NEW YORK — A woman whose doctor carved his initials into her skin after he delivered her baby by Caesarean section has settled a lawsuit against the doctor and dropped her claim against Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, the hospital said Friday.
Under the terms of the settlement, the patient, Dr. Liana Gedz, a dentist, will receive $1.75 million, according to people who were involved in the settlement talks.
The obstetrician, Dr. Allan Zarkin, dubbed "Dr. Zorro," did not deny to hospital officials that he carved his initials into Gedz's abdomen in September after delivering her baby girl. Zarkin's lawyer has said his client has a frontal lobe dementia similar to Alzheimer's.
Zarkin has been charged with assault in the carving, and he has pleaded not guilty. Gedz, while pursuing her civil suit against Zarkin and the hospital, said she did not think the district attorney should pursue a criminal case against Zarkin. Gedz socialized frequently with Zarkin before he delivered her baby.
The State Health Department fined Beth Israel $14,000 and ordered it to improve its monitoring of doctors.
Health Department officials said the hospital failed to file proper reports with the state after the carving incident.
and did not sufficiently monitor Zarkin, despite earlier complaints by hospital workers that the doctor's behavior had been erratic. The department, which is responsible for licensing doctors, did not suspend Zarkin's license until January.
"Dr. Gedz has released Beth Israel Medical Center from all claims and liability arising out of the incident with Dr. Allan Zarkin without payment of any kind by Beth Israel," the hospital said in a faxed statement. Zarkin's malpractice insurance is expected to cover the cost of the settlement.
Gedz's lawyer, Robert Sullivan, could not be reached for comment last night.