Dr. Death

Dr. Death: Resources to Learn More About the Infamous Neurosurgeon

With Christopher “Dr. Death” Duntsch in the news so often, you may want to learn more about the Dallas surgeon who injured or killed more than 30 of his patients. This is intended to be a one-stop resource for your curiosity and education.

Christopher Duntsch is currently serving a life sentence in a Texas prison. Much has been said about Dr. Death, including speculation on his motives, but this is simply a repository for your own independent research.

Dr. Death TV Series

Courtesy: NBCUniversal

Universal Cable Productions announced on October 3, 2018 that it had put a Dr. Death TV series based on the true story into development. The Peacock Dr. Death TV series, which details the horrifyingly true story of deranged Dallas neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch, officially premiered July 15 on the NBC-owned streaming service.

Patrick Macmanus served as show runner and executive producer of the series, which was based on the Dr. Death podcast, and of course, real events. The show starred Joshua Jackson in the titular role as Dr. Christopher Duntsch, aka Dr. Death, alongside Christian Slater and Alex Baldwin.

Where Can I Watch the Dr. Death Series?

You can watch the first three episodes of Dr. Death for free via Peacock. However, the remaining five episodes require a premium subscription.

Peacock

Episodes

Episode 1, “Diplos,” directed by Maggie Kiley and written by Patrick Macmanus
Episode 2, “Ain’t No Bum,” directed by Maggie Kiley and written by Ashley Michel Hoban
Episode 3, “Dock Ellis,” directed by Jennifer Morrison and written by Evan Wright
Episode 4, “An Occurrence at Randall Kirby’s Sink,” directed by Jennifer Morrison and written by Ahmadu Garba
Episode 5, “The $?!& in the Bed,” directed by So Yong Kim and written by Matthew White
Episode 6, “Occam’s Razor,” directed by So Yong Kim and written by Sara Pearson & Maxwell Michael Towson
Episode 7, “Feet of Clay,” directed by So Yong Kim and written by Ashley Michel Hoban & Ahmadu Garba
Episode 8, “Hardwood Floors,” directed by So Yong Kim and written by Patrick Macmanus

The Dr. Death Podcast

Courtesy: Wondery

The podcast Dr. Death is produced by Wondery and focuses on egregious cases of medical malpractice. It premiered September 4, 2018, with host Laura Beil.

Wondery caused some controversy in its initial promotion of the podcast. It rented a billboard across the street from Baylor Plano. Only hours after being displayed, Clear Channel Outdoor received numerous complaints and ultimately decided to take it down. Baylor Plano said they had no involvement with getting the billboard removed.

In addition to being educational and potentially transformative, Dr. Death’s first season was loved by critics for its entertainment value. GQ Magazine called Dr. Death “The scariest podcast of the year.”

Where Can I Listen to the Dr. Death Podcast?

You can listen to the Dr. Death podcast multiple ways. It’s available on most every major podcast app. Just search for “Dr. Death” to find it on your favorite platform. A few links to get you started:

Dr. Death: Season 1

Season 1 of the Dr. Death podcast focuses on the story of Christopher Duntsch.

“Three Days In Dallas,” Released September 4, 2018
“Chris and Jerry,” Released September 4, 2018
“Occam’s Razor,” Released September 7, 2018
“Spineless,” Released September 11, 2018
“Free Fall,” Released September 18, 2018
“Closure,” Released September 25, 2018
“Update,” Released October 2, 2018
“Interview,” Released October 9, 2018
“One Great Man,” Released November 13, 2018
“Breaking News,” Released December 13, 2018
“An Update: Love and Loyalty,” Released November 24, 2020

Dr. Death: Season 2

Season 2 of the Dr. Death podcast shifted its focus to Farid Fata, a hematology and oncologist, who was convicted for prescribing chemotherapy to patients who did not have cancer and to patients with conditions not warranting chemotherapy. He pled guilt to his charges, which included health care fraud, money laundering, and conspiring to pay and receive kickbacks.