Permanente Medical Group CEO, Dr. Robert Pearl, invokes father’s
tragic death by medical error to further the cover up at Kaiser
[editor: Unconscionable, Dr. Pearl; simply unconscionable. We cite Kaiser Permanente Northwest's deliberate failure to report malpractice cases to Oregon regulators as required by law for THIRTEEN YEARS, keeping with Kaiser's policy that no wrongdoing has occurred unless they get caught. Kaiser California was also recently taken to task by the Medical Board of California for failure to report all of the physicians named in arbitration awards, scapegoating one physician while covering up for any others involved. Scroll down to see the related articles below, then why not send Robbie Pearl an email to let him know what you think about this Shameless PR Grab.]
Kaiser CEO Talks To ABC7 About Medical Errors
Exclusive TV Interview
By Karina Rusk
Dec. 2, 2005 - KGO — The man at the helm of Kaiser-Permanente speaks to ABC7 about a series of deadly medical mistakes and his personal connection to medical tragedy.
Dr. Robert Pearl is not only the CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, he is a son who lost his father to a medical error.
Dr. Pearl says that post operative infection took his father’s life two years ago. The Institute of Medicine says such medical errors result in as many as 98,000 preventable deaths each year.
Dr. Pearl says that 1999 report is important to him professionally and personally.
Dr. Pearl: “If you use the national numbers, he is but a statistic. As a family member it is a tragedy.
Dr. Pearl: “Had he been a member of Kaiser Permanente, he would be alive today.” [We'll give you that one, Dr. Pearl, because your family members receive special treatment at Kaiser. It is the people you are not related to that we are worried about. You know, the ones whose medical records have been mutilated by your organization to prevent them from succeeding in any kind of complaint process or legal action? And don't forget the rigged arbitration proceedings that no one in your family would ever be subjected to. Care to deny it? Put it in a press release, because we've been there and we're not buying it!]
Update 12/12/05: A physician responds
Kaiser Thrive Exposed would like to personally thank Dr. Geoff Galbraith - Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute board member; and Vice President, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Quality Improvement Management - for inspiring us to create this website. Did we make it into the top 5?
I post a physician response to Pearl’s hypocrisy here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/corphq/53200.html
[...] Deal in his demand for the resignation of The Permanente Medical Group CEO, and lead obfuscator, Dr. Robert Pearl. In the meantime, Kaiser CEO George Halvorson wants you to “be well and be green” (as [...]