Surgeon retains license

But the state is likely to resurrect some complaints against Alfred Bonati and to present new ones.

By COLLINS CONNER

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 1, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- Six months after the Florida Board of Medicine voted to yank his license, orthopedic surgeon Alfred Bonati has gotten a reprieve.

The Feb. 5 hearing on 20 complaints against Bonati has been canceled and the state's case against Bonati has been dismissed.

This was the sixth state action against Bonati in 11 years. The actions contain a total of 38 complaints, ranging from poor records keeping to performing unneeded surgeries. Counting this case, 24 of the complaints were dismissed, two ended with letters of concern and probation, one ended with a letter of guidance and 11 ended with reprimands.

Still, Bonati can't put his problems with state regulators behind him.

Within six months, the state likely will resurrect some of the dismissed complaints and present other, new complaints to the Board of Medicine's probable cause panel, according to a Bill Parizek, spokesman for the Florida Department of Health. If the panel finds the complaints warranted, Bonati would again face discipline by the medical board.

The Jan. 18 dismissal was prompted by new information the state gleaned while its attorneys and Bonati's attorney, Cynthia Tunnicliff, were preparing for the disciplinary hearing. Tunnicliff and Parizek declined to disclose the new information, citing confidentiality requirements.

Despite the state actions, Bonati has built a loyal following by using arthroscopy and lasers to treat the aching backs of thousands of patients who streamed to his Gulf Coast Orthopedic Center in Hudson. His treatments also generated a number of malpractice claims; in 1996, he sought the protection of bankruptcy court, where his clinic is now attempting to settle the claims of more than 30 unhappy patients asking for more than $130-million.

The agreement being worked out would create a pool of money for malpractice claimants. An appointed arbitrator would determine how much money should be paid to each malpractice claimant. If the total amount of the arbitrator's awards exceeds the money set aside, the patients would get proportionate shares.

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