by Tim Farley.
WITNESS ‘CHILLED’ BY RUDE REMARKS FROM AGENCY EMAILS
In addition, medical board internal emails and memos obtained by Red Dirt Reportshow the agency tried to encourage credentialing committees at Tulsa hospitals to rescind Anagnost’s surgical privileges without proving he had done anything wrong. Other emails show medical board advisor Eric Frische and the agency’s investigative team described Anagnost as a “charlatan” and “sophisticated crook” based on his expertise and success with Minimally Invasion Spine Surgery (MISS).
“I think there is sufficient reason that he (Kelsey) should step down and I’m calling on the governor to make that decision. What happened here is an abuse of government power,” the legislator said. “We need to send a message to all our agencies and boards that all citizens need to be protected by the law.”
Kelsey did not return a phone call for comment Thursday. At the time this story was posted, Gov. Mary Fallin’s spokesman, Alex Weintz, had not returned a phone call for comment.
Anagnost, who did not attend Thursday’s legislative hearing, believes Morrissette should have gone a step further.
“What he should call for is a firing,” the surgeon said. “He (Kelsey) shouldn’t be given the chance to step aside gracefully. He has to be held accountable for what he has done to me and my family.”
Anagnost, a pioneer in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) in Oklahoma, declined an offer in 2005 to join surgeons at Oklahoma Spine and Brain Institute and their privately-owned Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital. Soon after, the lawsuits and complaints were filed.
According to Anagnost, the competing surgeons were jealous at his success. The MISS procedure allowed Anagnost’s patients to experience significantly fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, less morbidity and lost costs when compared to the national standard and Anagnost’s competing surgeons in Tulsa, according to a report prepared by Michael Lapolla, an Oklahoma-based health care administrator and health policy researcher.
The documented attacks by the medical board against Anagnost cost the surgeon millions of dollars in legal fees and all but ruined his surgical practice. The board’s case against Anagnost was dropped after the surgeon filed a lawsuit in July 2013. A settlement was reached two months later. Since then, a second lawsuit has been filed against the board alleging it used deception in reaching the settlement. That case is pending in Oklahoma County District Court.
Anagnost is hopeful the legislative hearing will help uncover the conspiracy carried out by the “unholy Trinity,” which the surgeon said consists of the medical board, medical malpractice attorneys and his competing surgeons in Tulsa.
“I’m all about transparency and that’s what I’ve been begging for,” he said. “This is the beginning of that. Prior to this hearing, there was nothing but hiding and covering up the facts, the truth. The truth is finally coming to light after five long, long years.”
Morrissette said at the hearing that he invited Kelsey, Attorney General Scott Pruitt and Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater to attend, but none of them were present.
However, Pruitt’s chief of staff, Melissa McLawhorn-Houston, wrote in a letter to Morrissette, “General Pruitt believes your concerns are founded and would like to help preserve due process within our state boards and commissions. It is important that conflict of interest policies are in place and unacceptable if they are not.”
The letter also states, “Further transparency in Oklahoma’s state board and commissions is greatly needed. As a state, we should consider how other states structure their boards and commissions, and what policies are in place to prevent potential abuses.”
Barry Smith, an attorney with McAfee-Taft law firm, testified before the legislators that he represented Anagnost in the July 2013 lawsuit. He told the lawmakers of several conflicts of interest, including that of medical board member and medical malpractice attorney Gary Brooks. During his tenure on the board, Brooks sued Anagnost twice with both cases settling in 2012.
In another instance, medical board prosecutor Randy Sullivan, also a medical malpractice attorney sued Anagnost in two other cases, both of which were settled in 2012.
“This litigation (against the board) was some of the most unusual I’ve been involved with,” Smith said.
Smith told the lawmakers every state board and commission has the “obligation” to provide due process, notice and impartiality to those they oversee.
“When these failings occur, there must be accountability,” he said.
When asked by Morrissette how the conflicts of interest were discovered, Smith acknowledged he was shown several documents that are part of an Oklahoma Bar Association investigation that reportedly is targeting Brooks and Sullivan.
Smith also testified that the medical board violated its own set of rules and policies at least 20 times during the Anagnost investigation.
State Rep. Bobby Cleveland (R-Slaughterville) agreed with Anagnost and Smith about the need for honesty and openness.
“There should be no place in government that doesn’t offer transparency,” he said.
Smith testified he found one particular document the most troublesome.
“Emails show they were rejoicing that they were destroying Dr. Anagnost’s personal life. I found that chilling.”
On Jan. 25, 2012, board investigator Gayla Janke wrote an email to Kelsey and Frische with a check list of events involving Anagnost.
“√ Dr. paid $75,000 out-of-pocket on 2 cases.”
“√ Peer review concluded last night”
“√ Dr. A told Dr. Landgarden that his career is finished and he would have to practice in Brazil”
“√ He was seen clearing a computer and loading several boxes from his clinic last night”
“√ Surgeries and clinic cancelled for two weeks at the present time – telling patients there is family emergency”
“√ More results coming (stay tuned)”
In an email reply, Frische wrote, “so this is another neurosurgeon who will implode?
“Hopefully!!!!!!!!!!! I shouldn’t say that,” Janke wrote.
Kelsey then wrote to Frische and Janke, “It may be that we have to be a forceful part of this doctor and his license.”
Frische then replied, “Agreed. If he is folding he may not go through the fair hearing process.”
The emails and memos obtained by Red Dirt Report were never made public until now, Smith said.
“I can see how things like this can be hidden, especially when the processes fail,” he told legislators.
“This just stinks, it stinks,” Morrissette said, referring to the board’s prosecution of Anagnost. “This is the Spanish Inquisition. They’re the investigators, the prosecutors and the judge. I get the indication that we have a rogue operation going on and it bothers me.”
Smith also told the lawmakers he would not advise any of his clients who are physicians to testify before the House panel for fear of retribution from the state medical board.
