Orthopedics This Week Story Highlights Quickening Turf War of Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures

NEW YORK, April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a story posted this morning on Orthopedics This Week (http://ryortho.com), the most widely read and influential publication in the orthopedics industry, the ongoing turf war between Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pain Management and other specialties is exposed through the recent New Jersey case of The New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners and Dr. Richard Kaul. Legal terms such as, commercial disparagement, malpractice, conspiracy, negligence, slander, collusion, and more are being thrown about by the two latest teams and players to take up the battle.

The story quotes Charles Branch, M.D., a former NASS president and Spine Journal editor, "There is not a clear answer to any of those questions which fuels bigger turf and economic wrangling that is coming to a head in New Jersey." He further says, "Hence, in New Jersey, a regional or community effort to establish a credible credential is now polluted with politics, power, economic restraint of trade and on we go." Branch calls for "clear guidance for indications, and rigid outcome mandates that can truly determine competence or quality."

Kaul, referred to as the de facto 'poster boy' for the side of minimally invasive techniques often practiced by the specialties of Anesthesia and Pain Management, has credentials that would seem appropriate, and yet the doctor is accused of not being adequately trained. As the article indicates, Kaul is a member of The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (2006) and The American Academy of Minimally Invasive Spinal Medicine and Surgery (2004). He is also a diplomat of The American Board of Interventional Pain Management (2004) and the American Board of Anesthesiology (1996).

The lack of established guidelines and scientific absolutes when it comes to spinal medicine has allowed politics, power and money to set up shop within the muddy mix, instead of the reasonable care and concern for patients and the public interest.

SASI, Society for Advanced Spinal Intervention, is leading an effort to credential and train physicians, to alleviate at least part of what is being argued in the ongoing hearings in New Jersey.

Kaul, for his part, is fighting back, and has sued Drs. Robert Heary, Frank Moore, Peter Carmel, Gregory Przybylski, and William Mitchell claiming that they have conspired with the New Jersey BME to attack Dr. Kaul using a variety of illegal tactics.

We believe that he should at least be given fair hearing as the dust flies and patients wait by the wayside hoping that this turf war can be settled so that high quality, minimal risk and affordable care is available, at least in New Jersey.

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SOURCE SASI