University Hospitals of Cleveland Suspends Chief Lung Transplant Surgeon

With Kirby's suspension, the six patients currently on the waiting list for lung transplants at University Hospitals are expected to be given the option of joining the waiting list at the Cleveland Clinic.

However, on May 3rd Kirby sued to regain his job, contending his removal put waiting-list patients and post-transplant patients under his care at risk. He asked a Cuyahoga Common Pleas judge to order the hospital to reinstate him, at least pending an internal hospital appeal.

Meanwhile, amid the growing turmoil, Dr. James Schulak, chairman of surgery at University Hospitals, said a review of the unusually high incidence of deaths during 2001 in the heart transplant program (see earlier Medical Week story) has been completed, and the program may be restarted shortly.

"The review basically stated that they didn't see any major problems," Schulak said. "And there is a strong recommendation from the outside reviewers that the program has an experienced staff, the protocols are in line with everything that's being done appropriately across the country, and there's no reason not to restart it."

University Hospitals will have to file a new application to revive Medicare certification for the heart transplant program, and Medicare will not pay for transplants until approval is granted.