Children who have undergone surgery in the pediatric cardiology unit at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital have suffered complications or death at an alarming rate.

According to a year-long investigation by the Tampa Bay Times, nearly one in 10 patients died in 2017. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital stopped all pediatric cardiology surgeries in October in order to review the program.

All Children’s Hospital reportedly had a solid reputation as one of the best pediatric cardiology surgical centers in the state of Florida when Johns Hopkins took over in 2011. Johns Hopkins is legendary for its commitment to excellence in the medical world, and taking over All Children’s Hospital was part of a $6 billion worldwide expansion.

How did an independent hospital with a solid reputation crumble under the direction of one of the most prestigious names in medicine?

In 2012, Dr. Jonathan Ellen was named the CEO of All Children’s Hospital. He had been the director of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. At the same time, Dr. Paul Colombani was appointed the chief of pediatric surgery at All Children’s Hospital after serving for several years as the director of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center pediatric surgery in Baltimore.

Both of the men focused on the pediatric cardiology surgical unit at All Children’s Hospital.

Despite All Children’s already stellar reputation, Ellen and Colombani wanted the pediatric cardiology unit to be known as one of the best in the country, and not just the best in the state of Florida.

Pediatric Cardiology Unit’s Downfall after Removing Head Surgeon

Prior to Johns Hopkins taking over the All Children’s Hospital, Dr. James Quintessenza was the chief of pediatric cardiology surgery, and he performed most of the difficult, delicate pediatric heart surgeries. He dedicated nearly 30 years to the hospital, where he was highly respected because of his skills and successful surgical history, according to the Times.

Dr. Jeffrey Jacobs performed pediatric heart surgeries, too, but he also contributed to the health industry by working on medical journals and making presentations throughout the world.

In 2013, Ellen and Colombani brought Dr. Tom Karl on board. Karl had been in Australia where he spent six years working in a pediatric hospital. The Times reported he allegedly had a history of troubling behavior that dated back to 2008 in California. But at age 65, he was chosen to be the third pediatric surgeon at the newly christened Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

At that point, Dr. Quintessenza no longer received the most delicate and complicated surgeries as his assignments. Instead, the Times noted, the pediatric cardiology cases were doled out equally to the three surgeons.

Allegedly after voicing his displeasure with the new way of distributing cases and the resulting increase of deaths and injuries, Dr. Quintessenza was dismissed in June 2016.

With Karl and Jacobs left to do all of the pediatric cardiology surgeries, the complaints continued.

After surviving two delicate heart surgeries by Dr. Quintessenza, a toddler needed a third surgery that was supposedly much more simple than the first two procedures. Karl assisted Jacobs in the procedure, which resulted in the toddler suffering a stroke. The once-active child now needs help eating, bathing and requires weekly physical therapy.

A 3-month-old baby had a hole in his heart repaired with a patch sewn over the hole, a procedure that boasts a 95 percent survival rate. This time, Karl was lead surgeon and Jacobs assisted him. The stitches failed, the child was on life support, and eventually experienced a stroke. He died after being disconnected from life support.

In two cases, needles were left inside children after their operations were over.

According to an analysis of data by the Times, children undergoing pediatric heart surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital were four times more apt to need life support (heart and lungs) compared to children at other hospitals.