{"id":"bd25588f-8b7c-4b60-8cdc-6c31fb628710","slug":"the-aans-suspends-editor-in-chief-nancy-epstein-for-telling-the-truth-about-spine-surgery","title":"The AANS suspends Editor-in-Chief, Nancy Epstein, for telling the truth about spine surgery","authors":["James I. Ausman"],"abstract":"Background: The AANS suspended Nancy Epstein for six months for allegedly violating the AANS Code of Ethics. The grievance was initiated by a neurosurgeon involved in a malpractice case where Epstein testified as an expert for the plaintiff. Epstein's testimony questioned the appropriateness of a TLIF procedure performed on a patient with specific comorbidities and complications. Summary: Epstein argued that there are multiple surgical approaches available for the patient in question and expressed her belief that a decompressive laminectomy would have been more suitable. She highlighted that her testimony was misrepresented and taken out of context during the AANS hearings. The editorial emphasizes the need for organizations like the AANS to prioritize patient welfare over the interests of their members. Conclusion: The actions taken against Nancy Epstein raise concerns about the integrity of the AANS and its commitment to ethical standards in neurosurgery. The editorial advocates for a shift back to prioritizing patient care and learning from experienced practitioners rather than silencing dissenting opinions. It calls for a reevaluation of the AANS's mission and practices. Keywords: AANS, Nancy Epstein, spine surgery, TLIF, neurosurgery, ethics, malpractice, patient care","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/placeholders/specialty/spine.png","publishDate":"2019-07-19T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_365_2019","categories":["Spine","Editorial"],"fullTextUrl":"http://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/9514/SNI-10-144.pdf"}