Already suspected of serious medical malpractice in some sixty operation files that have led some of his patients to infirmity, Dr. V., a back surgeon in Grenoble, is today accused of having caused the death of Noël, a 73 year old man.
The revelations concerning the damage caused by Dr. V. never end.
While last week, The Parisian affirmed that 33 alleged victims of the “horror surgeon” met to collectively expose their grievances vis-à-vis this practitioner specializing in the back, the daily gives the floor today to those close to Christmas. Died in November 2017 following his operation, this 73-year-old man was also Dr. V’s patient. Today, his family accuses the surgeon of having caused his death because of his professional misconduct.
“My father is no longer here to talk about all this suffering. So we speak on his behalf to say how his life ended, in slow agony. For me, this surgeon led my dad to death,” says thus Christmas’s daughter, Cécile, at the Parisian.
A useless and dangerous operation
It all started in November 2016, when this former carpentry boss complained of pain in his legs and back which prevented him from moving properly. He then consulted Dr. V., who practices at the Cèdres d’Échirolles clinic in the Grenoble region. This one explains to him from the start the need to operate. “He just looked at the MRI. And without even examining my husband, he immediately said ‘We have to operate’. Without offering other alternatives. Without asking for other examinations”, recalls Mauricette, the wife of Christmas.
However, Noël’s state of health does not seem compatible with back surgery. The day before the intervention, an angiologist performs an Echo-Doppler and discovers that the septuagenarian suffers from “complete thrombosis of the two femoral arteries”. Dr. V. decides all the same to operate “in consultation with the angiologist and the anesthesiologist”.
As soon as he woke up the next day, Noël complained of pain and suffered severe ischemia, that is to say a stoppage of blood circulation, in his right foot. Transferred to the intensive care unit of another clinic, he learns that his right leg cannot be saved by the vascular surgeon who takes care of him. “We should have acted within 6 hours of the operation to avoid tissue necrosis.” And to add that “the priority was not to operate on his back. His problems moving around were of vascular origin. And his prone position during the operation favored the cessation of blood circulation.”
Having had his right leg amputated two weeks after the first operation, Noël saw his state of health deteriorate. Victim of a generalized infection, he eventually died on November 4, 2017.
Doctor suspended, investigation underway
Today, Noël’s family does not hide his anger towards Dr. V. “He did not even offer his condolences to us. Before my father died, he only came to see him twice in two months. Without this operation, my dad would still be here. We can therefore blame this surgeon who is so unscrupulous with regard to the health of his patients.”
Scandalized by the doctor’s attitude, the Noël family declared that they were ready to file a complaint against the Clinique des Cèdres and Dr. V. The latter was suspended last January for three years, including 18 months suspended, by the Conseil of the National Order of Physicians after the opening of an investigation by the Primary Health Insurance Fund, which identified 54 official victims. For his part, the practitioner denies any responsibility.
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