Regardless of whether Dr. Mark Midei and others may have performed inappropriate stent procedures, the state and Maryland hospitals have not yet agreed to require mandatory accreditation of cardiac cath labs and outside peer review. These were strong recommendations by the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Angiography and Interventions. One year after an investigation by the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) was requested, the results are yet to be announced to the public, raising the issue of whether HSCRC is capable of compiling reliable clinical data. Are Maryland cardiac patients being properly protected?
Dr. Samuel D. Goldberg
The writer is president of the Maryland Chapter American College of Cardiology.