A Colorado grand jury has charged a doctor with manslaughter after he allegedly prioritized a “music bingo” game over the care of a patient undergoing routine cataract surgery. The doctor, 68-year-old anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Urban, is implicated in the death of 56-year-old Bart Writer, as reported by local NBC affiliate KUSA. This incident unfolded on February 3, 2023, at the InSight Surgery Center in Lone Tree, near Denver.

Surgeon Dr. C. Starck Johnson, who had a longstanding professional relationship with Writer, was set to perform the brief 10-minute operation alongside Dr. Urban. However, the medical team’s attention was allegedly diverted by the game, leading to concerns that the alarms designed to monitor Writer’s vital signs were muted to allow the music from Urban’s phone to be heard.

“This situation brings no happiness for anyone involved,” stated Chris Writer, Bart’s wife, in her interview with KUSA. “The entire tragedy could have been avoided.” Her statement underscores the preventable nature of the incident.

As Writer encountered respiratory issues, the lawsuit alleges both Johnson and Urban were distracted by the “music bingo” game. KUSA’s coverage of deposition testimonies from the doctors highlights that the game revolved around identifying songs from Urban’s phone playlist, featuring hits from the ’70s and ’80s. Players aimed to match musicians with the first letters of their names to complete the word “BINGO,” such as “B” for the Bee Gees and “G” for Gladys Knight.

When Bart Writer began experiencing respiratory distress, the lawsuit stated that Johnson and Urban were engaged in a game of “music bingo.” According to KUSA’s reporting on deposition statements made by both doctors, the game was based on a playlist played from Urban’s cellphone, which included songs from the 1970s and 1980s. Bands and musicians were identified by the first letter of their first names — e.g., the Bee Gees were letter “B,” Gladys Knight was letter “G.” And the goal was to be the first to spell “BINGO.”

Urban, who was the only person in the operating room able to see Bart Writer’s vital sign readings, was the one keeping score during that day’s “music bingo” game.

Bart Writer, who was covered during surgery from the head down, had started turning blue from lack of oxygen. By the time he was taken to a hospital nearby, it was too late to save him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital; the cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest.

Chris Writer told KUSA, “They just didn’t pay attention. Maybe they do so many of these surgeries that it just becomes so routine. I’m just infuriated.” After her husband’s death, she had received a tip from an unnamed doctor who was not in the operating room, who said Johnson and Urban were known to play their “music bingo” game during surgical procedures.

The grieving widow hired attorneys to question both doctors, who admitted in recorded depositions — also obtained by KUSA — to playing the game while they operated on Bart Writer

Chris Writer sued Johnson, who seemed to throw his former “music bingo” playmate under the bus. In a statement to KUSA, he blamed Urban — with whom he said he performed 8,000 cataract surgeries — “for decisions that violated proper protocol.”

Johnson’s attorney told KUSA, “Dr. Johnson relies on the anesthesiologist to provide the proper dose and type of anesthesia, to properly monitor the patient’s condition, and to communicate all relevant information to the surgeon including if they have elected, for whatever reason, to silence the audible alarms. During the cataract surgery, Dr. Johnson is looking through a microscope for the entire procedure. Therefore, he must rely on the surgical team for many aspects of surgical care.”

He added, “Nothing in Dr. Johnson’s experience would explain, justify or have predicted Dr. Urban’s decisions on that day.”

Urban responded to the statement through his attorney, who told KUSA that “Dr. Urban stands by his care and treatment of Mr. Writer and disagrees with the surgeon’s characterizations of the events of that day, which we understand are in the context of contentious litigation. He is nonetheless very sympathetic towards Ms. Writer and her loss.”

Urban no longer works at InSight Surgery Center after moving out of state.

KUSA reported that Chris Writer and Johnson settled for an undisclosed amount.