HOUSTON (CN) – A world-famous heart surgeon who has performed more than 1,000 transplants turned his metaphorical scalpel on an investigative report questioning the ethics of his research by filing a defamation lawsuit against ProPublica and Texas’ biggest newspaper.
Dr. O. Howard “Bud” Frazier sued ProPublica, the Houston Chronicle and one reporter from each outlet for defamation on Monday in Harris County District Court after they published a lengthy and critical news report about Frazier’s research practices and alleged conflicts of interest.
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Frazier, represented by David Berg with Berg & Androphy in Houston, is currently the co-director of cardiovascular surgery research with the Texas Heart Institute and practices with the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The heart institute described Frazier as a “living legend” who has performed more than 1,200 heart transplants and made significant innovations in mechanical circulatory support, such as artificial hearts.