PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla - St. Mary's Medical Center continues to defend itself and stand by its surgeon, Dr. Michael Black.
The reaction is a result of a CNN investigation that found problems with some babies who underwent surgery inside the hospital's 4 year-old pediatric open-heart surgery unit.
Layla McCarthy is one young patient who had surgery and ended up paralyzed.
Others have died like newborn Alexander Gutierrez- Mercado. A month-and-half before his death, Keyari Sanders died.
A total of 8 babies have died since the unit opened in 2011, all passing away after surgery with Dr. Black.
According to calculations by CNN, the deaths of babies in St. Mary’s pediatric open-heart surgery unit is more than three times the national average.
In a statement from St. Mary's Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson wrote,
"The program is open and remains open. Dr. Michael black is a 25-year veteran in cardiac surgery and was recruited to lead our pediatric cardiothoracic surgery program because of his impressive background which includes serving as chief of cardiac surgery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University and as chief of pediatric cardiac surgery and the adult congenital heart program at California Pacific Medical Center."
Dr. Black recently was also awarded a Hero in Medicine by the Palm Beach Medical Society this past month.
A look at his state disciplinary record shows no discipline and no complaints.
Florida health leaders provided the following statement in response to CNN’s investigation:
"While we work to ensure every Floridian receives the best care possible, Florida does not regulate the number of procedures performed at pediatric cardiac programs, as is the case with a vast majority of states. We take the health and wellbeing of Floridians very seriously and we work to protect families and hold bad actors accountable every day.
"AHCA continues to closely monitor St. Mary's to ensure that they are following the law. The Agency has carried out five unannounced inspections at St. Mary's in the last six months. This included a review of the facility's risk management program in October 2014 and the Agency cited the facility for deficiencies related to their risk management program. We continue to work to keep all Florida children safe and will thoroughly review and investigate any complaint that we receive."
Dr. Black will be questioned next month by attorneys representing the families suing him and St. Mary's.
The reaction is a result of a CNN investigation that found problems with some babies who underwent surgery inside the hospital's 4 year-old pediatric open-heart surgery unit.
Layla McCarthy is one young patient who had surgery and ended up paralyzed.
Others have died like newborn Alexander Gutierrez- Mercado. A month-and-half before his death, Keyari Sanders died.
A total of 8 babies have died since the unit opened in 2011, all passing away after surgery with Dr. Black.
According to calculations by CNN, the deaths of babies in St. Mary’s pediatric open-heart surgery unit is more than three times the national average.
In a statement from St. Mary's Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson wrote,
"The program is open and remains open. Dr. Michael black is a 25-year veteran in cardiac surgery and was recruited to lead our pediatric cardiothoracic surgery program because of his impressive background which includes serving as chief of cardiac surgery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University and as chief of pediatric cardiac surgery and the adult congenital heart program at California Pacific Medical Center."
Dr. Black recently was also awarded a Hero in Medicine by the Palm Beach Medical Society this past month.
A look at his state disciplinary record shows no discipline and no complaints.
Florida health leaders provided the following statement in response to CNN’s investigation:
"While we work to ensure every Floridian receives the best care possible, Florida does not regulate the number of procedures performed at pediatric cardiac programs, as is the case with a vast majority of states. We take the health and wellbeing of Floridians very seriously and we work to protect families and hold bad actors accountable every day.
"AHCA continues to closely monitor St. Mary's to ensure that they are following the law. The Agency has carried out five unannounced inspections at St. Mary's in the last six months. This included a review of the facility's risk management program in October 2014 and the Agency cited the facility for deficiencies related to their risk management program. We continue to work to keep all Florida children safe and will thoroughly review and investigate any complaint that we receive."
Dr. Black will be questioned next month by attorneys representing the families suing him and St. Mary's.
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