Dr. Coselli of Baylor College Still on Board Amidst $15M Overlapping Surgeries Whistleblower Scandal

At Baylor College of Medicine, a significant surgery scandal persists as Dr. Joseph Coselli, one of three surgeons involved in a whistleblower lawsuit regarding overlapping surgeries, continues to treat patients and maintain his leadership role. Despite allegations and a recent $15 million settlement to resolve claims of inadequate supervision and improper Medicare billing, Coselli has not faced any internal discipline, according to the Houston Chronicle. Baylor stands by their assertion that Coselli did nothing wrong.

The whistleblower lawsuit, disclosed this Monday, accused Coselli—along with Drs. Joseph Lamelas and David Ott—of leaving unqualified trainees to dangerously perform complex heart surgeries unattended at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center from 2013 to 2020. This allowed the surgeons to quickly operate on multiple patients simultaneously and to deceptively bill the government for full attendance during the procedures. At least four patients died during such surgeries, while others suffered an array of complications, as noted in federal court records. Baylor, for their part, claims "Overlapping surgeries are permissible as long as there is proper documentation on the presence of the surgeon during critical parts of the operation," the Houston Chronicle reports.

The repercussions of these allegations have resonated with families who, until now, had unanswered questions about the care their loved ones received. Sarah Coupland, whose mother underwent a fatal operation in 2017, recalls the surgeon, Dr. Coselli, as very absent post-surgery.  "Honestly, I don't remember very much because I feel like he was very absent. I feel like he would just come in and say, 'Someone else will talk to you. I'm the one who did the surgery, but so and so will handle it.'" she shared with ABC13. Her surprise on hearing the revelations this week speaks to the broader shock among families of former patients.

Despite the unsettling accounts and the recent settlement, options for recourse are markedly limited for families impacted. Legal expert Geoff Berg, unaffiliated with the litigation, claims, "Texas just made a decision that we don't want this to be a place where you can sue doctors," highlighting the restrictive environment for medical malpractice suits in this state, as told to ABC13. Even as families are to surely struggle to find clear paths for justice, the questions raised by the whistleblower's claims linger prominently in the community.

Coselli, who was paid $2.1 million in 2022 according to Baylor’s tax filings, remains actively engaged in his practice amidst the legal and ethical storm. Dr. Jeffrey Morgan, the Baylor surgeon who blew the whistle, will receive over $3 million for his role in the case. Neither Coselli nor his fellow accused surgeons, Ott and Lamelas, have formally admitted to any malfeasance, with Ott even defending his records and procedures when reached for comment. Baylor and St. Luke’s, when questioned on the documentation practices, have remained tight-lipped, referring questions back to one another.