'Don't Worry, We Do Thousands of These"

Last week, we put the word out that we wanted to HEAR YOUR STORIES about WHAT MAKES YOU SICK.

Well, we have heard from you. Here is a sad installment from Dennis Kruse who told us what happened to his son while under the care of Dr. Choi.

Dr. Choi: "I had some problems with Marshall's intubation and he went without oxygen for at least 15 minutes."

Kent Choi, MD, was the doctor on duty in the ICU in  June of 2005 after our son, Marshall Kruse, had surgery. Approximately 18 hours after Marshall’s surgery while in the recovery unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Mr. Choi suggested to us that, as a precautionary measure, perhaps our son should be intubated.

We discussed this with our son as well as Dr. Choi, whose  exact words to us were "DON’T WORRY WE DO THOUSANDS OF THESE".  We were then asked to leave while Kent Choi Md. performed the intubation.

Forty minutes later..... while standing in the hall at the ICU reception desk with some family friends,  Kent Choi Md casually approached us and said "I had some problems with Marshall's intubation and he went without oxygen for at least 15 minutes."

As this news sank in to all of us, I asked him if he had killed my son's brain. He simply shrugged his shoulders and said "don’t know." He then turned around and walked off leaving us standing in the hallway. We then demanded  to see our son and  were told we couldn’t, as they were cleaning him up. A short time later when we finally got in to see Marshall; he was grimacing and fighting for his life, as he sank into a coma. 

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We spent the next 15 days sitting  and praying with Marshall. He was at a Glasgow Coma Scale of one, completely unresponsive to any stimuli. While we continued to ask questions of everyone involved in this disaster, answers started to come out from nurses and others that were involved and we found that   "there was a total breakdown of planning for anything if a problem arose in this procedure by both Kent Choi Md as well as the rest of the staff." I can't elaborate at this point as to all we found out as litigation in this  matter is still pending. NOBODY SHOULD SUFFOCATE IN THE ICU UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITALS AND CLINICS! Back to my son, after several meetings with clergy, the surgeons, and the administration of University Of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, we decided that we would take Marshall home and unhook his life support and let him go A families worst nightmare come true. The surgeons thought that the injury Marshall had received while in the care of Dr Kent Choi Md had disconnected his brain from his body.
On the day that we were to leave the University Of Iowa Hospitals And Clinics for home, as his mother leaned over to kiss him, he turned his head and kissed her cheek. That was the first sign that Marshall was still in there and alive after the anoxic lobotomy that he received at the hands of Kent Choi Md. My son continues his fight on a daily basis. Kent Choi's actions and failure to plan and execute this procedure correctly have destroyed my son's life and stolen his future. As well as devastated my whole family, I have had to quit my job and am now a fulltime caregiver for my son who needs my help 24 hours a day.   NOW  ASK YOURSELF -  DO YOU WANT YOUR LIFE OR A LOVED ONE'S IN THIS MANS HANDS?

The family has set up a website about their ordeal, here.

Comments

[Tim Powers]

Dr. Choi, your smile looks like the devil's grin. I have worked hundred's of events that involved intubation at a minim and as just a firefighter never had a issue. sure things got complicated but that is to be expected and by having a grade school understanding we made sure our back-ups were in place.

[Tim Powers]

Dr. Choi, your smile looks like the devil's grin. I have worked hundred's of events that involved intubation at a minim and as just a firefighter never had a issue. sure things got complicated but that is to be expected and by having a grade school understanding we made sure our back-ups were in place.

[Nonya Buisness]

Out of curiosity, why was it your son was having surgery?

[Don]

Nothing in this is true whatsoever, trust me. This is a good physician and sometimes complications happen. They neglect to mention that the father of this patient has also now made death and other threats against Dr. Choi, nurses and other staff who worked tirelessly to try and save this patient. No one ever would intend to hurt anyone as a physician. Maybe you should be careful about posting slander about people as that could get your site in trouble.

[dennis the father]

everything on my site is a fact.choi has been sued for millions and the state paid the bill.he needs to be fired and were working on that we pray we get it done before he kills someone i cant wait to testify at his next malpractice suit.as for threats i have no hard feelings for any one but choi and gallo two lieing peices of work.

[dennis the father]

don thats funny, as there was no one involved in this matter named don.but perhaps you should read the depositions don
then you will know the caliber of choi and gallo. both lied repeatedly under oath when the truth would have sounded better.to get a copy try the iowa board of medical examiners or the blackhawk county court house.as for death threats if i had done this wouldnt i be in jail? they told me at my class to carry concealed weapons thats a no no.have a nice day. fool....

[Dave the surgeon]

I stumbled across this website by pure accident. I know Dr. Choi from my 5 years as a surgical resident at the University of Iowa. I have worked with Dr. Choi personally in the operating room, trauma, and in the ICU. I truly believe that you would not meet a more kind hearted individual, which is not generally characteristic of a surgeon. Of all the staff on the faculty, Dr. Choi put more energy in the care of his patients. He is also an extremely gifted surgeon. In this business we all struggle with giving 110% of our time and talents. We never wish for adverse outcomes, but they will always be there.