Major malpractice suit due to... doc's hidden dementia? Who's to blame?
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"He was suffering from dementia and was not able to recognize long-term employees of his practice." — Bredehoft's lawsuit against Dr. Wiesen and the Premier Endoscopy Center
A lawsuit filed in May 2025 has brought to light serious allegations against Premier Endoscopy Center in Naples, Florida, and one of its physicians, Scott Wiesen, MD. []
In 2023, patient Elaine Bredehoft underwent a routine colonoscopy performed by Dr. Wiesen at Premier Endoscopy Center.
According to the lawsuit, during the procedure, Dr. Wiesen allegedly punctured Bredehoft's colon and mistakenly removed her ovary and fallopian tube, misidentifying them as polyps.
Post-procedure, Bredehoft experienced extreme pain and waited approximately 30 minutes before an ambulance was called.
She was transferred to NCH North Hospital, where emergency surgery revealed a bleeding colon requiring 52 stitches. Subsequently, she developed a serious infection necessitating further hospitalization and extensive at-home wound care.
Related: Dementia rates are rising: Should physicians undergo mandatory cognitive screenings?Physician's medical condition and licensing concerns
The lawsuit further alleges that Dr. Wiesen had dementia at the time of the procedure and retired shortly thereafter.
However, investigations revealed that his medical license remained active, and the Florida Board of Medicine had not received notification of his retirement.
This isn't the first time Dr. Wiesen has faced medical malpractice allegations. State records from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation show he settled claims in 2000 and 2006. []
One of the claims involved a colonoscopy that ended in a person's death. Another was a misdiagnosed small bowel obstruction that also ended in the death of the patient.
Should docs be screened for dementia?
This ongoing case raises significant questions about the monitoring of physicians' health and competency, especially concerning cognitive impairments like dementia.
Among physicians, the prevalence of unrecognized cognitive impairment is notable. A cross-sectional study reported that a considerable number of adults aged 65 and older receiving primary care had unrecognized cognitive impairment. []
Despite these findings, there is no national mandate in the United States for cognitive screening of physicians. []Most state medical boards rely on self-reporting or external complaints to identify impairment. However, some institutions have initiated structured screening programs.
According to the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics, doctors should "intervene with respect and compassion when a colleague is not able to practice safely. Such intervention should strive to ensure that the colleague is no longer endangering patients and that the individual receive appropriate evaluation and care to treat any impairing conditions." []
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