Stanford University Medical School Reinstates Teaching Privileges for Nezhat Brothers

Stanford University has restored the medical school teaching privileges for Drs. Camran, Ceana and Farr Nezhat after investigations determined that, despite "deficien[cies]" with their scholarly publications, the brothers are "highly skilled gynecologists who took excellent care of their patients," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The Nezhats, known worldwide as "pioneers" of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques, were suspended from their posts as unpaid volunteer members of the Stanford medical school's clinical teaching staff last December "amid charges of misconduct" (Perlman, San Francisco Chronicle, 8/15). The Nezhats also lost their directorship positions at the Stanford Endoscopy Center for Training and Technology at that time. They retained their privileges at Stanford's hospital during their suspension (California Healthline, 12/21/01). Stanford University School of Medicine Dean Philip Pizzo said that the Nezhats' "excellence in the operating room" prompted the school to restore their teaching privileges (AP/Fresno Bee, 8/15). He added that the doctors' reinstatement to the school's volunteer faculty will allow them to lead seminars and "informally instruct students in clinical settings." The Nezhats will not be reinstated to their posts at the endoscopy center, which is moving to another medical school division (Feder Ostrov, San Jose Mercury News, 8/15).