Unfortunately, my father became one of Dr. David Daniels' patients. He ultimately lost his life during a hospital stay that began with a minimally invasive procedure to replace a faulty aortic valve. What followed was a devastating series of complications--c/b RV Perforation (complicated by right ventricular perforation / heart was accidentally punctured during operation) which caused bleeding around the heart, cardiac arrest (was revived, put in coma and incubated), stroke, seizures, pneumonia caused by Citrobacter, and ultimately, his death. The injury during the operation was not communicated to me directly by Dr. Daniels. I learned of the intraoperative complication two days later through another party. When I finally spoke to Dr. Daniels (he was on vacation and the nurse, Maci, gave me such a hard time) and asked about the injury in the operating room, he was nonchalant, responded with disturbing indifference, attributing the event to surgical risk.
My last conversation with my dad was the day before surgery. After the heart attack and stroke, it was so obvious that my dad was mentally gone. He couldn't talk, eat, walk, or anything on his own. He had a feeding tube in his nose. It was the worst 3 weeks of my life that still is so vivid in my brain. My father was 83 years old, with a known history of cardiovascular frailty. He should have never been considered a viable surgical candidate. Yet he was pushed toward an operation that his body was ill-equipped to withstand. In my opinion, this was not the decision of a conscientious, patient-centered physician. This was the decision of someone who appeared more concerned with surgical volume and billing than with medical ethics or patient safety.
A competent and compassionate surgeon understands not only when to operate, but more importantly, when not to. My father could have maybe lived another year or two with medical management. Instead, he endured three agonizing weeks of suffering, irreversible brain damage, and a complete loss of independence--unable to speak, eat, or even recognize his family.
To make matters worse, Dr. Daniels made a profoundly unprofessional and demeaning comment to my father's girlfriend, suggesting that she puts me in check because of an incident with a horrible nurse named Maci. I made it very clear to this nurse that I only wanted to talk to Dr. Daniels and would like to know how to get in touch with him. After going back and forth on how she is the only one I can speak to she decided to call security. This is all happening beside my father's bed while he lays there like a vegetable just after being able to talk and laugh with him a couple of days before. Such behavior is not only unethical but deeply offensive and unbecoming of anyone who claims to practice medicine.
Dr. Daniels, I feel your conduct reflects a serious lack of both professional integrity and human decency. You may carry the title of surgeon, but I feel you have lost the essence of what it means to be a healer. You--and your nurse Maci --have caused more than enough suffering. You failed not only as a surgeon but as a human being. Your decisions and your demeanor destroyed a family. I hope no one else experiences what we did. The only one who needs to be put in check is you and that horrible nurse Maci. I praise all the other nurses, especially Jerret. Not sure if he was a nurse or an angel but thank you.
To anyone considering being under this doctor's care: ask questions, demand a second opinion, and don't mistake a white coat for wisdom or compassion. My father passed just a few days before his birthday.... read more
