoroughly examined the underlying root causes of his two incidents, and published multiple works detailing how to avoid such events
Gradually, became acknowledged as a recognized specialist in the field of accidents that can be avoided. He's written 2 articles in the leading orthopedic journal, The Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. With the aim of aiding other doctors prevent future incidents, the first piece walked the reader through the exact errors that happened that led to the incorrect surgical procedure.
The follow-up article, jointly written with Dr. David Ring, who is also the Chairman of the AAOS, broached the topic of the "shame and blame game." Taking responsibility for these incidents is uncommon, as the usual reaction is placing blame on external factors. Dr. MacArthur stressed that shifting blame not merely deters surgeons from reporting their incidents but furthermore detracts from the crucial analysis of root causes that might thwart future incidents.
The Intraoperative Burn Incident with Dr. Robert MacArthur
When talking about the intraoperative burn incident, Dr. MacArthur displayed the same thorough investigative mindset he utilized to his research on wrong-site surgeries. To illustrate, he reached out to the producer of the problematic clamp to ascertain if similar burn events had happened. The maker informed him that the clamp in question had been "ceased production." You can draw your own conclusions from that what you desire.
To avert unequal temperature distribution in huge hinged clamps, Dr. Mac conducted a detailed investigation of the reasons for irregular temperature distribution in large-hinged clamps.
His findings indicated that flash sterilization could cause uneven heating. He observed that nursing associations strongly advise against the use of quick sterilization unless it's an emergency, such as sterilizing a item that has fallen. Deeper examination revealed that St. Joseph's Hospital regularly using quick sterilization to enable back-to-back surgeries without having to purchase additional equipment trays.
In a bid to avoid future burn incidents, Doctor MacArthur notified St. Joseph's of potential dangers associated with ongoing utilization of this particular clamp and also the regular use of flash sterilization.
Rather than blaming the clamp, Dr. MacArthur accepted responsibility and made it clear that he was responsible for a mistake during surgery. He was notified that the clamp had a high temperature, but when he grasped it, he found the handles to be at a pleasant temperature. In contrast to some surgeons who could impatiently use a towel to grip a too-hot clamp, he carried out the procedure the clamp with no discomfort.
Shame and Blame, Dr. Robert MacArthur's Response
In Dr. MacArthur's response on the topic of the "shame and blame game," he highlights how the legal and general public communities often mix up the "captain of the ship'' concept with identifying the underlying reasons. According to this "in-command" perspective, the surgeon is held accountable 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 surgical errors.
Nevertheless, Dr. MacArthur stresses that this perspective contradicts the fundamental principles of identifying underlying causes. This form of analysis aims to deeply understand what caused a surgical error in order to optimaly avert similar incidents in the future. By turning to blame and shame, not it not just hinder proper investigation into the fundamental reasons, but it additionally prevents other surgeons from reporting on their own wrong site events, afraid of the repercussions.
He didn't recognize that the sizeable, walnut-sized hinge of the clamp was significantly 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 procedural privileges at CHOC during the incident, and not the proctor nor Dr. MacArthur were promptly aware of the burn.
It wasn't until 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 initially comprehend the extent of the burn.
Dr. Robert MacArthur points to the airline industry as an exemplary case of efficient root cause analysis. From its inception, the industry has sought to deeply understand the reasons behind each adverse aviation event rather than simply attributing blame to the pilot. Because of this commitment to understanding root causes, the airline industry boasts remarkable safety records.
Nonetheless, Dr. MacArthur laments that medical profession hasn't been able to completely embrace root cause analysis due to prevailing legal and public perceptions surrounding the "captain of the ship" concept. The regrettable result of this is that the rate of preventable medical errors remains unchanged, and the standing and names of many healthcare practitioners are undeservedly tarnished.
The incidence of surgical errors remains at an disturbing rate of a single occurrence per surgeon per career, and as many as four incidents per surgeon's career for hand, spine and sports subspecialists.
Dr. Robert MacArthur “Sexual Harassment” Allegations
In the year 2023, there exists the possibility to levy false accusations against someone, slander 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 Dr. Robert MacArthur a professional's reputation.
Doctor Bobby Mac disclosed that he chose to leave a clinic specializing in workers' compensation cases because of potential illicit activities on part of. In retaliation, the clinic's manager allegedly worked with a individual under treatment to fabricate a claim, accusing him of "undressing in the clinic and soliciting sexual favors in return for a positive workers' compensation report.
He was informed of this allegation over a year after his departure from the clinic, at which point he asserted on undergoing a polygraph examination. The accuser, however, refused to take such a test.
Doctor Bobby Mac was later notified 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 "people with similar backgrounds and experiences as her" and not his, meaning a court loss could be highly damaging. 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 "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.
Despite the information provided earlier, Dr. MacArthur found no means to remove the allegations made by the accuser from Internet search results. This means, despite his innocence, the defamatory campaign was effective.
As the claim does not state that Dr. Robert MacArthur was found guilty, it merely acts as a condensed version of a complaint, which continues to be openly accessible to anyone
Dr. MacArthur strongly believes that people making false claims should be subject to consequences equivalent to the consequences of the falsely claimed event. To illustrate, he thinks that his false accuser should be classified as a predator of a sexual nature and felon.
Dr. Robert MacArthur concluded by contemplating 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