Carle Foundation Hospital
Reviews and Complaints

The “operation” model and data architecture and use of digital has been poorly implemented and abuses privacy rights including voice, facial and biometric and EPIC”projects” a huge player - Illinois has privacy laws but apparently Healthcare industry and insurance are above the law and o Luther to “analyze” patients and families
SECURITY and data replication, use in AI models and AI Agents (CRM) and billing and HR has gone down a very bad path (and with vendor relationships) and university projects/partners.

Who is addressing this?

Do not recommend them for providing care. Between the nursing staff in Family Medicine who have placed barriers and delays in care due to not communicating with my PCP. Then a specialist and the nursing staff in this department that delayed a life sustaining medication. Then pediatrician manipulated and bullied myself and my child, then falsified documentation. Then the staff who released my private medical information to a person without my permission. Then deny care to a patient when they aren’t comfortable releasing their information to a stranger when they do not have a person who lives locally to give their medical information to after a minor procedure. Then we could go into the intimidation that occurred by nurses in the ED as a patient and now I will never return to their ED.

Carle Health does not enhance health care quality and does not improve health outcomes. Carle Health and their entities lack of leadership, lack of communication, lack of accountability, lack of understanding of quality care, lack of accessibility for equity and equality, and lack of resources for their monopoly they have in health services and systems has made patients such as myself made matters worse and for improving health and wellbeing, as well as worsening their health. The Patient Liaison and Risk Management bully patients. Their reviews are not anonymous and if you do anything other than a 5 star review the manager of the department calls, integrates you, and they don’t write their documentation until after they receive the reviews, the providers write either false documentation or limited documentation (which is typically based on their reviews you leave for them). This has been done by making it difficult to communicate with providers, not allowing access to life dependent medication, providing misinformation and false information to patients, delaying necessary care for patients. The matter at hand would be considered a preventable adverse event due to the medical symptoms that occurred and should have never occurred. Carle Health and their providers work in a very isolated environment that lacks the ability to think in a whole patient ideal, providing care in a narrow minded view. Due to denying access to specialists and care there has been worsened health, significant increases in cost of out of pocket for dental care due to lack of health care services that was denied by Carle Health and their providers for diagnosis and denial of further assessment for preventative measures.

Due to systematic procedural policies from administration there was issues that tied tue hands of the providers and caused errors all the way down. And fault lies fully on the administrative system and their privilege and lack of care of patients and rather their desire for the monopoly and to capitalize on the providers and patients that walk through their doors. This actually costs more to the patients health and wellness, there is a financial toll on the organization and the patients. Their healthcare organization lacks current evidence-based research and resources adequate to support their patients and leaving patients with labels that does not reflect their needs. They continuously delay and/prevent treatment of diseases patients.

Carle Health and their providers absolutely treat patients of privilege differently than those who do not have privilege. They also make things more difficult for patients without privilege, they are oppressive and discriminatory. They are also biased against patients that receive what they call charity care. This is absolutely not charity care when they deny those patients treatment based on socioeconomic status.

My specialist did not see the need to continue seeing me and when I wanted to discuss a new medication coming out he refused to discuss the new medications to treat my diagnosis. The specialist told me just go to your PCP and follow up there is not need for you to continue seeing me. He is not the first specialist to do to this. Many specialists at Carle Health have denied myself and other patients access to preventive care and curative care. This has been the same with PCPs in Family Medicine and Pediatrics. It is quite disheartening how many providers deny care to patients at Carle Health and just put symptom labels on patients rather than actually put their true medical diagnosis, especially when the patients have been diagnosed outside of the Carle Health System.

Carle Health and their staff prefer their patients of privilege and not of marginalized groups. They treat marginalized groups with great bias, as this matter of denying of medication and treatment has such occurred as a patient. They delay more care for marginalized groups. Decrease access to care and treatment for marginalized groups and decrease their involvement in their own care, though their intellect is typically equal to the privileged group. Carle Health does not promote optimal health for their patients, never once asking questions of any patients/family members from pediatric to seniors that addresses inclusion of patients as part of their own healthcare, do not ask about healthy lifestyle, do not address health goals, do not address patients knowledge of medications and adverse effects, do not address mental health and wellness, and do not support the education of patients to help them thrive in their health and wellness. Carle Health administration rather support the rush of patients through as fast as possible and keep patients out of their own health care and not allowing them knowledge of their own health care. This falls fully on administration.

Carle Health does not support health promotion and prevention. The providers at Carle Health are also trained to treat patients’ symptoms not address them and diagnosis. They label symptoms rather than seek appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Then provide medications that likely are not beneficial for a patient. Carle Health and their providers ignore patients needs to do what they see fit while harming patients due to lack of communication, lack of care, lack of access to medical and treatment services, lack of support services, and lack of Carle Health and providers’ understanding of patients’ true histories to be able to successfully care for patients.’

Any Carle related entity and provider is a nightmare. Not documenting assessments as they have done and when they are actually done they document them inaccurately. They have based their documents and diagnoses strictly on opinions and biases not on facts and/or evidence based research. Many of the patients that have gone to advocates like myself and/or attorneys have irrefutable evidence to the contrary of the providers. Carle only cares about their bottom line as do their providers getting patients in and out in record time. It’s not about quality patient care, not about the health and safety of the patients, not even about signs and symptoms of patients. The damage this organization has done had happened long before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Providers have no sensitivity with working on with patients and families who are neurodivergent, have trauma, and domestic violence (specifically emotional and psychological). The providers in fact worsen the harm of DV victims and trauma victims who are hyper-vigilant and need providers who speak with true compassion not falsehood and fake kindness. They are not culturally informed or aware, they are cognizant of diversity, nor do they really understand the challenges that their patient populations face. They are a privileged group and it has shown greatly.

Providers repeatedly refused to look at patients signs and symptoms of a diagnosis because the provider didn’t believe it to be a true diagnosis. The provider would say things about diagnoses being genetic but refused to document the immediate family members with the diagnoses when the providers asked about family history, which would warrant further information and investigation into the signs and symptoms. Then they dismissed symptoms patient was having because the provider didn’t believe that such symptoms occurred with diagnoses. While the patient would have no information of the relevance of evidence based research and companies such as Wolters Kluwer, Medscape, and National Institute of Health provide tremendous information affirming the patients symptoms. With all of this wealth of information and evidence the providers gaslight patients, manipulate documentation, refuse to treat, and delay treatment.

Their patient liaisons ignore patients and family and refuse to acknowledge that their patients and family have had an issues, from several medication reactions that providers ignore, to not follow up to referrals placed, to providers not providing assessments, and delaying care for female patients when the provider stated previously said they would intervene well before the state it go to, ignoring symptoms and refusal to treat the signs provided by diagnostic testing, to ignoring cancer that became metastatic, the list goes on. Many patients have chosen to go to other hospital organizations outside Central Illinois for their own health, wellness, and safety, particularly for specialties. There are others who have witnessed the signs and symptoms that the providers dismiss, ignore, and refuse to further investigate. This becomes concerning for those that are apart of the patient’s network.

Providers bullying and intimidating patients, then retaliating against them labeling them to care true harm, even when there is significant evidence contradicting what the provider has said. Continually manipulating and gaslighting patients, this is a big red flag in medical care.

Carle is a system that is designed to protect itself and its bottom line. It will seek out providers who are willing to be cold and calculating. They don’t care about patients, nor patient care, just move on down the assembly line, and the providers communication is a nightmare unless they are trying to ensure the reputation of Carle or the provider(s) it is definitely not for the patient’s care. There is no care about the impact on patient’s themselves. The great disparities that occur in healthcare are ever present nationwide, the Carle Health Care System horrendously worsens this, the discrimination and oppression that occurs is outstanding.

My name is sandy owsley I seen dr vetri once, I told him something re a dog groomer telling me about this medication fo rpaid he wrote in my chart I took the drug and the dog groomer gave it to me he then said he cancelled me about taking other peoples medication none of that happened, this woman told me of her experience and I relaid it to thee dr he then said he gave me a physical he didn tdo that irthe rbut billed my insurance co I called and complained was sent a form to fill out for review, this was back in july of 2023 never heard from them I checked the other day the bad info was not removed I called again and was told they reviewed it and due to hypa they couldn't remove it

That is crazy, so they are leaving false info in my chart for my family and drs to see making it appear I take other peoples drugs I am 77 and never have done that in my life I will be getting an attorney I would advice you to be cautious when seeing any of their drs

This has caused me so much stress and I am devastated to learn that even though it is false info they refuse to remove it

Do not go top carele health you will be sorry they do not have good remarks either said about them

If you do see one of their dr, take a witness with you into the room they don't pay attn to what you say, just wanting to get you in and out then they make notes about you like they did me and twist everything you told them around, and then refused to take it out of your chart when you catch it

If they was a good health care hospital they wouldn't have such poor reviews, they will never make it around here

I am going to make sure I tell anybody I know of that wants to go to that hospital to see their dr, I will tell them don't go you will be sorry,

Read the reviews, they are pretty bad

Consumers should be able to see what is being charged by who and for what BEFORE scheduling. Blue Cross does NOT know prior to this what Christie Clinic and Carle Clinic will be doing NOR does the patient know what to say will be done. The whole billing arrangements are both data intrusive, lacking and exploit patients.

Procedures not known are being overcharged and conducted without pateint knowledge then they get HUGE bills they can't pay and then harassed to pay.

The Christie Clinic having Carle Clinic (Bloomington) to CT Scans is a ridiculous billing scam and patients and consumers are in the dark about what is actually being done (*no costs shared or posted or transparent to even ask about with insurance either or PRIOR to having this stuff scheduled). THIS IS NOT THE Patient or consumer responsibility.

Being overcharged and then overbilled for things and procedures done without our knowledge is also a huge issue.

Trauma to patients and consumers and harassment and data grabs and shady collection practices and fees happen.

The right hand never knows what the left is doing and the PORTAL is both unsafe, integrates with 3rd parties and the data stored and shared on Core and other "servers" and cloud systems with out knowledge or consent of hte Consumer/Patient (EPIC, billing/collection 3rd parties and other API integrators and foreign and domestic systems partners).

Data breaches, replication and other things have happened and ignored yet the overcharging and billing issues continue.

Welcome to communist Carle and Healthcare and Billing practices.

Better billing practices needed, less data intrusive and health data sharing and portal needs to stop. Better customer service and handling of billing and cost transparency and billing agreements on procedures with Insurance, Christie and Carle need examined.

Stop exploiting patients and overcharging or deceiving patients causing mental anguish, financial hardship and time and trauma! Your system and process are terrible and so are your billing and collections practices.

I had to call Carle Patient Liaison on a racist therapist. First, the Patient liaison is Not there for you. They are there to back the employees of Carle. It's just something they have in place to make you think they care about the patients. Christy Clinic's PL is excellent. They will hold a doc or reg employees, accountable. They will try to gaslight you into thinking your concerns are wrong and not valid. Sadly, the aforementioned doctor, Dr. Jedd, is still working as a therapist. I saved all our messages and the PL ignored the context except for 3 sentences that she thought would gaslight and patronize me into thinking I was wrong. Appalling and disgusting behavior.

In March 2022 my wife inquired about a booster shot. We were given an appointment and the 2 of us went in for our shots. In & out in 5 minutes. At first Health Alliance paid $27 for the $103 vaccine charge, but not the $210 for the 'administration' of the shot by a medical assistant. Then they unpaid the $27 and Carle billed us $103. We were told our Health Alliance insurance wouldn't cover charges and that we should have been told by Carle to get shots at a pharmacy. There would have been full insurance coverage then. Then we got into a 'catch 22' situation. We were told to send claim to our Part D insurance. I did only to have it denied. seems they needed a paid receipt for the charge. So I paid Carle $103 (remember they had accepted $27 from insurance) and sent it in. Was denied as I did not have receipt from a pharmacy for the drug. I appealed. Got a check for $33. they said Carle overcharged. I contend Carle is overcharging for a medical assistant to 'administer' the shot. Pharmacy doesn't charge to administer. $210 is higher than Carle chagres for a physical exam. Then they accept about 40% from Health Alliance, I strongly feel we are a victim of Carle's error for not advising us to go to a pharmacy, then victimized again by being charged way too much and not accepting a lower amount.

I pay all medical bills for my adult child she is on my insurance she has no job or bank account-carle issued refund check in her name -she signed over to me & NO BANKS will cash because it's considered 3rd party check-have called Carle my daughter and I to get it issued in my name ( the person who paid ) and to no avail--asked Carle to credit back to card I used-and Nichey at Carle said that their system can't do it--as Big as Carle is it shouldn't be this hard-keep the 91 dollars -they probably do this to a lot of parents-an easy way to make some extra money at the consumer expense!

I don't feel comfortable being around my husband physical therapist Amy she's very rude and I just don't want her to be my husbands physical therapist anymore I don't like her attitude she's very rude and mean

To who it may concern:

I'm writing you today, I have bipolar disorder, an my doctor won't refill my medicine til I meet with him til next week . QUEtiapine 100 mg tablet This medicine that I need helps to control my moods which I take at night . My Dr Anthony kurian verghese, this is a form of medical abuse an I will file a lawsuit. This medicine is what keeps my bipolar disorder managed .

I was granted a 180 day consult under VA community care for them to check out everything wrong with me at Carle Clinic. I was granted this because the VA (Hines Va Chicago) not only did MALPRACTICE on me but everything else that should have been fixed over a 27 year period hasn't been which was the sole purpose of going to Carle. I was in a hospital prior to this because I had tried to get help for 13 years prior from the VA and couldn't get the help and tryed for the last 2 years outside the VA to get into Carle. I was there less than a day when a doctor came up and said he was a doctor in charge of ortho hips asked where are my xrays. (now this doctor not knowing what I had been through at the VA, I didn't want to take hours to explain that I saw no request for xrays but in fact tried just to get 2 appointments scheduled through the VA to Carle and couldn't through the VA which is exactly why we were trying to get this 1i9 day consult we got. So he tells me that a group of orthopedic doctors will be up to talk to me and I said great! I also said that at the hospital I just came from days prior they did an MRI and cat scan of the hips (I also know through previous doctors I need double hip replacement. St Matter also told me when I was there I had serious issues needed addressing before they did any surgery. Heart having issues, fall bladder possible removal and stones possible, liver problems from the VA giving me narcotic meds so long that its running my liver. (as you see the VA not taking care of so well and that's not the original reason for Carle. It's all bones and pain problems. So I told this nurse that I needed paperwork filled out so my power of Attorney could speak to them at carle and I have this power of Attorney because of all my issues at the VA. I told the nurse my meds (strong narcotics) are way over due and if they're going to make me suffer I'll check out and I told the same nurse that if I have paperwork I can easily get them the car scan and MRI from the hospital than just took them of the hips 3 days prior. About an hour passes. No orthopedic doctors. I get told I'm being discharged. I asked why because I have a 180 consult there and was given no reason.in fact I had my power of Attorney on the phone during all of this and they gave her no reason! I told them I am not requesting this and that I hope they understand I have life threatening injuries going on. I was totally ignored. I was discharged with no vehicle (ambulance brought me the day before) no jacket, transferred from a hospital to he here (have pneumonia also by the way! And no leys to house with no ride home. I got a call the day after from a nurse from carle and didn't even want to talk after what I just went through. Then 3 days later get a letter (with no phone number to reply back to) saying I had an issue with staff and I was the problem!) Iam guessing they saw after discharging me think one in their right mind should have discharged me so the reason for the letter. Paul V. Curtis [protected]

I was dr. Chris dangles’ patient from october 2000 until he abandoned me as a patient in may 2002. During that period of time, dr. Dangles performed unnecessary surgical procedures on my left and right ankles. (two on my left ankle and one on my right ankle.) I have been left physically impaired by these unnecessary surgeries, including dr. Dangles’ deviation from the appropriate standards of care and professionalism and unethical behavior towards me.in addition, I suffered from debilitating major depression and damage to my ability to earn a living, as a direct consequence of dr. Dangles’ deviation from the appropriate standard of care.

I overcame the major depression and found an excellent orthopedic surgeon to correct dr. Dangles’ surgical and consequential orthopedic injury to me. And, since my experience with dr. Dangles, I have learned a lot about ankle surgeries, indications for the surgeries and the appropriate pre-surgical and post surgical standards of care and professionalism. But, at this point, I am left with continued physical damage, lack of trust towards the medical profession and a piercing concern that absent being held accountable, dr. Dangles will hurt another trusting and vulnerable patient.

My request to the aaos is not about me getting retribution from dr. Dangles. My request is based upon my belief that every person (especially members of the medical profession and surgeons) must be accountable for personal injury and damage they cause to those under their trust.

As an attorney, I expected the place to request accountability would be to file a medical malpractice complaint against dr. Dangles. Initially, I naively expected dr. Dangles to admit he made a mistake and for us all to move on. But dr. Dangles chose another tactic.

Dr. Dangles first violated my rights as a patient by disclosing and disseminating my mental health records to his defense counsel. Thereafter, in his discovery deposition, dr. Dangles stated that I was over emotional and actually convinced dr. Dangles to perform an otherwise unnecessary surgery. Dr. Dangles further stated under oath that his nursing staff was surprised that I would be undergoing a surgical procedure on my right ankle and, according to dr. Dangles, his staff asked him not to perform the surgery because I routinely fell down.

Dr. Dangles committed the ultimate act of betrayal by a surgeon towards a patient when he stated under oath that he never knew why I (the patient) lost my balance after the surgeries but he suspected the falls were caused by alcohol abuse and the prescribed medications for depression in connection with prescribed pain medications. I have never suffered from an alcohol problem and dr. Dangles never brought up any such suspicions about alcohol use or the medications for depression at any time during his treatment of me. Rather, instead of accepting responsibility, dr. Dangles was making baseless attacks against my character and credibility.

Ultimately, my attorney, michael cogan had to withdraw as the attorney of record because my current treating orthopedic surgeon “did not want to get involved.” but, I firmly believe that somebody needs to get involved to get the attention of an out of control orthopedic surgeon that resorts to personal attacks on patients instead of accepting responsibility for his clinical and professional errors. Somebody needs to get involved in order to prevent dr. Chris dangles from causing similar harm on other unsuspecting and trusting orthopedic patients in central illinois.

How I came to meet and be treated by dr. Dangles

In august 2000, I was a runner who strained my left ankle when I stepped my left ankle into a bunny hole while running with my dog. I was a member of health alliance medical plans hmo (owned by carle clinic association physicians, including dr. Chris dangles). As required by the terms of the hmo, I went to my carle clinic association primary care physician to have the left ankle swelling checked. That doctor referred me to carle clinic association orthopedic surgeon robert gurtler, m.D.

In september 2000, dr. Gurtler advised against any surgery and recommended using an air cast. I was ambulating fine when I used the air cast. But after I lost my balance one day when not using the air cast, my carle clinic association primary care physician referred me to a second surgeon at carle clinic association. That second surgeon was dr. Chris j. Dangles.

In october 2000, I first met with dr. Dangles. At that time, I was a 38-year old athlete (former gymnast, swimmer, bicycle rider, runner) and I always had loose lateral ligaments. I had never suffered any ankle injury prior to august 2000. Without so much as a recommendation of physical therapy, mri or additional flat film, dr. Dangles immediately recommended surgery to tighten the lateral ligaments.

Dr. Dangles commented to me (in front of a witness) that the only reason that dr. Robert gurtler advised against the surgery was because dr. Gurtler did not know how to perform the surgery.in the same visit, dr. Dangles commented to my friend (who had just undergone surgery by dr. Gurtler for a complete rupture of the achilles tendon) that “... Dr. Gurtler should not have operated on you. Surgery should never be performed on an achilles tendon. The standard of care is to just cast the leg until the rupture repairs itself.” dr. Dangles’ statements about a colleague during that office visit were gratuitous, unprofessional and manipulative.

Dr. Dangles commented at the first visit that I had “loose ligaments generally.” in fact, dr. Dangles commented that my right ankle was clinically looser than my left ankle. I assured dr. Dangles that I had no complaints regarding the right ankle.

Despite dr. Dangles’ obvious arrogance and the fact that my friend warned me against proceeding with dr. Dangles, I was flattered that dr. Dangles called me on the telephone personally shortly after my office visit. Dr. Dangles told me during that telephone conversation that he had been thinking about my case and he was sure that he could help me.

In november 2000, dr. Dangles performed the first surgery to tighten my left lateral ligaments. The objective evidence during that first surgery revealed that the left ankle tendons and ligaments were completely in tact at the time of the november 2000 surgery. The ligaments and tendons were merely stretched and loose.

The november 2000 surgery to the left ankle failed. For reasons unknown to dr. Dangles, I fell down after the cast was removed and the ligaments stretched out. Dr. Dangles told me that I must have a “re-do” surgery to the left ankle. (ultimately, I learned in spring 2004 from my current orthopedic surgeon that the surgery failed because the ankle surgery altered the anatomy of my leg and I required a high tibial osteotomy in order to protect the ankle surgery.)

In march 2001, I underwent that second surgery to my left ankle. Again, there was no tear or damage to the left ankle ligaments or tendons. The ligaments were again stretched out.

Dr. Dangles continued to make the comment my right ankle was actually clinically “looser” than my left ankle ever was (despite my advising him that I had no complaints about the right ankle) until he finally convinced me to allow him to “tighten” the right ankle. Dr. Dangles told me that by tightening the right ankle’s ligaments, I would be less likely to sprain my right ankle.

In retrospect, dr. Dangles’ promise was an empty promise since I had never sprained or otherwise injured my right ankle. But, by summer 2001 (when dr. Dangles discussed the right ankle surgery with me), I was exhausted from the two left ankle surgeries and the pain and depression that resulted from those surgeries.

At that point, my frame of mind was such that the unplanned orthopedic issues (on the left ankle) had caused turmoil to my life and legal practice. At the moment that I agreed to surgery on an uninjured, normal (for me) ankle, I was hoping to be able to soon put an end to all of my orthopedic problems and bodily limitations and become a fully functioning professional person again.

In august 2001, dr. Dangles performed what was, for all intents and purposes, prophelatic surgery on my right ankle. And, dr. Dangles performed that surgery following two (2) surgeries to my left ankle without any physical therapy and relatively little recuperation time. Ultimately, my left ankle was so weakened by the surgeries that it could not hold my body weight when I was on crutches for the right ankle surgery. I fell, and the surgery on both my right and left ankles failed.

I asked dr. Dangles whether I should have physical therapy and dr. Dangles said “no.” according to dr. Dangles, physical therapy is only indicated if the ankle is “stiff” after surgery. I have since learned that physical therapy is critical to a good clinically outcome. Even as late as january 2007 (when dr. Dangles’ deposition was taken in the medical malpractice case), dr. Dangles asserted that physical therapy is not generally necessary unless the ankle is stiff. Dr. Dangles failed to acknowledge that he erred in never prescribing physical therapy for me (either before, after or between the surgeries).

In addition, dr. Dangles failed to recognize and appreciate the fact that by tightening the naturally loose ligaments (as opposed to repairing damaged ligaments) on my ankles, dr. Dangles actually changed the anatomy of both of my legs. Physical therapists have described it to me as losing the sense of where my ankles and feet are in relation to my body – prioperception. And, according to several of my physical therapists and my current orthopedic surgeon, unless and until I am able to retrain the poor body prioperception, I will be doomed to continue losing my balance.

The multiple surgical procedures failed and I was left effectively crippled in the fall 2001. At that time, dr. Dangles assured me that he would figure out a plan for me. Despite all empirical evidence to the contrary, dr. Dangles suddenly suspected that I suffered from ehlers danlos syndrome. I underwent the testing for eds. The testing came back as negative. Dr. Dangles promised me that he would determine a plan. Dr. Dangles never contacted me after the eds testing returned as negative.

Dr. Dangles blames me for his ever having performed the surgery on my right ankle

Dr. Dangles’ discovery deposition was taken in january 2007. I was not present at the deposition because I was undergoing treatment for cancer. But, when I read the transcript, I was shocked and offended by dr. Dangles’ attempts to disparage my character and deny responsibility for performing that surgery on me.

Question: please tell me, doctor (chris john dangles, m.D.), everything that you can recall about the conversation that you had with miss handy on july 9 of 2001 regarding doing surgery on the right side.

Dr. Dangles: well, was moderately insistent upon it. She convinced me that she liked the left side much better than the right.

And I just remember being rather amazed that this woman wanted to subject herself to surgery on her right side now but she convinced me that it was in her best interest.

Question: when you say moderately insistent, can you expand on that?

Dr. Dangles: a little emotional about it. She says yes, it is really bothering my legs. I like my left side better than my right.

Question: and that you were slightly amazed that she wanted to subject herself to surgery on the right?

Dr. Dangles: yeah. After having hand surgery and two foot surgeries in the course of the year, I was surprised that she wanted another surgery.

Questions: that she wanted another operation at all or that she wanted another operation five or six months following the previous one?

Dr. Dangles: I think you could phrase it either way and I would be surprised.

Question: and then she convinced you that she wanted the surgery?

Dr. Dangles: yes. And my next recollection was both my nurses who have dealt with all the phone calls telling me how could you do this to us again?

Question: subsequent phone calls?

Dr. Dangles: no. They anticipated more problems, my nurses.

Question: problems in what regard? Problems with her?

Dr. Dangles: falling.

* * *

Question: did you offer [the patient] any other treatment options for her right ankle?

Dr. Dangles: prolonged wearing of the brace and air cast.

Question: is that the same thing?

Dr. Dangles: yes.

Question: in your opinion did she have any other treatment options other than surgery or prolonged wearing of an air brace?

Dr. Dangles: again, back to my original visit, wedges on her shoes that I offered her a long time ago.

Question: anything else besides that, doctor?

Dr. Dangles: those were the options that I gave her.

* * *

Question: as of july of 2001 had miss handy received any treatment for these inversion injuries other than the air cast prescribed (by dr. Dangles’ nurse)?

Dr. Dangles: and somebody ordered rocket socks for her.

Question: other than the rocket socks and the air cast, doctor?

Dr. Dangles: not that I am aware of.

* * *

Question:... Were there any contraindications in performing the (august 2001) surgery in your opinion?

Dr. Dangles: no.

* * *

Question: and again [dr. Dangles’ nurse] is documenting the fact that [miss handy] had suffered another fall?

Dr. Dangles: correct.

Question: do you have any understanding as the circumstances surrounding the fall?

Dr. Dangles: no, I don’t.

Question: do you have an opinion as to what caused her to fall?

Dr. Dangles: I have questions but I have no opinion.

Question:... Questions regarding the mechanism of the fall?

Dr. Dangles: no. I have questions concerning the impact of the medications she takes besides pain pills and I questioned whether or not she had an alcohol problem.

Question: these are not opinions that you hold to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that any medication use or alcohol use may have contributed to her fall?

Dr. Dangles: well, she takes some psychotropic medications that can create dizziness and ataxis problems.

It was not just that chris dangles, m.D. Failed to recommend conservative, non-surgical alternatives to surgery (as described in the aaos website), failed to recommend physical therapy before and after two (2) surgical procedures on the left foot. It was also not just that dr. Dangles performed surgery on a perfectly healthy right foot or that dr. Dangles failed to ever watch me (the patient) ambulate in an effort to determine the cause of my instability or even that dr. Dangles failed to ask me about the mechanisms of the post-surgical falls. The most disturbing fact is that dr. Dangles became so desperate in his desire to quash my medical malpractice complaint that he stooped to the low of insulting and attacking me personally.

Dr. Dangles initially sought to introduce my mental health records into the medical malpractice case.in fact, the entirety of my mental health care was obtained at the same clinic where dr. Dangles practiced (carle clinic association). Through my mental health records, dr. Dangles sought to label me as “mentally ill” and not worthy of being trusted.in fact, the significance of my being treated by a psychiatrist at carle clinic association should have been that, if dr. Dangles was ever concerned about the effect my psychiatric medications had on my ability to ambulate or make decisions, then he had knowledge of and access to that information throughout his treatment of me. There is no indication in the medical records or otherwise that dr. Dangles ever mentioned a concern about medications prior to the commencement of the lawsuit against him.

Dr. Dangles also sought to label me as having an alcohol problem. Dr. Dangles even testified under oath “... I questioned whether or not she has an alcohol problem.” there is no indication in the medical records or otherwise that dr. Dangles ever mentioned a concern about alcohol prior to the commencement of the lawsuit against him. At no time in my life have I ever had an alcohol problem. That is a serious accusation or insinuation for dr. Dangles to make against me. Making such baseless accusations against me could affect my possibility to ever practice law again.

Under any standard, it is wrong for an orthopedic surgeon to perform unnecessary surgeries on a patient, especially when the procedures ultimately cause the patient to suffer physically, mentally and financially for eight (8) plus years. It is wrong for an orthopedic surgeon to ignore the fact that his actions caused his patient the necessity of undergoing four (4) or more reparative, corrective surgeries. It is wrong for an orthopedic surgeon to blame a lay patient for talking the doctor into performing surgery.

Indeed, no patient should ever be capable of talking a competent orthopedic surgeon into an otherwise unnecessary or inappropriate surgery. That wrong is compounded and contradicted by the surgeon’s claim that the patient had mental health issues (for which she was taking prescription drugs) and had alcohol problems. No surgeon who truly believes that his patient might have an alcohol problem or might have difficulty ambulating after surgery (because of prescribed drugs for depression) should ever perform unnecessary or even elective surgical procedures.

Dr. Dangles abandons me as a patient and
Dr. Dangles’ financial conflict of interest

Following the negative eds test, dr. Dangles simply ignored me as a patient. There was never a referral to physical therapy. There was never a referral to another orthopedic surgeon. I could not obtain a second option because dr. Chris dangles (and the other carle clinic association physicians) actually owned my then medical insurance provider (health alliance medical plans). Dr. Dangles had an obvious financial interest in my remaining his patient at cca. Dr. Dangles would benefit financially both by performing surgery on me and by my being an hmo patient in a medical plan that he partially owned. Since the physicians and surgeons at carle clinic association maintain an ownership interest in health alliance medical plans, it is not surprising that dr. Dangles never referred me (as a hamp hmo patient) outside of carle clinic for evaluation after the three (3) surgeries failed.

If dr. Dangles referred me to a non-cca physician or surgeon than the hamp hmo would have to pay more money on the out-of-network claim. Since dr. Dangles is a partial owner of the hamp hmo, payment to a non-affiliated surgeon would effectively be money out of dr. Dangles’ pocket. Therein lies a financial interest that inherently creates a conflict of interest for the orthopedic surgeon.

Before I could find another orthopedic surgeon to evaluate my ankles, I had to change my health insurance plan.

The change from hamp so that I could obtain second opinion with mark easley, m.D. (duke)

I switched my health insurance from hamp hmo to blue cross/blue shield of illinois in order to be able to obtain an orthopedic second opinion.

In september 2002, I first met with orthopedic surgeon mark e. Easley, m.D. (duke university medical in durham, nc).

Dr. Mark easley evaluated, diagnosed and corrected both of my ankles. Unlike dr. Dangles, dr. Easley actually watched me walk after the first repair to the right ankle. Dr. Easley also asked about the details and mechanisms of my post-surgical instability and falls. At that time, dr. Easley determined that I needed a high tibial osteotomy procedure in order to maintain the alignment of my tibia and protect the ankle surgery. Indeed, the ankle procedure performed by dr. Easley did not fail (as the procedures had with dr. Dangles) because dr. Easley performed bilateral high tibial osteotomies.

At that first meeting, dr. Easley verbally expressed (to me and my family) surprise that I had never undergone physical therapy before or after the surgeries performed by dr. Dangles. Dr. Easley acknowledges to me that I would have never needed the high tibial osteotomies if the initial ankle surgeries had not been performed. Dr. Dangles’ surgeries on my uninjured left and right ankle effectively altered the anatomy of my legs. To date, dr. Easley has performed a total of four (4) surgeries after dr. Dangles’ three (3) failed surgeries.

Dr. Easley performed the following surgeries on me:

1. September 2003: lateral ligament repair on right ankle (unlike the august 2001 surgical procedure, there was actual damage to the ankle. Dr. Easley did more than simply tighten an otherwise healthy ankle.)

2. March 2004: high tibial opsteotomy on right leg (in order to protect the right ankle surgery until the hto could be performed, I remained in a short leg cast and full metal leg brace from october 2003 until march 2004)

3. December 2004: lateral ligament repair on left ankle and hto on left leg

4. May 2005: repeat surgery on peroneal tendon of left ankle (medical records indicate that I reported to dr. Dangles a “popping” sound and sensation to my left ankle in march 2001. Dr. Dangles never examined the left peroneal tendon. According to dr. Easley, by december 2004, the peroneal tendon had been subluxing for an extended period of time such that there was no groove for the peroneal tendon. The repeat surgery in may 2005 was for the purpose of dr. Easley creating an extreme groove for the peroneal tendon where non existed.)

To date, I am still treated by dr. Easley. Despite the four (4) corrective surgeries at duke, I am still unable to use my left leg properly. Dr. Easley is in the process of determining a course of action. I hope someday that I will be able to ride a bike, walk or even endure the physical requirements of caring for my elderly father without pain and swelling.