Letter to the Editor
Beth Israel disputes article on Allan Zarkin
To the Editor:
I recently read, with great disappointment, the edition of Healthcare Risk Management dated March 2000. Your characterization of Beth Israel Medical Center, and its handling of the case involving Dr. Allan Zarkin, could be no further from the truth!
Upon learning of Dr. Zarkin’s barbaric act, we promptly suspended his privileges at the hospital, and he was allowed no further involvement in patient care. We reported the incident to the New York State Department of Health-Office of Professional Medical Conduct and the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). We cooperated fully in the DOH’s investigation, as well as an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, regarding Dr. Zarkin’s act.
Contrary to reports, there was nothing in Dr. Zarkin’s files at the Medical Center or at the NPDB that gave the slightest hint that he would pose a risk to any patient. This was an irrational, random, and egregious act that could not have been prevented.
What was most disturbing about your reporting of the Zarkin case is that you relied greatly on speculation from individuals with absolutely no knowledge of the case — other than what they read in the newspapers or saw on television. Many news reports of the case were inaccurate as well, so, in essence, your publication simply served to promulgate misinformation. You would be hard pressed to defend that as responsible reporting!
Every day, year in and year out, tens of thousands of physicians, nurses and staff of Beth Israel provide the highest quality care to those individuals who turn to us for help. It is most unfortunate when the senseless act of one individual overshadows the highly effective efforts of so many others.
Matthew Fink, MD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Beth Israel Medical Center
New York City
Healthcare Risk Management Response
From the Editor:
Healthcare Risk Management reported in its March issue that the state health department of New York investigated the incident and released a report Feb. 3 saying that Beth Israel Medical Center was aware of aberrant behavior by Dr. Allan Zarkin before the carving incident and did not intervene.
HRM made several requests for comments from officials at Beth Israel, but a spokesperson at the medical center, and an attorney representing it, refused those requests.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office reports that Zarkin recently was sentenced to five years of probation and banned from practicing medicine as part of a plea bargain. He also must receive psychiatric care.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content