Medical License of Staten Island Plastic Surgeon Revoked Amid Gross Negligence Claims

Last week, the medical license of a Staten Island plastic surgeon who purportedly botched numerous cosmetic surgeries over the years was revoked amid allegations of gross negligence. According to a report from the New York Health Department's Office of Professional Medical Conduct, 71-year-old Dr. Robert Cattani committed egregious conduct that allegedly caused one patient to lose her eyesight and nearly resulted in the death of several others. The physician, who was initially licensed in New York in 1968, has been the subject of at least 40 malpractice claims over the course of his career.

Dr. Cattani's medical license was initially suspended in December 2011. Additionally, 10 of 12 misconduct charges against Dr. Cattani were recently sustained at a hearing before the state's Professional Medical Conduct Committee. Those charges included allegations of negligence, gross negligence, maintaining inaccurate records, and incompetence. After Dr. Cattani testified on his own behalf, the committee stated the only surefire way to protect the safety of New York citizens was to revoke his medical license.

At the hearing, Dr. Cattani was accused of incorrectly performing a facelift and leaving a school teacher blind in one eye. Additionally, a 20-year-old man purportedly almost bled to death after Dr. Cattani performed a botched cosmetic surgery on him. Despite the fact that the man was bleeding extensively, the physician allegedly initially refused to allow the patient to be transported to the hospital. The patient reportedly spent nine days in the hospital and required a transfusion as a result of the delay. Dr. Cattani was also accused of perforating a patient's abdomen while performing a liposuction and causing an infection and unspecified deformities in a breast implant patient. Still, Dr. Cattani maintained that most of the approximately 13,000 surgeries he performed over the course of his medical career were successful.

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers in New York have a duty to provide each patient with a certain level of care. When a health care professional breaches that duty and a patient is harmed or killed, the patient or the patient's family may bring a medical malpractice claim. If you were hurt by the negligent actions of a physician or other health care professional, you should contact a capable New York personal injury attorney to discuss your options for recovery.

Call the law firm of Korngut Paleudis LLC today at (212) 835-6768 if you were injured by someone who was tasked with providing your medical care. Our hardworking Staten Island medical malpractice lawyers are available to help you receive the financial compensation you deserve after an unexpected personal injury. At the law firm of Korngut Paleudis LLC, our capable attorneys have more than 45 years of combined experience assisting clients in both New Jersey and New York. To discuss your case with a skilled personal injury lawyer today, do not hesitate to contact Korngut Paleudis LLC through our website.

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Video: Citing gross negligence, state Health Department revokes Staten Island plastic surgeon's license, by Frank Donnelly, Staten Island Advance