Accusations against doctor are not true

To the editor:

Recently, The Gazette and Des Moines Register published articles about the State of Iowa accusing Dr. David Segal of malpractice.

As an employee of five years with Dr. Segal, I can state with utmost conviction that these accusations are patently false.

It is appalling that the Iowa Board of Medicine released this destructive information apparently without checking the veracity of these accusations. A simple call to Mercy Medical Center would reveal that Dr. Segal's infection rate is approximately 1.6 percent (hardly 'excessive” and less than half the national average). The 'inappropriate technique” (blood patch) for managing spinal fluid leaks is a standard, medically-accepted procedure and, although ordered by Dr. Segal, is routinely performed by anesthesiologists (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001068.htm).

Dr. Segal is an excellent surgeon with a stellar reputation. His record speaks for itself. Dr. Segal was done a grave injustice by the Iowa Board of Medicine.

Anita Hansen

Marion