Former F1 Doctor: Serious lapses of judgement in Schumacher’s care

A former F1 doctor says there have been ‘serious lapses of judgement’ in Michael Schumacher’s care.

Gary Hartstein, F1 sport’s chief doctor between 2005 and 2012, also said that the world is witnessing the long goodbye of one of F1’s most legendary figures.

The former doctor says he has heard from ‘usually impeccable sources’ that these lapses ‘could, and almost certainly did, worsen the outcome in Michael’s case.’ 

Mr Hartstein wrote on his medical blog: “It is possible that the staff at Grenoble feel duty-bound to NOT place any pressure on the family to transfer out, despite the terribly dismal prognosis . . . because of the clear (but unquantifiable) contribution of medical misjudgement to that prognosis.

“Therefore, I think it is inevitable that should the status quo continue, the ICU staff may well, at some point in the not-distant future, decide that the patient they’ve just been asked to admit has a higher need for that bed than Michael, given his clinical situation and prognosis. This then could be a reason to organise a transfer – to a private clinic, or to an ICU-like environment that his entourage could build at his home.”

Yesterday (Tuesday) The Sun newspaper claimed that after his skiing accident in the French resort of Meribel Schumacher, 45, was flown to the ‘wrong’ hospital – with medics taking him to a local clinic first instead of head injury specialists.

According to The Sun, the F1 champion was initially airlifted to Moutiers before being taken 50 miles away to Grenoble University Hospital.

Euro Weekly News previously reported on Schumacher here: 

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/world-news/item/119463-schumacher-s-lost-a-quarter-of-his-body-weight

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/world-news/item/119228-11-weeks-after-accident-schumacher-s-agent-says-there-are-small-encouraging-signs-in-his-condition

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/world-news/item/119162-only-a-miracle-can-save-michael-schumacher