Florida Gastroenterologist Placed on Probation After Failing to Hear Patient’s Screams During Colonoscopy
An elderly gastroenterologist from Tampa has been placed on probation following a shocking incident in which he failed to hear a patient’s screams during a colonoscopy.
Dr. Ishwari Prasad, who has held a medical license for 34 years, was disciplined by the Florida Board of Medicine after a complaint accused him of medical malpractice during two procedures performed at the Ambulatory Surgery Center in Tampa in June 2023.
According to the complaint, Dr. Prasad’s failure to wear his prescribed hearing aids led to a serious communication breakdown during the procedures. During one colonoscopy, Dr. Prasad reportedly began inserting the scope before the patient was fully sedated. The patient cried out in pain, but Dr. Prasad, unable to hear the distress calls, did not immediately stop the procedure, the complaint states.
Doctor allegedly ignored patient’s distress due to not wearing hearing aids
The nine-page complaint further accuses Dr. Prasad of falling below the minimum prevailing professional standard of care, noting that his inability to communicate effectively with the surgical team jeopardized patient safety. The complaint emphasizes that if a physician cannot communicate without a hearing aid, they are required to use an assistive hearing device during medical procedures.
In a separate incident, Dr. Prasad was also accused of improperly delegating key aspects of a colonoscopy to a surgical technician who was not licensed to perform such tasks. The technician was reportedly instructed to insert the scope, manipulate it, and remove polyps, actions that require a licensed medical professional.
As a result of these findings, the Florida Board of Medicine ordered on August 7, 2024, that Dr. Prasad’s medical license be placed on probation. He is now prohibited from performing gastroenterology procedures without a supervising physician present. Additionally, Dr. Prasad was fined $7,500 and ordered to pay $6,301 in administrative costs. He must also complete five hours of Continuing Medical Education in laws, rules, and ethics within the next year.