Tristram Horton, a US neurosurgeon whose license to practice in the US was suspended, is now accused of performing several botched brain surgeries in South Africa, leading to severe consequences for his patients.
In a recent incident on M-Net's 'Carte Blanche' program aired on May 9, the cases of at least two South African patients operated on by Horton were highlighted. One patient, who had a blood clot in the brain, underwent surgery in October 2023 under Horton. This surgery took a devastating turn when the patient claimed Horton cut off the blood supply to the brain. As a result, the patient was left paralyzed when the anesthesia wore off, waking up to a life-changing reality.
Another case featured on the program involved a patient suffering from seizures caused by an aggressive brain tumor. Horton performed the surgery and assured the patient that the tumor had been successfully removed. However, a later investigation revealed that the tumor was untouched, raising serious questions about Horton's competence and honesty.
Before moving to South Africa, Tristram Horton was a practicing neurosurgeon in Scottsdale, Arizona, affiliated with several local hospitals, including Banner Thunderbird Medical Center and Banner Desert Medical Center. Horton graduated from the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and had over two decades of medical practice experience, according to online directories.
Horton's problems started when the Arizona Medical Board looked into him after he was accused of being medically incompetent. According to a report from a fact-finding committee set up by the board, Horton was asked to take a drug test, which he failed, testing positive for cocaine. The report also documented several cases where Horton allegedly performed unsuccessful surgeries, leading to the suspension of his medical license. The Arizona Medical Board issued a letter of reprimand and placed Horton on probation for five years.
After his license was suspended in the US, Horton moved to South Africa to continue his medical practice. However, his controversial past seems to have followed him, as evidenced by the cases featured in 'Carte Blanche.'
The allegations against Horton have sparked outrage and concern among the South African medical community and the patients affected by his surgeries. There are concerns regarding the regulatory protections in place for foreign doctors working in South Africa in regard to their ability to continue practicing medicine following such serious allegations in the United States.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
