Hosted By: Laura Beil
Produced By: Wondery

Dr. Death explores the real-life story of Doctor Christopher Duntsch — a neurosurgeon who claimed to be the best surgeon in Dallas for those in need of back surgery.

However, what he forgot to mention to potential patients were the 33 patients who became victims under his care, with little being done by the medical board about it.

In this podcast, you’ll learn what happened when another surgeon takes matters into his own hands to explore what is really happening to these patients and how deep the deception went throughout the medical field that allowed this to happen in the first place.

You’ll also hear updates on the current developments that are happening with the case, as they continue to unfold.

Dr. Death Podcast Host:

Laura Beil has more than 20 years of experience in health and science writing. In 2014, she received the top medical journalism award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She began her career in newspapers, and was the longtime medical reporter for the Dallas Morning News. In 2006, She left the world of daily journalism to write mostly for magazines. She is a contributor at Men’s Health, and a correspondent for Science News magazine. While she specializes in matters of health and science, she has also written about gun-toting liberals for D Magazine, and was the writer-reporter of the “Thugs” episode for the NPR series This American Life. She grew up in the piney woods of East Texas, but now live outside Dallas.

Praise from Listeners*:

  • Gripping Narrative: The podcast hooks listeners from the very beginning, unraveling a riveting and shocking story that keeps them on the edge of their seats.
  • Engaging Interviews: The podcast features interviews with key individuals involved in the case, including victims, medical professionals, and legal experts, offering unique insights and perspectives.
  • Educational Value: Dr Death serves as an eye-opening educational resource, raising awareness about patient safety, medical negligence, and the importance of advocating for one’s health.

Criticisms from Listeners*:

  • Sensationalism: A common critique is that the podcast sensationalizes the case and the actions of the neurosurgeon, potentially overshadowing the broader issues at hand regarding patient safety and systemic failures.
  • Simplification of Complex Matters: Critics contend that the podcast oversimplifies certain medical and legal aspects, potentially leading to a misunderstanding of the intricacies involved in the case and related issues.

* The True Crime Connection teams aims to keep this as an unbiased search database. In order to do this, we curate what people love the most and the least about a podcast by analysing ApplePodcast reviews.

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