In an environment of Medical Malpractice Tort Reform saber rattling, abominable patient care and medical negligence is still occurring. Take for instance the recent suspension of a doctor’s license by Washington state health officials for allegedly failing to properly treat four patients. Now the question is how badly can a doctor really behave before being disciplined? In Dr. George Mathew’s case he is accused of negligence, incompetence and malpractice. His immediate suspension is remarkable because health officials reserve it for cases in which they believe a doctor’s conduct puts patients in imminent danger. According to the charges Mathew allegedly failed to treat a 69-year-old man who was suffering a heart attack. The man spent about seven hours in the ER while Mathew was asleep in the doctor's lounge. Allegedly he failed to stitch up the severely lacerated leg of a 27-year-old woman planning to discharge her. Another doctor was called in to treat her. With the third patient he allegedly ignored the severely lacerated lip of a 49-year-old woman. Another doctor had to intervene and sent her to a plastic surgeon at another hospital. The fourth patient was a 60-year-old man who had arrived at the hospital complaining of blood in his vomit and stool, Mathew allegedly ignored him for six hours until another doctor came on shift. Understandably, after being informed of the suspension the hospital quickly suspended Mathew’s privileges to work there. Furthermore, in 2005 under a different name Mathew’s was sanctioned for providing prescriptions over the Internet to patients he never saw as well as failing to keep medical records on three men he prescribed narcotics to. If the allegations against him prove true Mathew could face the revocation of his medical license. These are the type of doctors medical malpractice litigation try to protect the public from.