The ESPN X Games is a famous motorsports, skateboarding, rollerblading, and other extreme sports competition that takes place in both the winter and summer each year. The medical director for the event was recently sued in a medical negligence and malpractice case, and was investigated by the Medical Board of California. After probing research, the doctor has had his license revoked and is facing negligence charges in court. According to the Aspen Daily News, Dr. David Chao is an orthopedic surgeon from San Diego, California.
He specializes in sports medicine and he has been a member of the X Games medical staff for years. ESPN acknowledged the fact that the doctor has been a part of their medical team since 1997 in a statement that was released earlier this week. The doctor claims that he has served as the Chief Medical Officers at more than 24 ESPN X Games for both the winter and summer competitions. Because many of the competitors try risky and extreme tricks at these games, Dr. Chao has had to work through his fair share of emergency situations. Chao was even present when Caleb Moore was killed in a snowmobile accident during the Winter X Games at Buttermilk.
Chao is also the head team physician for the San Diego Chargers NFL football team. With such an impressive resume, Chao has always been trusted and respected within the medical community. This is why it was so shocking for many when Chao was accused of gross negligence in a hip surgery which he performed in 2007. According to reports, the victim of the hip surgery was seriously injured as a result of Dr. Chao’s negligence and failure to be cautious during the surgery. After this, there were three additional surgeries in which Dr. Chao was cited for negligence. As well, he was cited for a failure to maintain the proper medical records in regards to his patient’s well-being. The case will go into a hearing, but if found guilty then Chao faces having his medical license revoked and suspended for up to a year. He can also be placed on probation as a result.
A representative at ESPN commented on the situation by saying that there are aware of the state board’s case against Chao and that they will be monitoring the situation. Dr. Chao is best known for his involvement in the death of Caleb Moore at the X-Games on January 31st. Moore was a snowmobile competitor who was attempting a backflip but was crushed by his snowmobile in the process. As a result, he was transported to Aspen Valley Hospital where the doctors discovered that he had bleeding in his heart and brain complications. He passed away in the hospital. In this situation Chao did his best to save the man and was not to blame for the untimely death. His current medical malpractice allegations have nothing to do with that incident.
While Dr. Chao has not yet been formerly convicted of his crimes, it is significant that the state medical board is considering revoking his license in response to the issue at hand. The state medical board does not always choose this course of action so this indicates that the situation is somewhat serious. Because there has been a pattern of allegations recently, it may make the situation even more serious. The California medical board only revoked 18 medical licenses last year out of 185 court cases so it is notable that he is in trouble in this regard.
As well, Chao has been removed as the team physician for the San Diego Chargers while he works through his lawsuit. He is still employed by the team even though they have replaced him in the position of team physician. Since 1998, there have been at least 28 medical malpractice charges and negligence charges filed against this doctor, and in the past two years Chao lost two medical malpractice civil lawsuits and had to pay a total of $7.4 million to the two victims of the cases.
Dr. Chao has also been charged with a DUI in the past, which he failed to tell the medical board about. He was able to satisfy punishments from the board by enrolling in an ethics program and a course in medical record keeping. As this story exemplifies, you can never be quite sure whether or not your doctor is reliable. Even physicians with impressive resumes can make dangerous or debilitating mistakes. If you were injured in a medical malpractice instance, then you have the right to seek compensation from the party at fault. Contact a local medical malpractice lawyer today to discuss your case and get started!