A recent NBC News investigation brought to light a serious concern regarding patient safety at HCA Florida's Bayonet Point Hospital. Dr. George Giannakopoulos, a neurosurgeon of 29 years and former 10-time elected chief of staff at the hospital, has blown the whistle on incompetence and negligence resulting from HCA's cost-saving policies that he asserts have led to unnecessary fatalities.
Giannakopoulos has accused HCA of cutting staff and corners to maximize profits since the start of the pandemic. For instance, the anesthesiology team at Bayonet Point Hospital was fired and replaced with less competent practitioners who committed severe errors. One of Dr. Giannakopoulos’ patients even woke up during surgery. It was sheer luck that the patient awoke before any incisions were made.
Over a dozen surgeons at the hospital have expressed concern about patient safety, and a vote among leading surgeons at Bayonet Point Hospital unanimously agreed that the hospital was “dangerous.”
Undeniable Pattern of Neglect & Malpractice
The report highlights numerous medical malpractice and negligence instances, including 18 “near-misses” in the operating room in January 2022. Safety inspections of HCA facilities found that 70% of their Florida sites were “below average.” State regulators documented insufficient nurse staffing at the HCA facility. HCA received these findings but changed nothing; at least one man was killed due to poor staffing. The man had a headache but was unattended and didn't receive a nurse's note for 12 hours. It was later discovered that he had an aneurysm.
These major safety issues were accompanied by other troubling signs of neglect, including cleanliness and roach infestation, signs that the hospital could have trouble ensuring a safe and sterile environment.
How Many People Lost Loved Ones to HCA Negligence?
The implications of this report for medical malpractice victims are significant. Patients who have been injured or lost a loved one due to medical malpractice or negligence may need to call for a rigorous outside investigation into their care. It is unacceptable for healthcare corporations to prioritize profits over patient safety. According to NBC News, HCA has generated $16 billion in profit since 2020, while the CEO received a compensation package of $78 million. This raises serious questions about HCA’s priorities and values. The safety and well-being of patients should always be top priority; cost-cutting measures that compromise patient safety should not be tolerated. Thankfully, Dr. Giannakopoulos stepped forward to sound the alarm about these dangerous practices.
If you or a loved one have been harmed due to hospital negligence, speak with the medical malpractice attorneys at Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A. as soon as possible.