Jeffrey Gundel, MD, of Lewis County Orthopedic Clinic is being sued by a woman for malpractice, according to Watertown Daily Times.
Here are seven things to know:
1. Dr. Gundel was previously arrested for unlawfully dispensing and distributing painkillers.
2. He performed surgery on the plaintiff to repair her rotator cuff in April 2014.
3. The plaintiff suffered abnormal swelling, bruising, pain, numbness and other neurological signs and injuries in and around the left shoulder, bicep and arm within a few days after surgery. Dr. Gundel advised the patient to not begin physical therapy until the next visit several weeks later.
4. During this time, Dr. Gundel pleaded guilty to giving at least 248 prescriptions for 240 30-milligram tablets in the names of at least eight individuals to an unidentified individual. Dr. Gundel gave no legitimate medical reason for this distribution.
5. He will be sentenced on August 13. Dr. Gundel faces 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.
6. The plaintiff claims Dr. Gundel moved her surgery a week earlier so he could meet an oxycodone buyer which prevented her from receiving the necessary treatment. She later sought treatment from another orthopedic surgeon in Rome in May 2014.
7. The surgeon in Rome told the plaintiff her rotator cuff was manipulated in an effort to free adhesion formed in the shoulder as a result on the "inconsistent and lack of care and treatment caused by the arrest."
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