On Reveal, we hear from a surgery patient who received some nerve-wracking news.
Derika Moses had undergone spinal fusion surgery, an operation that resulted in four screws being driven into her back. About a year ago, Moses found out that the spinal screws that had been implanted in her body might be fakes – knockoff versions of the ones that are made according to government-approved standards.
It turns out that a company called Spinal Solutions is accused of counterfeiting these medical implants and selling the bogus parts to doctors who used them in surgeries. One Spinal Solutions insider said the company mixed authentic and counterfeit screws in surgical kits sent across the U.S.
See if you can tell the difference.
Julia B. Chan can be reached at jchan@revealnews.org. Follow her on Twitter: @juliachanb.
Julia B. Chan worked at The Center for Investigative Reporting until June, 2017. Julia B. Chan is a producer and the digital editor for Reveal's national public radio program. She’s the voice of Reveal online and manages the production and curation of digital story assets that are sent to more than 200 stations across the country. Previously, Chan helped The Center for Investigative Reporting launch YouTube’s first investigative news channel, The I Files, and led engagement strategies – online and off – for multimedia projects. She oversaw communications, worked to better connect CIR’s work with a bigger audience and developed creative content and collaborations to garner conversation and impact.
Before joining CIR, Chan worked as a Web editor and reporter at the San Francisco Examiner. She managed the newspaper’s digital strategy and orchestrated its first foray into social media and online engagement. A rare San Francisco native, she studied broadcasting at San Francisco State University, focusing on audio production and recording. Chan is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.
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