Dr. Mark Erasmus, a neurosurgeon from Albuquerque, has lost his medical license after paying $19 million for malpractice in 26 patient cases, according to the Albuquerque Journal on Jan. 12.
In April 2023, the New Mexico Medical Board decided that Dr. Erasmus was not capable of practicing medicine, stating that he showed clear signs of being unable to do so. On December 30, a state district judge agreed with the board’s decision, but Dr. Erasmus wants to appeal it.
Since 2021, the neurosurgeon has been involved in nine medical malpractice cases, as stated in the board’s decision to revoke their license. The board announced that since 2001, insurance companies have paid more than $19 million to settle 26 claims about his business.
The board asked Dr. Erasmus to have a fitness-for-duty evaluation in December 2022 as part of its probe. The study stated that he is “not fit to practice medicine.”
Dr. Erasmus’ lawyer, Brian Davis, disagrees with the board’s ruling. He believes that although the evaluation found Dr. Erasmus unfit for neurosurgery, it did not say he was unfit to work in other areas of medicine. Mr. Davis questioned the accuracy of the malpractice payout numbers, saying they lack proof.
The lawyer mentioned that Dr. Erasmus has had health problems and will no longer do surgeries. He wants to help by training, reviewing insurance, and doing independent medical exams.
“Mr. Davis told The Journal that he does not plan to enter an operating room again.”
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