I’m sure many of you are familiar with the tragic story of the infamous Dr. Death. The story was brilliantly told through a 6-episode series podcast which I found to be captivating and horrifying. I experienced emotions of anger, anticipation, sorrow, frustration, and bewilderment. I often had to keep myself from yelling as I listened on my morning commute. How could a neurosurgeon who trained at one of the nation’s top programs be responsible for destroying the lives of 33 patients?

Dr. Christopher Duntsch was a Dallas Neurosurgeon who completed his residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Subsequently he was recruited to Baylor Plano where he was paid $50,000 in guaranteed income monthly. It wasn’t long before suspicion grew that this man was a cold blooded killer. Despite, multiple patients (including his best friend) coming out of surgery in worsened condition, paralyzed and even dying, Dr. Duntsch continued to practice with very little to no reprimand. There was even evidence of cocaine and alcohol abuse but this man continued cutting on people. In fact, he remained pompous as ever and claimed to be the best neurosurgeon in the area with amazing reviews online to back him up.

So, how does this happen?

There is an obvious systemic flaw that failed the general public. Fortunately, this tragedy has brought to forth a much needed conversation about our health care system. The health care checks and balances point blank failed us, but thanks to the persistence from a few courageous physicians willing to call him out and the legal system they eventually reported him to, Dr. Duntsch was finally stopped. What I fear is getting less attention is what we must do to make certain another Dr. Death was never allowed to practice in the first place. Maybe medical schools should better screen for certain character flaws and be more willing to dismiss students who are not worthy of serving the public. We should be encouraged to make letters of recommendations better reflect the student. Not only strengths should be written about but flaws of that student should be brought forth. Possibly, anonymous complaints or compliments from peers should be encouraged without fear of retaliation.

Let’s be real, medical doctors are a “unique breed” and likewise, premed students are also very peculiar. You don’t spend hours upon hours studying and sacrificing so much without being a unique individual or developing certain extreme characteristics. What type of person is willing to dedicate 10 plus years of their lives under such stressful conditions? You almost have to be a glutton for punishment. Well, as they say, this type of pressure either cultivates diamonds or causes one to crumble in one way or another. Most physicians do shine bright as diamonds but I have also unfortunately seen a handful become extremely jaded. I’ve watched some become depressed and some who drink excessively or abuse drugs. Many of these traits start way before that physician first dons the white coat. Although Dr. Death is likely an extreme and likely isolated case, there are other physicians who have and continue to be dangerous to society. There were certainly traits that he demonstrated as a premed that may have hinted at the type of doctor he would become. These include:

1. Narcissistic personality

2. Overconfidence

3. Extreme determination to be number one (at whatever cost)

4. Volatile personality

5. Substance abuse

A handsome, athletic, personable, determined premed student with great grades. How could any medical school pass on him? Is it possible that medical school only exacerbated these personality traits? In medical school, I remember at least 2 students who I cringed when I heard they would be graduating and practicing medicine. One in particular, was reported multiple times by their peers because they were deeply afraid that the student could be homicidal. By the time a student has made it so far in their medical training, it is extremely tough for them to be kicked out of medical school and even tougher once they are a full-fledged physician as evident in Dr. Death’s story.

What do you think? Should the system be better designed to identify and stop certain personality types from even matriculating into medical school? When exactly along the path should Dr. Death have been stopped?

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