Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The official response to Mark Midei is not satisfactory

Larry Husten, PhD
Physician
June 20, 2011
187 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

For more than a year now, as most CardioBrief readers undoubtedly know, a scandal in Maryland has raised troubling questions about hundreds of stent patients treated by Mark Midei —  previously considered one of the top interventional cardiologists in the state. In the wake of the scandal, some have questioned whether other interventional cardiologists, in Maryland and elsewhere, may also have routinely performed unnecessary procedures.

Of course, no one knows the true extent of the problem. But clearly something is, or was, rotten in the state of Maryland, and perhaps other states as well. (It would be interesting to know how many other cardiologists have come close to Midei’s apparent record of implanting 30 stents in one day, or have had a major device company throw them a pig roast.)

But that’s not the message the ACC wants you to hear. As the official voice of the cardiology profession in the US, the ACC is making great efforts to downplay the problem and reassure anyone who might have been paying attention. Here’s the text of an audio statement from ACC president Ralph Brindis that the ACC proudly informs us was picked up by 28 radio stations:

WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT ALL PATIENTS IN MARYLAND AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND MOST PERSONALIZED CARE POSSIBLE AND THAT EVERY PATIENT IN NEED OF CARDIOVASCULAR CARE RECEIVES THE MOST APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AVAILABLE.

This strikes me as a perfect example of the institutional imperative at work. It’s easy to make fun of the bland PR language and the ham-fisted effort to transform a potential black eye on the profession into a not-so-subtle reminder of all the great achievements of the cardiology profession. Certainly there’s plenty to celebrate about the successes of cardiology, but the Midei scandal is for many reasons the wrong occasion to do so.

I personally feel that the true interests of cardiology would be far better served by a frank statement acknowledging that perhaps something really was rotten in the state of Maryland, and that the ACC, rather than trying to spin the issue away, would be doing everything in its power to uncover and correct the problem.

Larry Husten is a writer and editor of CardioBrief.org.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Hospitals that ban physicians from social media are long term losers

June 20, 2011 Kevin 8
…
Next

A medical school dean plagiarized Atul Gawande in his commencement speech

June 20, 2011 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Cardiology, Specialist

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Hospitals that ban physicians from social media are long term losers
Next Post >
A medical school dean plagiarized Atul Gawande in his commencement speech

More by Larry Husten, PhD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    The worst abuse of an embargo this medical journalist has ever seen

    Larry Husten, PhD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    How academic physicians are being used as live bait for journalists

    Larry Husten, PhD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Dabigatran (Pradaxa) questions in atrial fibrillation

    Larry Husten, PhD

More in Physician

  • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

    Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD
  • Practicing medicine with conviction

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • The power of memory in shaping human identity

    Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD
  • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

    Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH
  • The erosion of patient care

    Laura de la Torre, MD
  • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

    Eleanor Menzin, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • Exploring HIV care and advocacy [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Exploring HIV care and advocacy [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • The art of pediatrics: Connecting through observation

      Alexander Rakowsky, MD | Conditions
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Lab Tests That Escape FDA Oversight May Come Under Agency Review
  • Fezolinetant Benefits Women Not Suited for Hormone Therapy
  • Low Tidal Volume Compliance Still Lacking in Mechanical Ventilation
  • IV Immunoglobulin May Cut Infection Risk of Anti-BCMA Agents for Myeloma
  • When's the Best Time to Get the Updated COVID Shot?

Meeting Coverage

  • Fezolinetant Benefits Women Not Suited for Hormone Therapy
  • Plant-Based Estrogen Improves Lipids in Postmenopausal Women
  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • Exploring HIV care and advocacy [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Exploring HIV care and advocacy [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • The art of pediatrics: Connecting through observation

      Alexander Rakowsky, MD | Conditions
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

The official response to Mark Midei is not satisfactory
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...