Doctor leaves mid-surgery on open-heart patient to attend luncheon

A California cardiologist is under fire after he allegedly left in the middle of a surgery in order to attend a luncheon.

The Merced Sun-Star reported that Dr. Pervaiz Chaudhry, cardiologist with Valley Cardiac Surgery in Fresno,was performing open-heart surgery on 72-year old Silvino Perez when he departed from the hospital in order to attend a luncheon on April 2, 2012. He left the remainder of the surgery in the hands of an unqualified assistant who stitched up the patient's chest. However, he was not stitched up properly and oxygen and blood began to leave his body, causing his heart to stop. He was then put on life support. Perez has been in a vegetative state ever since.

KFSN-TV also wrote that Perez's family was unaware that the incident even happened until a nurse called and told them what had just gone on in the operating room. Perez's stepson said, "It's a betrayal. They are covering something up. The nurse went on to say the only reason they have this guy on is he brings so much money into the hospital. That's the only reason they haven't done anything yet."You go in there and you trust this individual with your life... The fact that he would do this to an individual — one individual — is too much."

KFSN-TV also reported that Dr. Chaudry, who was one of the top cardiologists in the state, is still working at Community Regional Medical Center.