Enrico Benedetti is Head of the Department of Surgery of the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System. On January 19, 2014, Dr. Benedetti appeared in an advertisement in the New York Times Magazine
that purported to represent the endorsement by the University of
Illinois of the daVinci surgical system, manufactured by Intuitive
Surgical, Inc. The advertisement, as I have noted,
bears a copyright from Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and in, my mind,
warrants extreme disciplinary action against the highest ranked clinical
and administrative University officials who approved it.
On January 23, 2014, Dr. Bernard Pygon was designated by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to be Acting Chief Medical Officer of the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, renewing an initial appointment made on December 1, 2013. There is no reason to believe that Dr. Pygon is anything less than a highly competent and well respected physician. However, Dr. Pygon also appeared in the advertisement in the New York Times Magazine.
The presence of Dr. Benedetti and Dr. Pygon in the advertisement, given their positions, raises important questions. Did they participate in the decision to use the image and the reputation of the University in service to a private corporation? How can this matter be cleared up to protect their reputations, if appropriate, or apply discipline, if appropriate?
Although these are special cases given their positions, the same questions hold for all of the other doctors pictured and identified in this advertisement.
All of this leads to a question of governance. Where is the Board of Trustees on this matter? In addition to approving medical staff clinical appointments, the board establishes the overall guidelines for behavior for the entire university system, a system that includes the Hospital and Health Sciences System. Will they open an investigation of this matter? When will they issue a statement to the people of the Chicago region telling of their plans, so as to re-establish trust in this major medical system?
On January 23, 2014, Dr. Bernard Pygon was designated by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to be Acting Chief Medical Officer of the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, renewing an initial appointment made on December 1, 2013. There is no reason to believe that Dr. Pygon is anything less than a highly competent and well respected physician. However, Dr. Pygon also appeared in the advertisement in the New York Times Magazine.
The presence of Dr. Benedetti and Dr. Pygon in the advertisement, given their positions, raises important questions. Did they participate in the decision to use the image and the reputation of the University in service to a private corporation? How can this matter be cleared up to protect their reputations, if appropriate, or apply discipline, if appropriate?
Although these are special cases given their positions, the same questions hold for all of the other doctors pictured and identified in this advertisement.
All of this leads to a question of governance. Where is the Board of Trustees on this matter? In addition to approving medical staff clinical appointments, the board establishes the overall guidelines for behavior for the entire university system, a system that includes the Hospital and Health Sciences System. Will they open an investigation of this matter? When will they issue a statement to the people of the Chicago region telling of their plans, so as to re-establish trust in this major medical system?
18 comments:
Paul, keep on! Your are on the right track. The entire good Chicago is with you following you in your endeavor. We cheer for you.
A few Chicago docs
They appeared on NYT the 19th and the Sunday prior. Nothing will happen to them, however
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-04-16/news/0504160262_1_drug-companies-transplantation-fujisawa-healthcare
As you well know and describe, the higher up one goes the greater the ethical responsibility. Department head or not, they should go.
Keep up the great work on this. So important, so necessary.
Good for you Paul! As our public conduct erodes most people shrug. Keep fighting the good fight. This is outrageous.
Good Morning Paul, freezing cold here in Chicago....
We noticed with delight that you tweeted to the Tribune and Sun Times. Good, but it would have been ALSO appropriate to tweet to the AMA, the American College of Surgeons, and the American College of Healthcare Executives. They have codes of conduct...
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-07-29/news/0307290283_1_liver-transplants-chicago-hospitals-three-hospitals
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-01-25/features/0401250502_1_liver-patient-illinois-hospital
Anon 9:11;
I hate to be cynical, but Paul is more likely to get some action from tweeting to the newspapers than from the medical organizations you mentioned. How else did this conduct get so far otherwise? It is repeated throughout the country; it's just a matter of degree. Action will only be taken after the newspapers make a big scandal out of it.
We have met the enemy, and he is (among) us.
nonlocal MD
Anon 11:21
You are totally, totally right. In fact, we said "ALSO". Let's see what happens. Our guess is that they will fire the poor MBA and let others off the hook.
The head of the Department of Surgery at UIC appears in the picture published in the NYT. He is also responsible for the hospital privileges given to Dr. Giulianotti to practice not only general surgery, but also thoracic, vascular, urologic and gynecological surgery. Does UIC have surgeons in these special areas? And if so, why is this unqualified surgeon performing such a broad spectrum of procedures? The AMA and the ACS must be involved, as they need to shed light on this deplorable situation and discipline the responsible persons. Knowing the MO of UIC, I am afraid that the medical school might do absolutely nothing. I hope the Chicago Tribune launches an investigation, forcing UIC to take action.
http://www.mcnabolalaw.com/12373-LB-reprint-Cogan-022112.pdf
Well, ok, but this matter has nothing to do with malpractice verdicts--unless you feel you can make a direct connection with the topic at end.
They should all go.
We, at other institutions, are not allowed even to use a pen with the name of a pharmaceutical company. We take courses on what we can or can’t do. Do they at IUC!
Please, keep up with your work!
Thanks for what you are doing!
We shouldn’t generalize. Chicago has many, honest, good people but at UIC there are some great examples of dishonesty, corruption, and nepotism associated to stellar careers. Even more disturbing is to see what happens to the people that decide not to go along with them. Their life becomes miserable, their salaries are reduced, their positions terminated and their reputation destroyed.
Maybe it is time for some cleanup!
We, honest people, appreciate what you are doing!
Note to Anon: I edited this to remove names of people. Paul
The medical community is grateful for what you are doing.
Keep it up. Maybe this will be the time something good will be done.
That institution is backward.
Note to Anon: Names have been removed.
Most doctors I know follow the rules. Most Institutions are very strict and don't allow any exemption. At my Institution companies cannot even bring donuts for breakfast!
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-04-16/news/0504160262_1_drug-companies-transplantation-fujisawa-healthcarelunch
I just wanted to say that we - taxpayers and patients - are not even allowed to receive an answer about the issues you brought up. What a shame. I thought this was America. This all issue will stay and perpetuate while life will move on and our concerns will fade away. This is sad. Very sad.
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