Thousands of surgeons perform nose surgery, but the level of training and expertise varies among surgeons. In fact, there are over 150 self designated boards in plastic surgery, but the only ones that align with the goals of American Board of Medical Specialties are the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery American Board of Otolaryngology. These factors can make it difficult for people interested in nose surgery to select the right nose surgeon. Yet, it is not typical to find a nose surgeon who is faced with more than 300 medical malpractice cases, as is the case for Mark Weinberger, also known as “The Nose Doc”.
In August 2010, a Lake Superior Court put forward a $300,000 medical malpractice verdict against Mark Weinberger. This case involved William Boyer, 58, of Gary, Indiana who was told by Mark Weinberger that he needed surgery to repair bloody sinuses. Conversely, Mark Weinberger presented photos of another patient who needed surgery to Mr. Boyer, as if the photos were Mr. Boyer’s photos. Consequently, Mr. Boyer had unnecessary nose surgery. The allegations included that the Merrillville physician had mistreated and misdiagnosed William Boyer. Weinberger had operated the Merrillville Center for Advanced Surgery LLC and Nose and Sinus Centers LLC between November 2002 and 2004.
In 2004, Mark Weinberger was featured on an episode of “America’s Most Wanted because he failed to return from a trip to Greece. In 2006, 22 counts of health care fraud perpetuated against insurance companies were filed in U.S. District Court in Hammond. In total, roughly 300 medical malpractice cases have been filed against the nose surgeon.
Selecting a Nose Surgeon
It is important to carefully select your medical providers and surgeons. Check out some tips to help you make a well educated decision.
Board Certification Verification: Visit the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or call (800) 776-2378.
Physician Credentials, Medical Malpractice Allegations, and Disciplinary Action: Visit your state’s medical board website or call them.
Hospital Privileges: When a physician has hospital privileges to perform a specific procedure, the physician’s skill set has been reviewed by peer members.
Accredited Facility Verification: Contact the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
General Anesthesiologist Verification: Contact the American Board of Anesthesiology at (919) 881-2570.
Burton Padove, Indiana and Illinois lawyer, is available to help those who are injured because of products that are recalled. He can be reached at (877) 446 5294.