Springfield surgeon accused of disruptive behavior in OR loses medical license

By Liz Kowalczyk, Globe Staff

A Springfield orthopedic surgeon accused of engaging in disruptive behavior in the operating room -- including punching a door, throwing a surgical instrument, and threatening an anesthesiologist -- lost his license to practice medicine.

The Board of Registration in Medicine Wednesday revoked the license of Dr. Harvey Grant, 78, a surgeon at Mercy Medical Center.

Grant also failed to provide medical records to two patients in a timely fashion, and failed to keep accurate and current records for many patients, the board said. Mercy Medical Center told the board that at one point, Grant had over 100 incomplete patient charts at the hospital.

In its decision, the board said Grant had been disciplined repeatedly by the board for failing to provide medical records requested by patients.

Grant’s attorney, William Bennett of Springfield, said in a written statement Wednesday that the board denied Grant’s “request for a hearing on the complaints against him. Therefore, because his license was revoked without a hearing, today’s action will be appealed” to the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Grant could also petition the board for reinstatement in five years.

Just before starting an operation at Mercy on August 2, 2008, Grant punched a door in frustration after the operation had been delayed several times, according to board documents. During the surgery, he threw a retractor that had malfunctioned.

At one point during the surgery, Grant left the room. When he returned he discovered that the anesthesiologist had used general anesthesia, rather than the spinal anesthesia that Grant and the patient had agreed on. Grant told the anesthesiologist that if the patient did poorly, he “deserved to have his legs broken,’’ according to the documents.

In a written statement, Mercy spokeswoman Mary Orr said that Grant no longer practices at Mercy Medical Center and that his privileges expired on September 30, 2010.

Liz Kowalczyk can be reached at kowalczyk@globe.com.