If you’re one who keeps themselves updated with crime cases throughout the decades, you must’ve heard of the infamous Christopher Daniel Duntsch, a former American neurosurgeon who has been dubbed as Dr. D and Dr. Death. The name sounds eerie. So, what is he famous for? What is Christopher Duntsch’s net worth? The practitioner was imprisoned for medical malpractice leading to the maiming of numerous patients’ spines and also for two deaths during his tenure at the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. What is surprising is that he had an ideal start to his career until things went absolutely haywire. Added to that, the American neurosurgeon was also accused of injuring a whopping 33 out of 38 patients within two years before his medical license was revoked by The Texas Medical Board.
Recently, the spine-chilling case of the heinous crimes committed by this unseeingly malicious former neurosurgeon gained worldwide recognition. This was due to the adaptation of his entire biography by Peacock TV, who released a brand new series on Amazon Prime encapsulating the horrors faced by his innocent victims who would have never thought of being in danger around the person they trusted their entire life with.
Early Life
The practitioner was born in the US State of Montana and spent the majority of his youth years in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born to Donald Duntsch, a physical therapist, and Susan Duntsch, a school teacher. He attended the Evangelical Christian School in Cordova, Memphis. In his schooling years, he was quite the football star. He proceeded to play college football at Millsaps College. His former teammates recall Duntsch to be a hard worker but essentially lacking talent at the game.
Switching to a medical career
After realizing the fact that he couldn’t make a suitable career out of football, Duntsch chose to practice medicine. After finishing off his undergraduate, he proceeded to complete the MD-PhD program. He finished his residency after being a part of fewer than 100 surgeries. His number of surgeries was very feeble in contrast to the usual number of 1000 surgeries performed by someone during the tenure of their residency. What’s to be noted is that he was suspected to be under the influence of cocaine in his fourth year of medical residency.
Botched Surgeries and Victims
Initially, Duntsch practiced at the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano as a minimally invasive spine surgeon with a monumental salary of $600,000 along with bonuses. However, he didn’t exactly have the best impression on his fellow doctors at Plano. A massively experienced vascular surgeon Randall Kirby recalls how Christopher was always boastful of his abilities even though he was a complete newbie to the area. Nonetheless, veteran doctors like Kirby and others could make it out that he wasn’t that skillful after all. One such doctor has mentioned how back in their days at Plano, he jokingly once said that he’d never go under Duntsch’s knife in fear of his own life.
A major number of surgeries conducted by Duntsch at Baylor Plano were absolutely bungled. A fellow Dr. Hoyle mentions how Duntsch’s hollow boasts made him confused as to whether Duntsch was actually a great neurosurgeon in reality or whether he was just really arrogant about his boasts. After multiple complications at Baylor Plano, the hospital decided to dismiss Christopher from performing any more surgeries. To avoid any more embarrassment after a peer review at Plano, Duntsch resigned instead of facing the fate of possible termination.
He then shifted to Dallas Medical Center, where he was initially granted temporary privileges until the officials got his reports from Baylor Plano. It is not that he had the best first impression here either, as nurses on duty often suspected Dr. Duntsch to be under the heavy influence of drugs. His tenure at Dallas Medical Center was short-lived in all senses, as within a week, the administration at the Center pulled his records from the Plano. But by then, a patient had already died under his care and another one maimed. However, he wasn’t reported after his dismissal at Dallas since nobody used to report for temporary privileges back then.
Peacock’s Adaptation of ‘Dr. Death’ inspired by Christopher Duntsch and his innocent victims
Behind the Bars
It was only after a year and a half since his medical license got revoked that Duntsch was arrested in Dallas and was charged with six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, five counts of aggravated assault inflicting serious bodily damage, and one offense of injury to an aged person. Due to a lot of objections from Christopher’s lawyers, several of Duntsch’s patients were called to the court to testify against him. It was only on February 10, 2017, that he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the heinous crimes that he committed.
Where is Christopher Duntsch now?
The convicted is currently confined in the O. B. Ellis Unit outside Huntsville. The convicted former neurosurgeon isn’t eligible for parole until 2045. Duntsch will be 74 years old then.
What is Christopher Duntsch’s Net Worth?
Christopher Daniel Duntsch’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $1 million – $5 million in 2022. His net worth has been calculated from his income earned as one of the most famous neurosurgeons in America despite the crimes committed by him. The former neurosurgeon earned a handsome salary yearly despite the gross malpractices conducted by him in the process. He’s also noted as one of the richest neurosurgeons ever. Apart from this, he’s also one of the most famous neurosurgeons in the world due to the infamous heinous crimes conducted by him.
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