WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Board of Medicine says a West Palm Beach surgeon has agreed to pay a $3,000 fine for removing a woman’s healthy kidney that he thought was a tumor.
The Palm Beach Post reports Ramon Vazquez was responsible for cutting Maureen Pacheco open in 2016 so two other surgeons could perform a back operation.
Pacheco had a kidney that never ascended into her abdomen, and Vazquez believed it was a cancerous tumor near her pelvis and removed it without her consent. Vazquez has said that he didn’t review her medical records before the surgery.
Pacheco later sued the two primary doctors, who each settled for $250,000. Vazquez was also sued for malpractice and settled the case for a nominal amount.
Vazquez must also attend training on preoperative patient evaluation.
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Information from: The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post, http://www.pbpost.com
Florida surgeon removes healthy kidney he thought was tumor
WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) — A Florida surgeon removed a woman’s healthy kidney while she was undergoing back surgery because he believed the vital organ was a cancerous tumor.
The Palm Beach Post reported last week that Maureen Pacheco has sued Ramon Vazquez and two other surgeons for malpractice. Vazquez was responsible for cutting Pacheco open in 2016 so two orthopedic surgeons, Dr. John Britt and Dr. Jeffrey Kugler, could perform the back operation.
Pacheco’s attorney, Donald J. Ward, says she didn’t get a say in the removal. The lawsuit was settled in September. Vazquez’s attorney Mark Mittelmark says the blame lies with Wellington Regional Medical Center, which didn’t tell his client that Pacheco had a pelvic kidney.
The Florida Department of Health has filed an administrative complaint with the Board of Medicine against Vazquez.
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