Florida Doctor Continues to Operate Despite Involvement in Patient Deaths

In another example of the State of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration’s continuing failure to adequately monitor physicians under its charge, Dr. Alex Zakharia is still on the active staffs at numerous Miami hospitals despite an admitted memory problem and pending perjury and fraud charges.

Dr. Zakharia, age 69, a Miami surgeon specializing in heart surgery, apparently suffers from increasing memory losses, due to a number of TIA (trans ischemic attack) he suffered in the last few years. Despite those worsening memory problems, and his role as the surgeon involved in a number of patients’ deaths, a number of which resulted in medical malpractice claims, the State of Florida has not seen fit to suspend his ability to operate.

We are continually amazed at the State’s lack of action in their monitoring of physicians, especially those involved in multiple patient deaths. We have unfortunately represented a number of families whose loved ones died from egregious malpractice. Yet despite our reporting those incidents to the State, including one doctor who changed medical records following the death of an infant, the State never issued more than a slap on the hand. Hopefully, as the public’s awareness regarding such doctors grows, the State will be forced to deal with these matters in a manner which will better protect the public.