Music bingo leads to patient’s death during routine cataract surgery
A surgeon and an anesthesiologist admitted to playing a game of music bingo during a routine cataract surgery that resulted in a patient’s death.
According to a now-settled medical malpractice lawsuit, Bart Writer, 56, stopped breathing at InSight Surgery Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. His attending physicians failed to notice a change in his vital signs because a monitor had been turned off—something the surgeon denied being aware of.
What is not in dispute is that Writer was pronounced dead shortly after the simple outpatient procedure. An autopsy concluded it was a result of cardiac arrest.
Writer’s widow, Chris, filed a lawsuit, accusing the surgeon of negligence in focusing on the game instead of ensuring the safety of his patient.
A deadly game
Per claims made in the lawsuit, surgeon C. Starck Johnson, MD, and anesthesiologist Michael Urban, MD, would routinely play music during procedures. The game involved playing tracks from the 1970s and 1980s, with the duo attempting to match the names of artists to the letters “B.I.N.G.O.”
While both men admitted to playing, Johnson was the only one officially sued by Chris Writer. In his court deposition, Urban explained how the game was played while a patient was under anesthesia.
“So, as an example, if the '70s group the Bee Gees were to sing a song, that would be the letter ‘B,’” Urban said, per a quote obtained by 9News. He went on to add that he was likely the one keeping score on the day Bart Writer died.
He added that the duo had played the game for years.
In a statement to 9News, Johnson’s attorney blamed his longtime associate for Writer’s death, writing that he relied on the “anesthesiologist to provide the proper dose and type of anesthesia, to properly monitor the patient’s condition, and to communicate all relevant information to the surgeon including if they have elected, for whatever reason, to silence the audible alarms.”
Johnson denied any involvement in turning off the alert system that would have warned staff that Writer had stopped breathing.
Urban, who is still licensed to practice medicine in Oregon, did not admit to wrongdoing, and through his lawyer said he stands by his history of providing patient care.
The exact details of the settlement are unknown and have not been reported by any outlet, as the case was settled out of court.
The incident occurred in February 2023.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.