124. Preying on Patients: Dispatch Reporters Max Filby & Jennifer Smola Shaffer
On episode 124, Dan talks with Max Filby and Jennifer Smola Shaffer, two Columbus Dispatch reporters about their investigative series, Preying on Patients: State Medical Board failed to protect Ohioans from doctors' sexual misconduct. They discuss their findings, possible reforms for the medical board, and the role journalism plays in bringing these stories about sexual misconduct to light.
Timestamps:
1:25 - About Community Solutions’ Legislative Fact Sheets
2:40 - About Preying on Patients
4:00 - The problem of language in understanding physician sexual abuse and harrassment
5:45 - What does “disciplined” mean?
10:08 - Reforming the Ohio Medical Board
12:38 - Investigative health journalism and transparency in public records
16:40 - Physicians, Power, and Trust
20:32 - Response to “Preying on Patients” and how medical schools, residencies, and hospitals/systems can use the series
24:00 - Credits
In their investigation, Filby, Shaffer, and Wagner learn that since 1980, at least 256 Ohio doctors have been disciplined by the medical board for sexual misconduct, and that “the medical board failed to protect Ohioans from serial sexual abusers and harassers despite a clear, decades-long pattern of doctors preying on patients.”
In a follow-up story, Max reported that the medical board will be adding investigators, and they expect this to lead to a rise in complaints.
Max also mentioned Senate Bill 322, a piece of legislation last year that would better protect patients from doctors who sexually abuse or harass those in their care. The legislation went nowhere last year but may be reintroduced at the Statehouse this session.
Read an op-ed Dan wrote in the Columbus Dispatch about why Preying on Patients is so important for health professionals and health professionals in training to read.
In the intro, Dan mentioned some helpful legislative fact sheets, which Ohioans can use to understand the relationship of various data points to legislative districts. Check them our before you talk with your elected representatives. Or, if you’re an elected representative yourself, just check them out! You can also read this really interesting post by Angela Maher and Emily Campbell about making the factsheets.
NAME CHECKS / RELATED EPISODES
In talking about the importance of journalism in investigating and revealing these stories, Dan shouts out the Indianapolis Star for uncovering the Larry Nasser story in 2016.
Dr. Richard Strauss was a serial abuser at The Ohio State University mentioned in the article and during their discussion.
PRODUCTION
Hosted and produced by Dan Skinner. Engineering support provided by Mike Foley at WCBE. Copywriting and production support by Angela Lin. Prognosis Ohio is a member of the WCBE Podcast Experience and the Health Podcast Network. Prognosis Ohio is a production of Prognosis Ohio, LLC.