Docs' fun and games in the OR allegedly leads to patient's death, lawsuit

mdlinx ^ | September 15, 2025 | staff

[xxqqzz]

In February 2023, a routine cataract surgery resulted in the death of 56-year-old Bart Writer.[1]

According to a now-settled lawsuit, the surgical team members—namely the surgeon, Carl Stark Johnson, MD, and the anesthesiologist, Michael Urban, MD—were playing a game called “music bingo” during the procedure. (Music bingo, as described in the case, involved naming musical artists or songs as letters, to fill a bingo card while songs were played from Urban’s cell phone.) This game was allegedly regularly played during what were considered simple or routine surgeries.

Is the OR a place for fun and games?

According to notes obtained from the surgery center, abnormal vital signs were noticed approximately 11 minutes into Writer’s cataract surgery.

By then, key alarms had reportedly been turned off or muted, and because Writer was covered and staff claimed they couldn’t immediately detect signs of oxygen deprivation (such as skin turning blue), the patient’s condition went unnoticed until it was too late.

“We learned from the nurses and from the depositions that it wasn’t unusual for them to turn off the audible alarms,” Writer’s wife, Chris, said.

By the time Writer was transferred to a nearby medical center, he had died of cardiac arrest.

Commenting on the case in the r/anesthesiology Reddit thread, @freakindon (an anesthesiologist), wrote, "Even if it’s not conscious, any change in pulse rate or tone should cause a little lurch in your stomach. And the BP cycle tone should draw you immediately. I wasn’t there so I don’t know the full details, but not paying attention to vitals is kind of absurd if that’s how it went down."

[xxqqzz]

As far as I can see, they turned off the alarms if the patient's vital signs were at dangerous levels, because they interfered with a game involving playing songs on a cell phone. Case has been settled.

[reasonisfaith]

The adult population has been taught to act like children.

It’s what the cabal has done to us.

[plain talk]

Lone Tree, Colorado if anyone is interested. The editors of this article certainly weren’t.

[Williams]

I’ve experienced a couple of arrogant root canal doctors who insisted on playing loud music that they obviously enjoy, while performing a procedure.

This reminded me of it. I never went back to either of them, and they were arrogant.

[Jim W N]

What a terribly-written article. Never identifies the facility where this happened. Might be nice to know the next time you decide you want to die from routine cataract surgy because the doctors are playing bingo in the operating room.

Had to look it up on Google: The incident occurred at the InSight Surgery Center Lone Tree, Colorado on February 3, 2023.

[MikelTackNailer]

In the 2016 movie “Doctor Strange” the surgeons bantered over background music as if it were a standard practice having it on. They competed to see who could recognize an artist and what year the song was released while performing delicate surgery, but it wasn’t portrayed as being louder than the medical equipment.

Point being: if it made it’s way into a film it can’t be uncommon. Those surgeons and the anesthesiologist allowed too much of a good thing over-ride their professional responsibilities and deserve the ass-kicking due them.

[gundog]

I was allowed to take a tape when I had my wisdom teeth pulled. I kept saying “louder” until it was at full volume. I was wearing headphones, and they said “We can hear it.” Side 1: Tangerine Dream’s soundtrack to “Sorcerer,” side 2: The Doors’ “American Prayer.”