Complaint Review: Will E Moorehead MD

Better Off A Dead Man................ The final 14 months of my Daddy’s life August 7, 2006 Scheduled for a Lumbar Laminectomy at L2 thru L5: On a hot August morning we arrived at Renaissance Hospital in Houston, Texas at 7:00 am. Daddy said goodbye. We never dreamed our world would be turned upside down in the next 8 hours. Surgery went great, so we were told. Surgery was prolonged causing volume depletion, with significant blood loss. Postoperatively he suffered with respiratory failure, altered mental status, and required reintubation. His blood pressure dropped, heart rate went up, requiring two pressors for support, he developed some renal insufficiency, Along with paraplegia, for Daddy that was the most devastating of all.

Dr. Lipsen was called for a consultation. He ordered Heparin to treat what he thought was a massive pulmonary embolism causing the hypotension and shock. Unstable and intubated Daddy developed an infection, had over 39 blood transfusions. He lost over 60 pounds in less than a month. Every 4 hours his blood levels were checked because of the heparin. After reviewing his results for myself, seeing the lab was warning the hospital that the PTT levels very high time after time and they didn’t stop the heparin until 8/19. Daddy was suffering, he was in terrible pain, limiting his pain medication because of his blood pressure. He became depressed and basically feared for his life, with good reason.

The physician’s orders and nurses’ notes state a MRI was done on 8/14 and Dr. Moorehead received the results, he stated Daddy developed a hematoma and there was no evidence of a blood clot, which was the reason for the Heparin, however he failed to notify Daddy or my mother at the time. Expert witness’ all agree the deviation from the standard of care was using heparin in a protocol in a patient immediately exposed to such a major spine surgery. The risk was great. Our family watched as Daddy bled from his wound, blood products were floating in his Foley bag, he had large collections of blood under his skin, his stomach swell like a pregnant women’s.

He was even falsely diagnosed with cancer. It was sickening to watch. I was exhausted I couldn’t imagine how Daddy felt after all this was happening to him. The Daddy we grew up with died, we now learned to love a sick, fragile man, who we knew had a limited amount of time left with us. His wound was open, at one point you could see his spine rotting. The smell was horrifying. Watching helplessly as the man I loved for everything he was, slowly wasting away. After being in 4 hospitals, suffering many complications, finally he was released to go home the first week in December 2006.

My heart broke, again and again. I heard my father’s cries; I listened as he shared his fears, worries, and his overwhelming desire to end his life because of the emotional and physical pain he was suffering. Oct 11, 2006 John Puente’s wish came true. My biggest fear was now a reality. Not only was my Dad gone, his death was preventable; his life meant nothing to the doctors whose actions caused his slow agonizing death. It wasn't fair. When I arrived at my parents everyone was gathered on him weeping. I held his lifeless body in my arms, still warm to touch, weighing only 118 pounds.

As the funeral director wheeled Daddy out I followed, Daddy laid there lifeless, covered with a thin white sheet. I knew he was dead but my heart refused to accept it, I asked that they uncover his face, he couldn’t breathe. For 14 months I watched my protector, a loving hard working man turn into a fragile, sick human being. On this day Oct 11, 2007 as I laid in the fetal position on his hospital bed I felt a profound loss of security and confidence in the world. I felt sick, I wanted to die, and dying was so much easier than feeling this pain. I not only wanted my Daddy back I wanted him to be well again. I felt so helpless. Why, why my Daddy. It’s been seven years and I still find myself searching for answers.

How could this happen in America, how could Medical Board’s fail to protect patient’s from unethical doctors? I searched for answers and what I found was shocking, the stories of malpractice across the world were heart breaking. I wasn’t along, I slowly learned my way around the internet. JOHN PUENTE wasn’t the only one who suffered at hands of these doctor’s at this hospital. I continue to reach out sharing the tragic death of my Dad, I follow the doctors that treated him causing his complications that lead to his death. Hoping one day the Board will take the necessary actions in order to hold doctors accountable to a punishment that fits the crime.

A former Beaumont physician and office manager have been charged with health care fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

John Q. A. Webb, Jr., 74, of Houston, and Kari Mannino, 30, of Woodville, were indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 5, 2013, and charged in a 43-count indictment with health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, distribution of controlled substances, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Webb referred my Dad to his brother in law Moorehead. He also referred patients to Merrimon Baker who can no longer practice medicine.