♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
BIDEN GAVE HIS STATE OF THE
UNION SPEECH TO A ROOM INCLUDING
GEORGE SANTOS IN A BEJEWELED
COLLAR, SERVING A+ HOUSEWIVES
ENERGY.
SWEDEN OFFICIALLY JOINED NATO,
AND THE BELLAGIO SHUT DOWN ITS
FOUNTAINS BECAUSE, AND THIS IS
TRUE, A RARE BIRD LANDED IN
THEM.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD BIRD!
NOT THE BEST BIRD, AS WE KNOW,
BUT STILL PRETTY GOOD.
MEANWHILE, KAMALA HARRIS NEARLY
MADE BIG NEWS WHEN IT SEEMED
LIKE SHE WAS ISSUING THE CALL
FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA THAT
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEMANDING FOR
MONTHS NOW -- ONLY TO STEP ON
THE CROWD'S ENTHUSIASM WITH A
PRETTY MAJOR ASTERISK.
>> GIVEN THE IMMENSE SCALE OF
SUFFERING IN GAZA, THERE MUST BE
AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE --
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT SIX WEEKS,
WHICH IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY ON
THE TABLE.
>> John: WOW.
AS CALLS FOR PEACE GO, THAT'S
RIGHT UP THERE WITH
"MR. GORBACHEV, TEAR DOWN THIS
WALL...
FOR A TWO MONTH TRIAL PERIOD,
AFTER WHICH, YOU CAN PUT IT BACK
UP AGAIN."
IT'S UP TO YOU.
HARRIS FORGOT THE CARDINAL RULE
THAT BAD NEWS SHOULD ALWAYS COME
FIRST.
THERE'S A REASON CONVERSATIONS
AT THE HOSPITAL DON'T GO: YOUR
HUSBAND'S GOING TO LIVE..."
"OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR
-- "
"FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS, TOO
LATE, YOU THANKED ME, NO
TAKEBACKS, BYE!"
BUT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS TONIGHT
ON THE 2024 ELECTION.
SPECIFICALLY, ONE OF THE
DOWNBALLOT RACES THAT TOOK PLACE
ON TUESDAY.
BECAUSE NORTH CAROLINA
REPUBLICANS CHOSE THEIR
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR THIS
FALL, MARK ROBINSON.
HE'S CURRENTLY THE STATE'S
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND WON THE
NOMINATION ON THE STRENGTH OF,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS
HIGH-PROFILE ENDORSEMENT.
>> THIS IS MARTIN LUTHER KING ON
STEROIDS OKAY?
NOW, I TOLD THAT TO MARK, I
SAID, "I THINK YOU'RE BETTER
THAN MARTIN LUTHER KING, I THINK
YOU ARE MARTIN LUTHER KING TIMES
TWO."
AND HE LOOKED AT ME, AND I
WASN'T SURE, WAS HE ANGRY,
BECAUSE THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING
TO SAY, OR WAS HE COMPLIMENTED?
I HAVE NEVER FIGURED IT OUT.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU...
RIGHT?
WHEN I SAID THAT TO YOU, YOU
LOOKED LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW IF I
LIKE THAT COMMENT."
YOU SHOULD LIKE IT.
>> John: OH.
THERE'S A LOT THERE.
FROM STARTING WITH "I THINK YOU
ARE MARTIN LUTHER KING TIMES
TWO" AS IF THE ONLY WAY FOR
TRUMP TO GAUGE BLACK PEOPLE IS
IN FACTORS OF THE OTHER ONE HE
KNOWS, TO THE WAY HE SAID "YOU
SHOULD LIKE IT."
DO YOU KNOW HOW RACIST YOU HAVE
TO BE TO GIVE A BLACK PERSON A
"COMPLIMENT" THAT STARTS BY
QUANTIFYING THEIR HUMAN VALUE,
AND THEN ENDS WITH A DEMAND?
IT'S A LOT!
ALTHOUGH, ROBINSON'S REACTION TO
TRUMP'S COMPLIMENT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN HARD TO READ BECAUSE HIS
OWN FEELINGS ON MLK ARE, AT
BEST, COMPLICATED.
HE'S CALLED HIM A COMMUNIST ON
HIS FACEBOOK PAGE, AND ON A
PODCAST APPEARANCE IN 2018,
EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM MORE
GENERALLY ABOUT THE MOVEMENT
KING HELPED LEAD.
>> ROBINSON REFERENCES WHAT HE
CALLS THE QUOTE "SO-CALLED CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT."
AT ONE POINT, HE TALKS ABOUT THE
SIT-IN MOVEMENT IN THE '60s.
THAT MOVEMENT BEGAN AT
WOOLWORTHS IN GREENSBORO WHEN
THE RESTAURANT REFUSED TO SERVE
BLACKS AT THE COUNTER.
ROBINSON REFERRED TO THE
MOVEMENT AS RIDICULOUS AND TOOK
AIM AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
ITSELF.
>> SO MANY THINGS WERE LOST
DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
SO MANY FREEDOMS WERE LOST
DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LOST.
>> John: WOW.
THAT'S GENUINELY SHOCKING.
NOT SO MUCH THAT SOMEONE IS
MAKING CONTROVERSIAL, INACCURATE
CLAIMS ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT ON A PODCAST, BUT THAT
IT'S HAPPENING WITHOUT JOE ROGAN
OCCASIONALLY POPPING IN TO SAY
"THAT'S WILD, BRO" BEFORE
PIVOTING TO AN AD FOR A PROTEIN
SUPPLEMENT THAT PROMISES TO MAKE
YOUR DICK VEINIER.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT ON
EARTH ROBINSON MEANT BY THAT,
HIS ARGUMENT WAS THAT THE SIT-IN
PARTICIPANTS IN GREENSBORO
SHOULDN'T HAVE DEMANDED TO BE
ALLOWED TO EAT AT SEGREGATED
RESTAURANTS, BECAUSE THAT COST
US THE LIBERTIES OF A
FREE-MARKET SYSTEM.
WHICH IS THE ARGUMENT NOT JUST
OF AN ASSHOLE, BUT AN ASSHOLE ON
STEROIDS.
AN ASSHOLE TIMES TWO, IF YOU
WILL.
SO ROBINSON HAS SOME EXTREME
VIEWS.
AND WHILE SOME OF THEM ARE PAR
FOR THE COURSE FOR A
TRUMP-ENDORSED CONSERVATIVE, HE
CAN STILL EXPRESS THEM IN
STRIKING WAYS.
FOR INSTANCE, HE'S A SUPPORTER
OF BOOK BANS AND A STAUNCH
OPPONENT OF LGBTQ RIGHTS, WHICH
HE SUMMED UP IN ONE APPEARANCE
AT A CHURCH LIKE THIS.
>> AIN'T BUT TWO GENDERS.
TWO GENDERS.
THEY'RE DRAGGING OUR KIDS DOWN
INTO THE PIT OF HELL, TRYING TO
TEACH 'EM THAT MESS IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
TELL YOU LIKE THIS, THAT AIN'T
GOT NO PLACE AT NO SCHOOL.
TWO PLUS TWO DON'T EQUAL
TRANSGENDER.
IT EQUALS FOUR.
>> John: I MEAN, TO BE FAIR, IT
DOES.
HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THE VERY LAST
THING THERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT DISCURSIVE
TACTIC: FINISH AN
INCOMPREHENSIBLY OFFENSIVE RANT
WITH ONE INCONTROVERTIBLE FACT.
I'LL SHOW YOU.
"SEAGULLS HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING
BIRDS.
THEY'RE RATS WITH WINGS,
UNDESERVING OF FLIGHT.
THE CAPITOL OF TURKMENISTAN
ISN'T SEAGULLS.
IT'S ASHGABAT!"
WHATEVER WEIRD SHIT I SAID ABOUT
SEAGULLS BEFOREHAND, YOUR
INSTINCTIVE TAKEAWAY IS, "WELL,
I ADMIT, HE WAS TECHNICALLY
RIGHT ABOUT THE LAST BIT."
ROBINSON ALSO HAS SOME PRETTY
INTENSE, IF UNSURPRISING, VIEWS
ON ABORTION.
HE'S SAID THE GOAL IS TO GET IT
DOWN TO BEING BANNED AFTER SIX
WEEKS, AND THEN JUST KEEP MOVING
FROM THERE.
AND JUSTIFIES HIS POSITION LIKE
THIS.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CULTURE
THAT WE HAVE CREATED IN THIS
SOCIETY THAT TELLS YOU, WHEN YOU
WANT TO FEEL GOOD, GO ON, GO IN
THERE AND GO LAY DOWN AND DO
YOUR THING, AND IF YOU GET IN A
LITTLE TROUBLE, IT'S ALL RIGHT
TO MURDER SOMEBODY TO GET OUT OF
IT.
IT IS NOT!
YOU NEED TO BE THE ONE IN
CONTROL OF YOUR BODY.
AND ONCE YOU MAKE A BABY, IT'S
NOT YOUR BODY ANYMORE.
IT'S Y'ALLS BODY.
>> John: THAT'S PRETTY BAD!
THOUGH IT SOUNDS LESS LIKE A
STANCE ON ABORTION AND MORE LIKE
WHAT TOMMY LEE JONES WOULD SAY
ABOUT VINCENT D'ONOFRIO IN
"MEN IN BLACK."
"WHEN A SPACE COCKROACH WEARS
YOUR SKIN LIKE A SUIT?
IT'S NOT YOUR BODY ANYMORE.
IT'S Y'ALLS BODY."
ALSO, I WILL SAY, IF THE WOMEN
OF THIS COUNTRY DO THINK ITS ALL
RIGHT TO MURDER SOMEONE TO GET
OUT OF TROUBLE, THEY ARE
CURRENTLY SHOWING INCREDIBLE
RESTRAINT.
ROBINSON'S WHOLE CAREER HAS BEEN
BUILT ON SAYING
ATTENTION-GRABBING THINGS -- HIS
BIG BREAK CAME JUST SIX YEARS
AGO, WHEN HE SPOKE AT A CITY
COUNCIL MEETING IN SUPPORT OF
GUN RIGHTS, AND REFERRED TO
HIMSELF AS "THE MAJORITY" IN
OPPOSITION TO "LOONIES FROM THE
LEFT."
IT QUICKLY WENT VIRAL, MAKING
HIM A CONSERVATIVE RISING STAR
OVERNIGHT.
BUT HIS JOURNEY TO THAT POINT
ACTUALLY BEGAN ONLINE.
IF YOU READ HIS MEMOIR, WHICH I
DO NOT ADVISE, HE TALKS ABOUT
HOW, WHEN HE FIRST JOINED
FACEBOOK IN 2007, "I DID SO FOR
ONE REASON AND ONE REASON ONLY:
TO TALK ABOUT PROFESSIONAL
WRESTLING."
BUT THEN, QUICKLY REALIZED HE
COULD GET MORE ATTENTION FOR
SAYING WILD POLITICAL STUFF AND
MAKING AWFUL MEMES, EXPLAINING,
I WANTED TO BE AS DEMONSTRATIVE
AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I WANTED
PEOPLE TO, AS THE GUY SAID,
"COME AT ME, BRO."
"I WANTED PEOPLE TO READ MY PAGE
AND GO "WHAT DID HE SAY?
DID HE REALLY SAY THAT?"
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED."
AND BOY, DID HE GET HIS WISH.
BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOING
THROUGH HIS FACEBOOK PAGE, AND
I'M GUESSING, SAYING EXACTLY
THAT.
>> ROBINSON HAS A HISTORY OF
MAKING STATEMENTS ON SOCIAL
MEDIA THAT JEWS AND OTHERS
CONSIDER TO BE ANTI-SEMITIC.
HE SAID THE MOVIE BLACK PANTHER
WAS, QUOTE, "CREATED BY AN
AGNOSTIC JEW TO PULL THE SHEKELS
OUT OF YOUR SCHVARTZE POCKETS,"
USING THE YIDDISH WORDS FOR
MONEY AND BLACK.
ASKED ABOUT THOSE COMMENTS
TODAY, ROBINSON SAID THEY WERE
POORLY WORDED.
>> John: YUP.
I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM WAS
THAT THEY WERE POORLY WORDED.
POORLY WORDED IS SOMETHING LIKE
"YOU HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP WITH BY
ME."
I THINK THE MAIN ISSUE THERE WAS
HIS FLAGRANT ANTISEMITISM BEING
WORDED AT ALL.
THIS GUY CLEARLY ISN'T
MARTIN LUTHER KING ON STEROIDS,
IF ANYTHING, HE'S MUCH MORE LIKE
YOUR SHITTIEST UNCLE ON AMBIEN.
BECAUSE HE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF
WILLFULLY PROVOCATIVE POSTS,
INCLUDING ONE WHERE HE COMPLAINS
THAT THE LIBERAL MEDIA ALWAYS
TALKS ABOUT THE "6 MILLION JEWS"
KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST, IN
SCARE QUOTES.
HE ALSO ONCE QUOTED HITLER ON
FACEBOOK AND THEN DEFENDED IT BY
SAYING THAT QUOTING HIM DOESN'T
MEAN HE SUPPORTS HIM AND THAT "I
GUESS EVERY HISTORY BOOK IN
AMERICA SUPPORTS HITLER NOW."
WHICH IS BULLSHIT FOR A BUNCH OF
REASONS, INCLUDING THAT A
HISTORY BOOK AND A PERSONAL
FACEBOOK PAGE ARE VERY
DIFFERENT.
CONTEXT MATTERS.
THAT'S WHY YOU'LL NEVER SEE A
MOTIVATIONAL POSTER AT HOMEGOODS
THAT SAYS "NEVER LOSE HOPE, BE
PERSISTENT AND STUBBORN AND
NEVER GIVE UP", TED KACZYNSKI.
ACTUAL QUOTE, BY THE WAY.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.
HE'S ALSO REFERRED TO THE
PARKLAND SHOOTING SURVIVORS AS
"THESE SILLY LITTLE IMMATURE
"MEDIA PROSTI-TOTS," POSTED THIS
IMAGE OF HIMSELF WITH A SIGN
READING, "BEYONCE'S SONGS SOUND
LIKE SATANIC CHANTS, CHANGE MY
MIND," AND HAS SAID "I TRULY
BELIEVE THAT THE "JUDGMENT"
FORMAT OF THESE "REALITY"
COMPETITION SHOWS LIKE AMERICAN
IDOL, DANCING WITH THE STARS AND
CHOPPED, IS A SIGN OF THINGS TO
COME IN THE REALITY OF THE NEW
WORLD ORDER."
A BONKERS TAKE THAT HE EXPLAINED
BY SAYING, THE FORMAT OF THESE
SHOWS REMINDS ME OF STALIN'S
"SHOW TRIALS" WHERE PEOPLE WERE
LINED UP AND JUDGED THEN
EXECUTED.
OF COURSE NO ONE IS BEING KILLED
BUT ALL THE ELEMENTS ARE STILL
THERE.
SOMETIMES I THINK THESE SHOWS
ARE SETTING PEOPLE'S MIND ON
THIS TYPE OF FORMAT FOR A MORE
SINISTER REASON."
AND WHILE THAT SEEMS VERY
UNLIKELY, IF WE DID LEARN THAT
"DANCING WITH THE STARS" WAS
SECRETLY A STATE-LED
BRAINWASHING CAMPAIGN TO GET US
MORE COMFORTABLE WITH PUBLIC
EXECUTIONS, I'D IMMEDIATELY HAVE
A HELL OF A LOT MORE RESPECT FOR
THAT SHOW.
AT LEAST IT'D BE TRYING
SOMETHING DARING, RATHER THAN
HAVE A CHMERKOVSKIY BROTHER
PERFORM YET ANOTHER UNINSPIRED
FOXTROT.
AGAIN AND AGAIN, ROBINSON'S GONE
OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAY THE WORST
THINGS IN THE MOST PROVOCATIVE
WAY.
>> WE ARE CALLED -- GETTING
READY TO GET IN TROUBLE, CALLED
TO BE LED BY MEN!
GOD SENT WOMEN OUT WHEN HE WAS
SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY HAD TO
DO THAT THING, BUT WHEN IT WAS
TIME TO FACE DOWN GOLIATH, HE
SENT DAVID, NOT DAVITA, DAVID!
WHEN IT WAS TIME TO LEAD THE
ISRAELITES OUT OF ISRAEL, HE
SENT MOSES, NOT MOMMA MOSES,
DADDY MOSES!
SEE, GOD KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING
WHEN HE MADE MEN BIG AND HAIRY
AND UGLY 'CAUSE YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO SCARE AWAY PREDATORS, WHETHER
THEY'RE IN THE WOODS OR STANDING
IN FRONT OF YOUR KIDS IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
>> John: WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?
IS THIS A SERMON OR ARE YOU
WORKING ON STUFF FOR A SHITTY
NETFLIX SPECIAL?
ALSO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE
THE ARGUMENT THAT MEN ARE BETTER
LEADERS BECAUSE THEY CAN FIGHT,
THOSE ARE TWO TERRIBLE EXAMPLES.
WHEN DID DAVID OR MOSES EVER
THROW HANDS?
THEY DEFEATED THEIR ENEMIES
THROUGH, RESPECTIVELY, A
SLINGSHOT AND MAGIC.
ONE THING ANY GENDER CAN DO, AND
THE OTHER, NO ONE CAN.
ALSO, "BIG AND HAIRY AND UGLY?"
THIS TWINK?
PLEASE.
AND LOOK, WE'RE ALMOST CERTAINLY
NOT DONE LEARNING THINGS ABOUT
ROBINSON.
BUT THE DEPRESSING TRUTH IS,
HE'S NOT AN OUTLIER.
HE'S A PRETTY GOOD MARKER FOR
WHERE HIS PARTY IS TODAY.
BECAUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE GOTTEN
STEADILY MORE RADICALIZED ON
SITES LIKE FACEBOOK, AND IT WAS
JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL
ONLINE TROLLS CROSSED OVER FROM
RANTING ABOUT POLICY TO WRITING
IT.
IT'S ALL PRETTY BLEAK, AND
HOPEFULLY, IF THE PEOPLE OF
NORTH CAROLINA DO THE RIGHT
THING, THE NUMBER OF YEARS THIS
PARTICULAR TROLL SERVES AS
GOVERNOR WON'T BE TWO PLUS TWO.
IT'LL BE FUCKING ZERO.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW,
COLLAR SHOW ONCE AGAIN WHY THEY
ARE AMERICA THEIR BEST.
>> I AM A 25-YEAR-OLD TURNING 26
SO I'M STILL UNDER MY PARENT'S
HEALTH CARE.
WITH MY BIRTHDAY COMING UP I
HAVE TO SWITCH OVER.
>> IS COST A CONCERN?
>> YEAH, OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE A
TINY PENIS.
>> ERIC FROM CEDARTOWN GEORGIA.
>> IF YOU LOSE WEIGHT, WHAT WILL
HAPPEN?
>> WELL, IF YOU LOSE 5 POUNDS,
THE MALE WILL GAIN 1 INCH ON HIS
PENIS.
>> ALL THIS HAPPENING, I DIG
ABOUT THE COMPARISON, I CAN'T
REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I WAS
ABLE TO RENEW MY SUBSCRIPTIONS
FOR MY PENIS ENLARGEMENT.
>> NEXT OUT.
>> I WAS IN D.C. LAST WEEK AND I
HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING THE
WASHINGTON MONUMENT AND BELIEVE
IT OR NOT, IT LOOKED EXACTLY
LIKE MY ERECT PENIS.
>> WE ARE MOVING ON.
>> THIS GUY TOLD ME I HAD A TINY
COCK.
>> WE ARE MOVING ON TO MICHAEL
IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.
>> HI, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW
MY DICK IS THE HUGEST VIEW FIVE.
>> RUSSELL, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
>> THAT'S VERY NICE OF YOU.
>> AND OF COURSE, MITT ROMNEY
HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS OR AS THE
VICTORY IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE
PRIMARY, I WAS WONDERING HOW BIG
IS MITT ROMNEY'S PENIS?
[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
MEDICINE.
THE THING THAT TUMS TECHNICALLY
ARE, EVEN THOUGH PERSONALLY, I
CONSIDER THEM CANDY.
MEDICINE IS OBVIOUSLY A
HIGH-STAKES PROFESSION, AND
MISTAKES CAN HAPPEN, AS
EVIDENCED BY SCENES LIKE THIS,
FROM THE PROCEDURAL DRAMA
"911: LONE STAR."
>> FRED?
NO PULSE.
I'M STARTING COMPRESSIONS.
MEDICAL'S HERE.
>> John: OKAY, YOU'VE PROBABLY
GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO LET'S
DIVE IN.
"WHY DID THAT GUY'S CHEST CAVE
IN?"
HE WAS FROZEN.
"HOW DID HE GET SO FROZEN?"
HE GO STUCK IN HIS IN-HOME
CRYOTHERAPY CHAMBER.
"WHAT?"
HE WAS A BILLIONAIRE WHO HAD A
CRYOTHERAPY CHAMBER IN HIS HOME,
AND GOT STUCK IN IT AFTER
ENTERING THE WRONG SETTING AND
AFTER GETTING PARALYZED BECAUSE
OF THE POISON HE'D BEEN TRYING
TO USE TO KILL HIS WIFE -- THE
BLONDE LADY -- WITH WHOM HE HAD
AN OPEN MARRIAGE, AND WHO, YES,
GOOD GUESS, WAS FUCKING ROB
LOWE.
AND FINALLY, WHY WAS THAT MAN'S
CHEST HOLLOW?"
HONESTLY, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT
THAT ONE.
I DIDN'T THINK COLD TEMPERATURES
AUTOMATICALLY TURNED HUMAN
BEINGS INTO HOLLOW CHOCOLATE
BUNNIES, BUT I ADMIT, I'M NOT A
DOCTOR.
AND LOOK, IN THAT CASE, THE
MISTAKE OF PERFORMING CHEST
COMPRESSIONS ON A MAN WHO'S
FROZEN SOLID, AT MOST, ADDED
INSULT TO INJURY.
BUT IN OTHER INSTANCES, MEDICAL
ERRORS CAN HAVE FAR MORE DIRE
CONSEQUENCES.
AND THEY'RE MORE COMMON THAN YOU
MIGHT THINK -- A 2016 ANALYSIS
CONCLUDED THAT MORE THAN 250,000
DEATHS PER YEAR ARE DUE TO
MEDICAL ERROR IN THE U.S.,
MAKING IT THE THIRD LEADING
CAUSE OF DEATH.
NOW, I SHOULD SAY-- MOST OF
THOSE ERRORS ARE SYSTEMIC,
ROOTED IN THINGS LIKE POORLY
COORDINATED CARE OR FRAGMENTED
INSURANCE NETWORKS.
AND GOOD DOCTORS CAN MAKE HONEST
MISTAKES -- THE HUMAN BODY,
AFTER ALL, IS A SLOPPY PUZZLE OF
WET NOOKS AND DRY CRANNIES.
EVERY INCH OF THIS SKINSACK IS
CONFUSING.
SO LET ME BE CLEAR: THIS ISN'T
GOING TO BE A TAKEDOWN OF
MEDICINE.
I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SPIN THIS
INTO A HEADLINE THAT SAYS
"JOHN OLIVER, CHAMPION OF
ILLNESS AND DEATH, FINALLY
DESTROYS DOCTORS."
DOCTORS ARE GREAT!
THEY'RE ONE OF THE TOP THINGS
ANY PARENT WOULD SAY THEY WANT
THEIR KIDS TO BE, BESIDES
ENGINEERS AND "JUST LIKE, NOT
ANNOYING."
THE VAST MAJORITY OF DOCTORS ARE
DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO
STRIVE TO MEET REASONABLE
STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THEIR
PATIENTS.
BUT A SMALL FRACTION AREN'T, AND
CAN END UP DOING SHIT LIKE THIS:
>> A DOCTOR PERFORMED SURGERY ON
THE WRONG BABY.
>> THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR
OPERATING ON THE WRONG BABY.
>> INVESTIGATORS SAY THE
52-YEAR-OLD DOCTOR ACTUALLY
ADMITTED TO USING DRUGS WHILE
CONDUCTING HIS MEDICAL PRACTICE.
>> IN VIDEOS SHE POSTED ONLINE,
DR. WINDELL DAVIS-BOUTTE IS BOTH
DANCING DERMATOLOGIST AND
SINGING SURGEON.
SHE MUGS FOR THE CAMERA AND RAPS
WITH AN UNCONSCIOUS PATIENT
INCHES AWAY.
>> ♪ GUT DON'T LIVE HERE
ANYMORE. ♪
>> John: LOOK, THERE ARE MANY
SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S
APPROPRIATE TO DANCE -- LIKE AT
A WEDDING, OR WHEN A CARTOON
RACIST SHOOTS AT YOUR FEET, OR
ON A CERTAIN GRAVE.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF SURGERY IS
NOT ON THE LIST!
THERE'S A REASON THE HIPPOCRATIC
OATH DOESN'T GO: FIRST, DO NOT
HARM.
THEN, SLIDE TO THE LEFT!
THAT DOCTOR, UNSURPRISINGLY, HAS
BEEN SUED MULTIPLE TIMES BY
PATIENTS, WHO CLAIMED HER
NEGLIGENCE LEFT THEM DISFIGURED
AND, IN ONE CASE, BRAIN DAMAGED.
AND THOSE SORTS OF ERRORS --
ONES CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE,
INCOMPETENCE, OR MISCONDUCT --
ARE A CAUSE FOR SERIOUS CONCERN.
BECAUSE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF
DOCTORS CAN COMMIT A LOT OF THEM
IN FACT, ONE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT
LESS THAN TWO PERCENT OF
PHYSICIANS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR
HALF THE MONEY PAID OUT IN
MALPRACTICE SUITS OVER 25 YEARS.
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS, THERE'S A
REGULATORY BODY THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO PROTECT US FROM BAD DOCTORS:
STATE MEDICAL BOARDS.
THESE ARE PANELS WHOSE JOB IT IS
TO ISSUE LICENSES, SUSPEND THEM,
OR IN EXTREME CASES, TAKE THEM
AWAY.
HOSPITALS CAN FIRE A DOCTOR,
PATIENTS CAN SUE THEM, BUT ONLY
A STATE MEDICAL BOARD CAN ENSURE
THEY NEVER PRACTICE MEDICINE IN
YOUR STATE AGAIN.
THAT DANCING DOCTOR WAS
SUSPENDED BY HER STATE'S BOARD.
BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY
RARE OCCURRENCE.
BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE OF
PHYSICIANS WHO FACE ANY SORT OF
REAL CONSEQUENCES FROM MEDICAL
BOARDS CAN BE SURPRISINGLY LOW.
ONE STUDY FOUND THAT,
NATIONWIDE, OF NEARLY 900
PHYSICIANS WHO HAD BEEN JUDGED
BY THEIR OWN PEERS TO BE AN
IMMEDIATE THREAT TO HEALTH OR
SAFETY, ONLY AROUND HALF HAD
EVER HAD LICENSURE ACTION TAKEN
AGAINST THEM.
AND EVEN SOME DOCTORS WILL TELL
YOU THIS IS A PROBLEM.
LIKE THIS ONE, WHO ACTUALLY RAN
MISSISSIPPI'S MEDICAL BOARD.
>> WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO REALIZE IS
THAT THE MEDICAL BOARD IS NOT A
SUBSTANTIAL BARRIER TO THEM
BEING INJURED BY A PHYSICIAN.
>> John: WELL, THAT'S NOT GREAT.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LEAST
REASSURING THINGS A DOCTOR COULD
SAY, BESIDES "OOPSIES!"
OR "I'M RUNNING FOR SENATE."
SO GIVEN THAT THESE BOARDS SEEM
SO LAX, AND THE STAKES ARE SO
HIGH, TONIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT
STATE MEDICAL BOARDS.
AND LET'S START WITH HOW THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO WORK.
WHILE BOARDS' PROCESSES VARY
WIDELY FROM STATE TO STATE, VERY
BASICALLY, WHEN A BOARD GETS A
COMPLAINT, THEY REVIEW IT AND IF
THEY FIND IT CREDIBLE,
INVESTIGATE.
AND IF THEY WANT TO TAKE ACTION
-- LIKE SUSPENDING OR TAKING
AWAY A LICENSE -- THAT CAN START
A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
THE DOCTOR AND THE BOARD.
SO IT'S A LONG PROCESS THAT CAN
BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
WHICH IS A PROBLEM, GIVEN THAT
MANY MEDICAL BOARDS ARE STRAPPED
FOR RESOURCES.
CALIFORNIA'S, FOR INSTANCE, HAS
OPENLY CALLED ITSELF "SEVERELY
UNDERFUNDED," AND AN OUTSIDE
MONITOR FOUND THAT THAT'S LED TO
"DELAYS, DISRUPTIONS, AND OTHER
INVESTIGATION DEFICIENCIES."
AND THAT MAY HELP EXPLAIN WHY,
IN MANY STATES, CASES CAN MOVE
SLOWLY.
ONE LOCAL-NEWS INVESTIGATION IN
NEVADA FOUND THAT SOME CASES HAD
SPENT UP TO SEVEN YEARS UNDER
INVESTIGATION WITH NO
RESOLUTION.
AND THINK ABOUT THAT: THAT
MEANS, IF A CASE WAS RESOLVED
TODAY, IT COULD'VE BEEN FILED IN
2017!
IN THAT TIME FRAME, WE'VE HAD A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC, A PRESIDENT WHO
LOOKED DIRECTLY AT A SOLAR
ECLIPSE, AN ARMED INSURRECTION,
A DIFFERENT PRESIDENT WHO ENDED
A SPEECH ON GUN CONTROL WITH
"GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, MAN," A
SOPHIE TURNER-JOE JONAS WEDDING,
A SOPHIE TURNER-JOE JONAS
DIVORCE, AND THE ENTIRE SERIES
RUN OF
"THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL."
7 YEARS IS JUST 7 YEARS, BUT
IT'S ALSO 6,000 YEARS.
AND ALL THE WHILE, DOCTORS CAN
CONTINUE TO PRACTICE.
BOARDS CAN CONTINUE
DELIBERATING, EVEN IF A DOCTOR'S
BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME.
TAKE DR. GHYASUDDIN SYED.
A FEW YEARS AGO, HE PLED GUILTY
TO CONSPIRACY FOR FUNNELING LAB
TESTING TO A COMPANY IN EXCHANGE
FOR KICKBACKS -- BUT EVEN AFTER
THAT, TEXAS'S MEDICAL BOARD WAS
STILL DECIDING WHAT TO DO ABOUT
HIS LICENSE.
WHICH IS ESPECIALLY WILD,
BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT HIS FIRST
GO-AROUND WITH THE BOARD.
>> IN 2016, THE BOARD FOUND SYED
HAD FAILED TO MEET AN ADEQUATE
STANDARD OF CARE.
IN 2019, THE BOARD FOUND HE WAS
PRESCRIBING DRUGS TO PATIENTS HE
SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN.
AND JUST LAST YEAR, THE BOARD
RULED THE DOCTOR BEHAVED
INAPPROPRIATELY WITH THREE
FEMALE PATIENTS.
SYED KEPT HIS MEDICAL LICENSE
THROUGH ALL OF IT.
HAS IT RIGHT NOW.
IS STILL SEEING PATIENTS!
>> I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN CONVICTED
OF A SERIOUS CRIME BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> YEAH, I -- YEAH.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO REPORT TO
PRISON IN A FEW MONTHS.
>> YEAH.
>> John: THAT'S SOME ODDLY
UPBEAT ENERGY, GIVEN THE
QUESTION HE'S RESPONDING TO
THERE.
BUT THINK ABOUT THAT -- HE WAS
STILL PRACTICING MEDICINE WHEN
THAT INTERVIEW HAPPENED!
FOR ALL WE KNOW THERE WAS A
PATIENT WAITING FOR THEIR
APPOINTMENT TO START, WONDERING
WHAT THE HOLDUP WAS, AND THEN A
NURSE CAME IN AND SAID,
"DR. SYED WILL BE RIGHT WITH
YOU, HE'S CURRENTLY ON THE NEWS
ADMITTING, WEIRDLY HAPPILY, THAT
HE'S GOING TO PRISON.
JUST GO AHEAD AND PUT ON A
GOWN."
AND THE FACT THAT DOCTORS CAN
KEEP TREATING PATIENTS WHILE
THEIR CASE GOES THROUGH THE
SYSTEM CAN BE INFURIATING TO
ANYONE WHO GETS HURT IN THAT
TIME.
TAKE THIS WOMAN, WHO SAYS SHE
UNDERWENT A BOTCHED COSMETIC
SURGERY THAT RESULTED IN SEPSIS
AND AN UNPLANNED DOUBLE
MASTECTOMY.
IT WAS ONLY AFTERWARDS THAT SHE
LEARNED SOME TROUBLING DETAILS
ABOUT HER DOCTOR, AND A PRIOR
CASE HE'D HAD WHERE A PATIENT
DIED.
>> THE MEDICAL BOARD OF
CALIFORNIA HAD ACTUALLY REACHED
A DECISION ABOUT DR. MALAVI IN
THE 2018 PATIENT DEATH THIS PAST
MAY, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL OCTOBER
THAT DECISION TOOK EFFECT AND
MALAVI'S MEDICAL LICENSE WAS
SUSPENDED.
IT WAS WITHIN THAT FIVE-MONTH
WINDOW IN AUGUST -- BEFORE ANY
DISCIPLINE -- THAT MILLIE HAD
HER SURGERY.
>> I THINK THAT THINGS NEED TO
CHANGE.
I THINK THAT THE LAWS NEED TO
CHANGE.
I THINK THE MEDICAL BOARD NEEDS
TO CHANGE.
I MEAN, I'M A HAIRDRESSER AND
THE STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY
IS SO ON YOU.
I MEAN, FOR HAIR.
WHY ISN'T IT LIKE THAT FOR OUR
DOCTORS?
>> John: SHE'S RIGHT.
AND LOOK, I SAY THIS AS SOMEONE
WHO HAS GONE THROUGH MY FAIR
SHARE OF HIGH-STAKES HAIR
BUTCHERINGS IN THE PAST -- BUT
EVEN I THINK MEDICINE SHOULD BE
REGULATED MORE TIGHTLY THAN
HAIR.
SO MEDICAL BOARDS CAN BE
UNDERFUNDED AND SLOW, AND
PATIENTS CAN SUFFER IN THE GAPS.
BUT THE PROBLEM ISN'T JUST ONE
OF RESOURCES, IT'S ALSO WHO'S ON
THESE BOARDS.
BECAUSE MOST ARE MADE UP HEAVILY
OF DOCTORS.
WHICH MAKES SENSE!
THERE ARE MANY SCENARIOS WHERE
PHYSICIANS HAVE TO MAKE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT ONLY
OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS CAN
EFFECTIVELY JUDGE.
BUT IT'S GENERALLY AGREED THAT
BOARDS SHOULD ALSO FEATURE
PUBLIC MEMBERS, LIKE ADVOCATES,
WHO CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
PATIENTS.
THE THING IS, THAT DOESN'T
ALWAYS HAPPEN.
THE FEDERATION OF STATE MEDICAL
BOARDS RECOMMENDS THE PUBLIC
SHOULD MAKE UP A QUARTER OF EACH
BOARD'S MEMBERSHIP, BUT ONLY
ABOUT HALF THE BOARDS ACROSS THE
NATION MEET THAT STANDARD.
IN FACT, UP UNTIL RECENTLY,
LOUISIANA'S BOARD DIDN'T HAVE A
SINGLE MEMBER WHO WASN'T A
PHYSICIAN.
AND THAT CAN BE A PROBLEM,
BECAUSE DOCTORS TEND TO PROTECT
THEIR OWN.
JUST LISTEN TO THIS MAN, WHO
SERVED AS ONE OF THE
NON-PHYSICIAN MEMBERS ON
CALIFORNIA'S BOARD, DESCRIBE
WHAT HE SAW IN THE ROOM.
>> THE WAY THEY SPEAK IS ALWAYS
WITH DOCTOR CARE IN MIND.
YOU NEVER HEAR PATIENT CARE
EVER.
AND, I MEAN, EVER.
>> DO YOU THINK THE WAY THE
MEDICAL BOARD FUNCTIONS IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ACTUALLY
ENDS UP COSTING PATIENT LIVES?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IT
COSTS PATIENTS' LIVES.
>> John: YEAH, IT'S NOT IDEAL IF
A BOARD NEVER THINKS OF PATIENT
CARE, SINCE PATIENT CARE IS KIND
OF DOCTORS' WHOLE THING.
WITHOUT PATIENTS, DOCTORS ARE
REALLY JUST FAILED URINE
COLLECTORS.
THAT GUY HAS ACTUALLY CALLED FOR
CALIFORNIA TO BE MUCH STRICTER
WITH PHYSICIAN MISCONDUCT, AND
IT'S KIND OF TELLING THE EXTENT
TO WHICH SOME OF THE DOCTORS WHO
SERVED ON THAT BOARD WITH HIM
DIDN'T APPRECIATE HIS INPUT.
>> ONE PHYSICIAN MEMBER ON THE
BOARD CHASTISED WATKINS LAST
MONTH FOR ROCKING THE BOAT.
>> IN MY EIGHT YEARS ON THIS
BOARD, I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED
ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER WHO HAS
BEEN SO NEGATIVE ABOUT OUR
PROCESS AS MR. WATKINS.
>> John: WOW, THAT'S PRETTY
HARSH.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE
NOT ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER PERSON
WHO LOOKS MORE LIKE A LONG LOST
MEMBER OF THE TRUMP LEGAL TEAM.
HE LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE YOU'D
EXPECT TO SEE SELLING SCALPED
TICKETS FOR A BON JOVI CONCERT
OUTSIDE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
I COULD GO ON, BUT I WON'T.
EXCEPT, I'LL DO ONE MORE.
HE LOOKS LIKE THE "BEFORE" PHOTO
IN A ROGAINE COMMERCIAL STARRING
AL PACINO.
OKAY, NOW I'M ACTUALLY DONE.
ALSO, SAYING YOU'VE NEVER
ENCOUNTERED SOMEONE SO NEGATIVE
ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL BOARD'S
PROCESS MIGHT SAY LESS ABOUT
THAT GUY, THAN IT DOES ABOUT
YOUR PROCESS.
BECAUSE RETICENCE ABOUT
PUNISHING FELLOW DOCTORS IS PART
OF A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM IN THE
CULTURE OF MEDICINE -- IT'S A
PHENOMENON SO COMMON, IT'S BEEN
CALLED "THE WHITE COAT CODE OF
SILENCE."
IN FACT, EVEN WHEN MEDICAL
BOARDS INITIALLY HAND DOWN
HARSHER PUNISHMENTS, DOCTORS CAN
STILL NEGOTIATE LIGHTER
SANCTIONS WITH THEM -- WHICH
BOARDS, TOO OFTEN, CAN CONTRIVE
WEIRD EXCUSES TO DO.
TAKE THIS CASE, OF A DOCTOR
WHO WAS ILLEGALLY CONVICTED,
WHO'D WRITTEN PRESCRIPTIONS FOR
OVER A MILLION PAIN PILLS.
>> IN 2016, THE BOARD'S OWN
RECORDS SHOW HE WAS SUSPENDED
FOR OPERATING AN UNLICENSED PAIN
MANAGEMENT CLINIC, WHERE NEARLY
10,000 PRESCRIPTIONS FOR
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES WERE
WRITTEN.
BUT 10 MONTHS LATER, THE BOARD
LIFTED HIS SUSPENSION.
IN ITS RECORDS, THE BOARD CITES
FACTORS LIKE HE EXPRESSED
REMORSE, HAD A GENUINE
MISUNDERSTANDING OF PAIN
MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND WAS
A VERY YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED
PHYSICIAN, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS 46
AT THE TIME, AND HAD BEEN
PRACTICING FOR OVER A DECADE.
>> John: YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF
46 COUNTS AS "YOUNG AND
INEXPERIENCED."
I'M 46, AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
JOB FOR OVER A DECADE, AND
PEOPLE COULD SAY MANY THINGS
ABOUT ME.
"HE'S SQUAWKY," "HE'S HYPER,"
"HE'D SEEM MORE LIKE A COKED-UP
SOTHEBY'S AUCTIONEER THAN A
COMEDIAN IF IT WEREN'T FOR HOW
MUCH HE HATES EVERYTHING ABOUT
SOTHEBY'S" -- BUT NO ONE WOULD
SAY "VERY YOUNG AND
INEXPERIENCED."
IT'S JUST OBJECTIVELY NOT TRUE.
THIS LENIENCY CAN EVEN EXTEND TO
DOCTORS WHO'VE ENGAGED IN SEXUAL
MISCONDUCT.
A 2016 INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT
SOME DOCTORS WHO'D SEXUALLY
VIOLATED PATIENTS WERE RETURNED
TO PRACTICE WITH AS LITTLE AS A
THREE-DAY COURSE ON APPROPRIATE
DOCTOR-PATIENT BOUNDARIES.
WHICH REALLY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
ENOUGH.
IF YOU ASKED ME TO GUESS HOW
LONG THEY SHOULD FACE DISCIPLINE
FOR, I'D DEFINITELY SAY
"SOMETHING LONGER THAN ONE
LOLLAPALOOZA."
IN FACT, NATIONWIDE, THAT
INVESTIGATION FOUND "OF THE
2,400 DOCTORS PUBLICLY
DISCIPLINED FOR SEXUAL
MISCONDUCT, HALF STILL HAD
ACTIVE MEDICAL LICENSES."
AND THIS WAS PARTICULARLY BAD IN
SOME STATES -- "GEORGIA AND
KANSAS, FOR EXAMPLE, ALLOWED TWO
OF EVERY THREE OF THOSE DOCTORS
TO RETURN TO PRACTICE" WHILE "IN
MINNESOTA, IT WAS FOUR OF EVERY
FIVE."
WHICH IS SO BAD, I'D LIKE TO
PROPOSE A NEW STATE SLOGAN FOR
MINNESOTA: LAND OF 10,000 --
ACTUALLY, FORGET ABOUT OUR
LAKES, SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE
DOCTORS HERE.
JESUS."
SO, TO RECAP: PUNISHMENTS FOR
DOCTORS CAN BE RARE, LIGHT, AND
DANGEROUSLY SLOW IN COMING.
AND THERE'S ONE MORE ISSUE HERE,
WHICH IS THAT YOU MAY SIMPLY
NEVER FIND OUT ABOUT THEM.
A RECENT SURVEY FOUND IT REMAINS
TOO DIFFICULT FOR THE PUBLIC TO
FIND COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT
PHYSICIANS ON THEIR STATE
MEDICAL BOARD WEBSITES, DUE BOTH
TO POORLY DESIGNED AND CONFUSING
WEBSITES, AND TO GAPS IN THE
TYPES OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT
SOMETIMES, THE ONLY WAY PEOPLE
LEARN ABOUT A DOCTOR'S PAST IS
IF A NEWS ORGANIZATION LOOKS
INTO IT.
THIS MAN'S MOTHER WAS LEFT
PARALYZED AFTER A SPINAL
SURGERY, AND WHEN CBS LOOKED
INTO THE DOCTOR INVOLVED, THEY
DISCOVERED SOME AWFUL FACTS.
>> WE DUG THROUGH STATED AND
COURT RECORDS AND FOUND THAT DR.
SVABEK LOST HIS SURGICAL
PRIVILEGES AT TWO INDIANAPOLIS
HOSPITALS AFTER HIS "PRACTICE
FELL BELOW THE STANDARD OF CARE"
AND CONCERNS WERE RAISED ABOUT
HIS "HONESTY AND TRUTHFULNESS."
>> DR. SVABEK HAS SETTLED FIVE
SUITS OVER MORE THAN A DECADE,
THE MOST OF ANY ORTHOPEDIC
SURGEON IN INDIANA IN THE LAST
20 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE OF
THIS OR NOT.
>> I HAD NO IDEA.
>> YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE WHEN
WHERE YOU BUY A CAR, IT HAS A
CARFAX.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A
DOCTOR SHOULD HAVE A DOCTOR FAX.
>> John: YEAH, THERE PROBABLY
SHOULD BE!
BECAUSE DOCTORS KNOW EVERYTHING
ABOUT US -- IF WE SMOKE, IF
WE'RE DEPRESSED, HOW DEEP ALL OF
OUR HOLES GO -- BUT WE KNOW NEXT
TO NOTHING ABOUT THEM.
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS, THERE
ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT
-- THE NATIONAL PRACTITIONER
DATA BANK, OR NPDB.
IT'S A FEDERAL REPOSITORY OF
INFORMATION ON MEDICAL
PRACTITIONERS, INCLUDING BOARD
DISCIPLINE, HOSPITAL DISCIPLINE,
AND MALPRACTICE PAYMENTS.
WHICH SOUNDS GREAT!
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T ACCESS
IT -- IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE TO
HOSPITALS, MEDICAL BOARDS AND A
FEW SELECT MEDICAL AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.
ON TOP OF WHICH, NOT ALL PROBLEM
DOCTORS SHOW UP IN IT.
IN FACT, OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS,
OF THE OVER 6,000 HOSPITALS IN
THIS COUNTRY, ONLY AROUND A
THIRD SUBMITTED AT LEAST ONE
REPORT ON ACTION THEY'VE TAKEN
AGAINST A DOCTOR.
WHICH FEELS SUSPICIOUS, BECAUSE
I DOUBT TWO-THIRDS OF HOSPITALS
HAVE GONE 13 YEARS WITHOUT A
SINGLE DOCTOR FUCKING UP.
AND ONE REASON FOR THAT IS,
HOSPITALS CAN FIND WAYS TO SKIRT
THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
FOR INSTANCE, THEY'RE REQUIRED
TO REPORT A DOCTOR WHO LOSES
PRIVILEGES FOR MORE THAN 30
DAYS, BUT SOMETIMES, HOSPITALS
WILL JUST LIMIT THE TERM TO 29
DAYS, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
REPORTED.
AND THIS CAN BE FOR MULTIPLE
REASONS, INCLUDING THAT THEY
MIGHT HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN
THEIR DOCTORS' REPUTATIONS.
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THIS
TOP-EARNING CARDIAC SURGEON WAS
ONCE FEATURED IN ADS FOR HIS
HOSPITAL.
BUT EVEN AS HE RACKED UP ONE OF
THE WORST SURGICAL MALPRACTICE
RECORDS AMONG ALL PHYSICIANS IN
THE UNITED STATES, HE WASN'T
REPORTED TO THE NPDB.
AND EVEN AFTER A SERIOUS
INCIDENT -- WHEN HE WAS ON CALL,
BUT "DID NOT COME TO THE
HOSPITAL FOR HOURS DESPITE
REPEATED PHONE REQUESTS TO DEAL
WITH A PATIENT HAVING A
LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION" --
HE WAS SUSPENDED FOR 28 DAYS, A
NUMBER CONVENIENTLY JUST SHY OF
WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN REQUIRED FOR
HIM TO BE REPORTED TO THE
DATABASE.
AND I'D SAY THAT WAS THE MOST
SHAMELESS COVERUP IN A HOSPITAL
I'VE EVER SEEN, BUT I HAVE SEEN
THIS EPISODE OF "MELROSE PLACE"
WHERE DR. KIMBERLY SHAW TRIES TO
THROW PEOPLE OFF THE SCENT OF
HER INVOLVEMENT IN A
HIT-AND-RUN.
>> THINK ABOUT IT.
THE DRIVER OF THAT CAR WAS
WEARING A SHORT BLOND WIG.
NOW, HOW COULD I GET ALL THIS
HAIR BENEATH SOMETHING LIKE
THAT?
>> DOES THIS ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION?
>> YOU'RE A DEAD MAN, FIELDING.
>> John: THAT IS TELEVISION
RIGHT THERE.
STEP ASIDE, "911 LONE STAR,"
MELROSE PLACE WALKED SO THAT YOU
COULD RUN.
BUT EVEN IF A DOCTOR IS REPORTED
TO THE DATABASE, THAT REPORT
STILL MIGHT NOT BE SEEN.
BECAUSE INCREDIBLY, SOME STATE
MEDICAL BOARDS SIMPLY DON'T
CHECK IT WHEN GRANTING LICENSES
TO DOCTORS WHO'VE MOVED FROM OUT
OF STATE.
IN 2017, THIRTEEN STATE BOARDS
DIDN'T CHECK IT ONCE.
AND SOME STATES, INCLUDING --
UNTIL RECENTLY -- TEXAS, EVEN
EMPLOY AN HONOR-SYSTEM APPROACH,
WHICH RELIES ON PHYSICIANS TO
SELF-REPORT.
BUT GUESS WHAT?
THE BAD DOCTORS TEND NOT TO DO
THAT, BECAUSE THEY'RE BAD
DOCTORS.
SO UNSURPRISINGLY, WHEN A TEXAS
NEWS STATION BOTHERED TO LOOK
INTO WHO WAS PRACTICING IN THEIR
STATE, THEY FOUND 49 DOCTORS
WHO'D HAD THEIR MEDICAL LICENSES
SUSPENDED, SURRENDERED OR
REVOKED IN OTHER STATES.
AND SOME OF THE STORIES WERE
SHOCKING.
>> AMONG THE DOCTORS CURRENTLY
PRACTICING IN TEXAS, A COLORADO
NEUROSURGEON DISCIPLINED FOR
PERFORMING SURGERY ON THE WRONG
SPINAL DISC.
A WISCONSIN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
WHOSE LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED
INDEFINITELY FOR OPERATING ON A
PATIENT WHILE INTOXICATED.
AND A FLORIDA DOCTOR REPRIMANDED
FOR PRESCRIBING, QUOTE,
"EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF
OXYCODONE LEADING TO A PATIENT'S
DEATH."
ALL OF THEM STILL SHOWING A
CLEAN RECORD IN TEXAS.
>> John: YEAH.
A SURGEON WHO OPERATED ON THE
WRONG PART OF SOMEONE'S SPINE
STILL HAD A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
IN TEXAS.
AND YOU KNOW WHO PROBABLY
DOESN'T?
HIS FUCKING PATIENT.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST TEXAS, AT
LEAST 500 PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE
BEEN PUBLICLY DISCIPLINED,
CHASTISED, OR BARRED FROM
PRACTICING BY ONE STATE MEDICAL
BOARD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO
PRACTICE ELSEWHERE WITH A CLEAN
LICENSE.
AND SOME HAVE ALMOST MADE AN ART
OF IT, LIKE THIS COSMETIC
SURGEON, WHO WAS DISCIPLINED IN
2015 AFTER A PATIENT'S DEATH IN
OREGON.
HE THEN BEGAN PRACTICING IN
ILLINOIS, WHERE HE WAS
INVESTIGATED AFTER ANOTHER
PATIENT DIED IN 2016.
FIVE YEARS AFTER THAT, ILLINOIS'
MEDICAL BOARD DECLARED HIM AN
IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND
SUSPENDED HIM FOR AT LEAST 18
MONTHS.
BUT YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT
HAPPENED NEXT.
>> DESPITE BEING FOUND TO BE
GROSSLY NEGLIGENT IN MULTIPLE
CASES ACROSS TWO STATES,
DR. SHARMA STILL HELD AN ACTIVE
MEDICAL LICENSE IN ONE STATE:
INDIANA.
>> WE'RE WORKING LATE TODAY,
OKAY --
>> AND AS WE DISCOVERED --
>> WE'RE PARTWAY THROUGH THE
TRANSFORMATION.
>> HE'S ACTIVELY PRACTICING
THERE TODAY.
>> John: YEAH, HE WASN'T JUST
STILL PRACTICING, HE WAS
BROADCASTING IT ONLINE, TOO.
AND GENERAL TIP, IF ANY PART OF
YOUR "GET READY WITH ME" ROUTINE
INVOLVES SCRUBBING UP, JUST STOP
RECORDING RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A FEW THINGS I
JUST NEVER WANT TO SEE MY DOCTOR
DO: CRY, GET DRUNK, OR SAY "HEY
GUYS, WELCOME TO MY CHANNEL,
WE'RE WORKIN' LATE TONIGHT" OVER
MY UNCONSCIOUS NUDE BODY.
BUT THE LARGER FACT IS, IF
YOU'RE A DOCTOR WITH A TRAIL OF
IRREPARABLE HARM BEHIND YOU, IT
SEEMS YOU CAN JUST HOP AROUND
UNTIL YOU FIND A STATE THAT'LL
LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
IT'S JUST ONE OF WAYS THAT
DOCTORS ARE LIKE CATHOLIC
PRIESTS, ALONG WITH THE FUN
OUTFITS THAT ARE JUST FANCY
PAJAMAS AND THINKING THEY'RE
BASICALLY GOD.
AND INCIDENTALLY, IF YOU WANT TO
CHECK YOURSELF WHETHER A
DOCTOR'S BEEN DISCIPLINED
OUT-OF-STATE, THAT MIGHT BE
DIFFICULT.
BECAUSE A SURVEY A FEW YEARS AGO
FOUND THAT THE MEDICAL BOARD
WEBSITES IN ALL THESE PLACES
DON'T INCLUDE ACTIONS TAKEN IN
OTHER STATES.
HONESTLY, BASED ON WHAT WE'VE
SEEN SO FAR, THE BEST THING YOU
CAN DO AS A PATIENT TO
SUCCESSFULLY VET YOUR DOCTOR
MIGHT BE TO CHECK TIKTOK TO SEE
IF THEY'RE POSTING VIDEOS OF
THEIR SURGERIES ONLINE, BECAUSE
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY
SUREFIRE SIGN OF DISASTER.
SO, WHAT CAN WE DO?
WELL, FIRST, WE NEED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DOCTORS HAVE
POWERFUL LOBBYING GROUPS THAT
HAVE FOUGHT MEDICAL BOARD
REFORM HARD, SO CHANGE IS GOING
TO BE DIFFICULT.
HOW DIFFICULT?
WELL, IN RESEARCHING THIS STORY,
WE FOUND THIS CBS REPORT FROM
NEARLY FORTY YEARS AGO THAT
COULD'VE AIRED LAST WEEK.
IT FEATURED A BAD DOCTOR WHO'D
MOVED FROM STATE TO STATE TO
STATE TO AVOID CONSEQUENCES, AND
THIS EXPLANATION OF THE LARGER
PROBLEM.
>> THE MASSACHUSETTS BOARD,
INDEED, MOST STATE BOARDS,
SUFFER FROM UNDERFINANCING,
UNDERSTAFFING, AND
UNDER-ORGANIZATION.
THE BOARD HERE EMPLOYS ONLY TWO
INVESTIGATORS.
STAFFED MOSTLY BY DOCTORS,
CONSUMERS, LAWMAKERS AND EVEN
SOME DOCTORS ARE NOW ASKING
WHETHER THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
CAN POLICE ITS OWN AND STILL
PROVIDE QUALITY CARE.
>> MOST DOCTORS IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE PRACTICING GOOD MEDICINE.
MOST OF THE 400,000 DOCTORS, BUT
PERHAPS 10, 20, 30, 40,000
DOCTORS ARE NOT PRACTICING GOOD
MEDICINE.
MOST OF THEM ARE NEVER
DISCIPLINED.
IT'S TOO DANGEROUS A SITUATION
TO KEEP TOLERATING.
>> John: YEAH, IT IS TOO
DANGEROUS A SITUATION TO KEEP
TOLERATING, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE
WE'VE DONE IT.
BECAUSE THAT'S FROM FOUR DECADES
AGO.
IT'S THIS WHOLE STORY, WITH
WARNING SIGNS ABOUT FUNDING AND
CALLS FOR REFORM, AND IT'S BEEN
TOLD BY, LET'S BE HONEST, A MUCH
HOTTER ME.
BUT REGARDLESS -- YOU LAUGHED
TOO HARD AT THAT.
BUT REGARDLESS, THERE ARE SOME
OBVIOUS STEPS WE COULD TAKE.
LAWMAKERS COULD ADD MORE PUBLIC
MEMBERS TO STATE MEDICAL BOARDS,
AND INCREASE THEIR FUNDING.
THEY COULD ALSO REQUIRE THAT ALL
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TAKEN
AGAINST A DOCTOR IN WHATEVER
STATE THEY'VE WORKED IN, PLUS
INFO LIKE MALPRACTICE
SETTLEMENTS, BE EASY TO FIND ON
A PUBLIC WEBSITE.
AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING
TRANSPARENCY, THE NPDB WAS
CREATED EXACTLY FOR THAT REASON,
SO STATE BOARDS SHOULD BE
REQUIRED TO REGULARLY USE IT.
LOOK, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
DOCTORS HELP PEOPLE AND ARE
WORTHY OF THE VALUE THAT SOCIETY
PLACES IN THEM.
BUT THIS IS A FIELD THAT RELIES,
PRETTY UNIQUELY, ON ABSOLUTE
TRUST.
AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING ALL OR
EVEN MOST DOCTORS ARE BAD, NOR
AM I TELLING DOCTORS HOW TO DO
THEIR JOBS.
I'M ONLY 46, SO I'M VERY YOUNG
AND INEXPERIENCED.
BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS IT WOULD
SERVE EVERYONE -- INCLUDING
THOSE MANY GOOD DOCTORS -- TO
FIX THIS MESS, BECAUSE THE WAY
WE'VE BEEN RUNNING MEDICAL
BOARDS IS A BIT LIKE GIVING CPR
TO A FROZEN SOLID MAN.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY BAFFLING, AND I
CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE EVER
THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW,
PEOPLE ON TV LOVE TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR BIG HEADS.
>> THESE ARE CUTE BUT THEY ARE
HUGE.
>> THEY ARE HUGE.
>> MAY BE BECAUSE OUR HEADS ARE
HUGE?
>> DO HAVE ONE OF THE BIG
MELONS?
>> YOU HAVE SUCH A BIG HAT HEAD.
>> I HAVE A GIANT HEAD THAT
NEEDS TO BE COVERED.
>> I HAVE A HUGE HEAD.
IT DOESN'T MAKE MY HEAD LOOK
BIGGER?
I'VE GOT A BIG NOGGIN.
>> CAN I BORROW YOUR HAT?
>> SURE.
>> FANTASTIC.
ALWAYS NEED A HAT.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A BIG
HEAD.
>> I HAVE A GIANT HEAD.
>> HE HAS A BIG HUG.
MANY PEOPLE SAY HAVE A BIG HUG.
>> DON'T TELL ANYBODY HAVE A BIG
HEAD.
>> I MEAN, I'VE A BIG HEAD.
>> I HAVE A BIG HEAD TOO, IT
MAKES MY BUTT LOOK SMALLER.
>> WE ALWAYS PLAY WHO HAS THE
BIGGER HEAD AND GUESS WHAT?
I SAID, WHO?
SHE SAYS, YOU WIN.
>> I DID!
>> MY HEAD IS A HALF AN INCH
BIGGER THAN YOURS!
>> JUST SO YOU KNOW, AS MEASURED
BY THE PROFESSIONALS, I AM A
WINNER.
IF MY HEAD IS HUGE!
>> John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!
GOOD NIGHT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪ ♪