Malpractice Lawsuit Filed Against Oklahoma City Surgeon for Boy's Death

The family of a 16-year-old Russian boy who died after a brain stem operation in 2006 has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Oklahoma City surgeon who performed the risky procedure for free to gain publicity. 

The family of David Kurbanov filed the wrongful death lawsuit on February 10 in Oklahoma County District Court, alleging that Dr. Paul Francel's medical negligence left Kurbanov brain dead, which eventually contributed to his death a year later.

Dr. Francel performed the much-publicized surgery in October 2006 after doctors in Moscow discovered a tumor in Kurbanov's brain stem, which affected the parts of his brain that control swallowing, appetite, and balance. Following the operation, Kurbanov went into a coma and was declared brain dead in November. He died in June 2007 at the age of 16.

The Kurbanov family's lawsuit claims that Dr. Francel was more concerned with self-promotion than with providing appropriate care to their son. They also claim that Dr. Francel provided care that was below the acceptable standard of medical care.

According to the Associated Press, Dr. Francel currently faces at least 12 medical malpractice lawsuits that have been filed since June 2007, and is being investigated by the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. The doctor has agreed to stop practicing medicine while the investigation is underway.

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