Interventional radiologist accused of performing procedure on the wrong patient
A Florida interventional radiologist is accused of placing a catheter in the wrong patient, according to a complaint filed with the state department of health.
An unnamed 84-year-old man presented to Naples Community Hospital on May 5, 2021, requiring a CT-guided aspiration of abnormal collection of fluid in the gallbladder fossa. Radiologist Scott W. Peterson, MD, was slated to perform the procedure the same day, with a CT-guided placement of a suprapubic drain scheduled on a second patient at the same time and hospital.
However, Peterson instead placed the catheter and drained urine from the bladder of the wrong patient, 84-year-old “LM,” state authorities charge in an administrative complaint filed Sept. 9. Afterward, hospital staff informed the physician of his alleged mistake, which triggered this case three years later.
“Florida statutes [subject] a licensee to discipline for ‘performing or attempting to perform healthcare services on the wrong patient…or otherwise unrelated to the patient’s diagnosis or medical condition,’” the document, signed by State Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD, states. “By performing the CT-guided placement of a suprapubic drain on LM, [Dr. Peterson] performed an unauthorized procedure on the wrong patient.”
Given the violation, Ladapo is seeking one or more penalties. These could include suspending or revoking the radiologist’s license, restricting his practice, imposing an administrative fine, issuing a reprimand, probation, refunding fees billed, remedial education, or other relief.
Peterson has held his license in Florida since August 2000 with no other disciplinary actions on his public record. He is employed by ProScan Imaging, one of the largest outpatient imaging networks in the country with 33 centers in five states. Both the medical group and NCH did not immediately respond to a Radiology Business request for comment Friday. Peterson earned his MD at the Tulane University School of Medicine and served as the Naples hospital’s radiology department chair from August 2018 to February 2023, according to LinkedIn.
The Miami Herald first reported news of the complaint Sept. 27, noting that Peterson still had privileges at Naples Comprehensive Health (the hospital’s current name) as of Friday.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.