Health Department advises former patients of possible infections
The Kent County Health Department of Michigan recently advised patients who were under the care over the past 15 years of a dermatologist by the name of Dr. Robert Stokes, should undergo tests to determine whether they've been infected with viruses, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. Since April 2007, 10 former patients have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against Stokes and his medical assistant claiming he performed unnecessary procedures of which some have left lasting scars. One woman accused him of using scare tactics on her to have moles removed by claiming she had the beginning stages of cancer. After he removed moles from her 10 times and left her deeply scarred she sought a second opinion from a dermatologist who said they were not dangerous or cancerous. Nearly 15 years later she learned that Stokes not only scared her into unnecessary medical procedures, but also risked infecting her through unsanitary practices. A 74 year old man estimates he saw Stokes 75 times over a 5 year period and had 30 procedures performed on him that required the use of scalpels, sutures that could have been inadequately sterilized. Stokes told him that he had numerous moles and skin growths that tested positive for basal cell carcinoma and melanoma yet his new doctor said nothing in his records show any cancerous growths. One woman sued Stokes in 1999 when he misdiagnosed a lesion on her lip as herpes when in fact it was cancer leading to several surgeries and disfigurement. Another woman claimed he performed 104 unnecessary biopsies. Attorney William Mills, who filed the lawsuits, refused to comment pending the outcome of Stokes' sentencing in federal court on fraud charges. It's unclear how much the patients could receive in damages, since the federal government is seeking Stokes' assets. The Tort reformists should take note of such cases. As has been illustrated here, it is not in the best interests of the system to prohibit or limit damage awards.
