♪ CRYSTAL: TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, A LOOK INTO A MONTH-LONG GBH NEWS INVESTIGATION INTO WATCHED SURGERIES ON SOME OF THE MOST HONORABLE PATIENTS IN THE STATE.

AND THE SYSTEMS OTHER PHYSICIANS BELIEVE ARE FAILING TO PROTECT PATIENTS.

PEOPLE COME FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COME TO SOME OF BOSTON'’S WORLD-FAMOUS HOSPITALS LIKE MASS GENERAL AND BOSTON CHILDREN'’S, BUT THE LESSER-KNOWN SHATTUCK HOSPITAL IN JAMAICA PLAIN CARES PRIMARILY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, AND PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN THE STATE'’S PRISONS.

DOCTORS WHO WORK THERE HAVE DESCRIBED A SENSE OF MISSION IN THEIR WORK, BUT AS GBH'’S NEWS INVESTIGATIVE DEPUTY EDITOR FOUND, SOME OF THE DOCTORS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, AND FORMER COLLEAGUES AND PATIENTS HAVE RAISED THE ALARM ABOUT ONE SURGEON IN PARTICULAR WHO THEY ARGUE HAS DONE MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

>> I KNOW SHE WAS NEGLIGENT.

I KNOW SHE COMMITTED MALPRACTICE.

I KNOW IT.

SHE DID A SURGERY SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO DO, WHICH RESULTED IN ALTERING MY ENTIRE LIFE.

IN 2016, I GOT SENT TO THE SHATTUCK TO SEE DR. CARRILLO FROM SOUZA-BARANOWSKI CORRECTIONAL CENTER.

I WAS IN PRISON FROM NOVEMBER OF 2012 UNTIL JANUARY 2023.

I BROKE MY FOOT AND I DID NEED MEDICAL CARE.

DR. CARRILLO EXPLAINED AN EASY, RELATIVELY PAINLESS SURGERY TO ME, SAID I'’D BE WALKING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL THAT DAY AND I'’D BE BACK TO FULL RECOVERY IN A WEEK.

BUT WHEN I WOKE UP, I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN.

I TOLD THE BEDSIDE NURSE, LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING'’S NOT RIGHT.

I'’M IN A LOT OF PAIN.

A LOT OF PAIN.

MY FOOT FELT LIKE IT WAS BURNING, LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE.

I FELT LIKE MY HEAD WAS GOING TO POP OFF.

I WASN'’T WALKING OUT OF THERE.

THEY KNEW I WASN'’T WALKING OUT OF THERE.

AND I GOT PUT IN A WHEELCHAIR AND WHEELED OUT OF THERE AND I LEFT.

>> I FIRST HEARD FROM ONE ADVOCATE WHO WORKS WITH PEOPLE IN THE PRISONS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD REALLY LOOK INTO THIS ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON AT THE SHATTUCK BECAUSE THERE'’S A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HER.

ADRIANA CARRILLO IS AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON.

SHE IS A LONG-TIME SURGEON AT THE HOSPITAL.

WE STARTED TO LOOK UP COURT RECORDS, AND WE FOUND 20 CASES FROM PRISONERS IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS RELATED TO BOTCHED SURGERIES, DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE.

♪ PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY GO IN THERE AND THEY COME OUT WORSE.

>> WE FOUND 20 CASES.

WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS THAT ARE LIKELY MANY MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE?

>> DEFINITELY.

MANY MORE.

>> I SPOKE TO SEVERAL DOCTORS WHO USED TO WORK AT THE SHATTUCK.

>> I FELT IN ALMOST EVERY INTERACTION I HAD WITH HER THAT HER CARE WAS DANGEROUS, NOT BASED IN GUIDELINES.

AND ALMOST EVERY PATIENT I SPOKE TO, THERE WAS A REPORT THAT SHE WAS DISMISSIVE AND SHOWED ABSOLUTELY NO COMPASSION.

>> SO, WE WENT DOWN TO VISIT MATT.

HE SAYS THAT HE WENT IN THERE UNDERSTANDING HE WAS GOING TO HAVE ONE SURGERY.

HE GOT ANOTHER ONE HE HADN'’T GIVEN CONSENT TO AND WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT FOR MONTHS, UNTIL MONTHS LATER WHEN HE READ HIS OWN REPORTS AND REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM.

>> THIS IS THE MEDICAL RECORDS RIGHT HERE.

SO, THIS IS HOW THE DRESSING WAS.

>> SHE DIDN'’T ASK YOU FOR PERMISSION?

>> SHE DIDN'’T ASK ME, TELL ME OR ANYTHING.

NOTHING.

NOT EVEN WHEN I WOKE UP, SHE TOLD ME I WAS BEING A BABY.

THE WAY SHE EXPLAINED IT WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE, LITTLE CUT LIKE THIS ON THE TOP OF MY JOINT THAT GOES THIS WAY.

INSTEAD, I ENDED UP WITH A CUT LIKE THAT LONG THAT WENT THIS WAY.

ALL ALONG THE, LIKE, THE WHOLE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT FOOT.

YOU CAN SEE THESE LINES LIKE THREE, LIKE THREE OF THEM.

THREE LINES, LIKE THAT WHERE THE SUTURES RIPPED THROUGH AND JUST WENT, AND JUST LIKE OPENED RIGHT BACK UP.

YOU KNOW, MY FOOT GOT INFECTED.

IT WAS SPLITTING OPEN.

>> AND HE ALSO CLAIMED HE BEGGED AND BEGGED FOR CARE.

HE DIDN'’T GET EVEN BASIC COURTESIES LIKE CLEAN BANDAGES WHEN HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND BEGGED AND ASKED FOR THEM, FOUND HIMSELF WITH AN INCREDIBLE INFECTION IN HIS FOOT THAT HE COULDN'’T GET HELP WITH FOR MONTHS.

AND HE SAID BOTH THE PRISON SYSTEM AND THE DOCTOR REALLY DIDN'’T PAY ATTENTION TO HIM UNTIL HE HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY TO TREAT THE INFECTION.

>> IT WAS LIKE I WAS AN ANIMAL.

HONESTLY, AN ANIMAL WOULD LITERALLY GET TREATED BETTER THAN I DID.

MY FOOT HURTS ALL THE TIME.

MY WHOLE BODY'’S TWISTED.

I HAVE HERNIATED DISKS IN MY BACK AND NOW RANDOM PARTS OF MY LEG GO NUMB.

I DON'’T THINK I WILL EVER BE PAIN-FREE IN MY LIFE AGAIN.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT SHE IS STILL THERE?

>> I THINK IT'’S INCREDIBLY UNETHICAL.

I THINK IT IS -- IT'’S A TRAVESTY IN MEDICAL CARE.

♪ >> YOU FOLKS WROTE A LETTER TO THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE HEARD AT ALL?

>> I DON'’T THINK AT ALL.

THERE WAS REALLY NO ACTION THAT SHOWS THAT SOMEONE WAS TAKING OUR COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY.

AND THAT'’S WHAT MAKES YOU FRUSTRATED.

AND THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE TRUST IN THE SYSTEM.

>> I WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT DR. CARRILLO HAS NEVER LOST A CASE.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE CASES ARE WON BY DOCTORS.

AND THESE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS, I'’VE READ THROUGH THESE COURT RECORDS AND SO MANY OF THEM ARE BEGGING FOR A PRO-BONO ATTORNEY, BEGGING FOR SOME STATE FUNDING OR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR AN EXPERT.

AND THAT WAS MATTHEW TOTTENHAM'’S CASE.

HE WAS FILING HIS LAWSUIT FROM HIS PRISON CELL.

HIS CASE WAS DISMISSED IN STATE COURT AND HE IS NOW FILING AN APPEAL.

>> THIS IS JUST A MOTION TO OPPOSE.

I'’M JUST HOPING THAT ON SOME LEVEL, SHE'’S HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

SHE JUST CAN'’T DO THIS TO PEOPLE AND JUST WALK AWAY SCOT-FREE, YOU KNOW?

♪ CRYSTAL: GBH NEWS DEPUTY INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR JENNIFER JOINS ME NOW, AS DO THE TWO FORMER SHATTUCK PHYSICIANS, CATHARINA ARMSTRONG AND DR. AL KAWHI.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED MANY TIMES WITH STORIES LIKE THIS, MEDICAL MISCONDUCT AND WE OFTEN HEAR SOMETIMES FROM PRISONERS WHO ARE SAYING THIS IS THEIR CASE.

WHAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU STARTED TO GET PHONE CALLS OR MESSAGES AND BEING TOLD ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

>> I HAVE COVERED THE PRISON SYSTEM FOR A LONG TIME AND I'’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN THE SHATTUCK HOSPITAL BECAUSE IT DOES CARE FOR THE POOREST STATE PATIENTS THAT WE HAVE.

I HAVE HEARD OFTEN IT IS A PLACE THAT PRISONERS COMPLAIN ABOUT A LOT, THAT THEY DON'’T DEAL TREATED WELL.

I HEARD FROM AN ADVOCATE WHO SAID YOU NEED TO CHECK ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR DOCTOR BECAUSE THEY'’RE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS, I WANTED TO LOOK INTO IT.

WE FOUND 20 LAWSUITS WHICH IS A LOT OF LAWSUITS FOR ONE PARTICULAR PHYSICIAN TO FACE.

CRYSTAL: DR. ARMSTRONG, WHEN DID THE ALARM BELLS START TO RING FOR YOU?

DR. ARMSTRONG: I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST STEP BACK AND THANK JENIFER MCKIM FOR REACHING OUT TO ME.

SHE REACHED OUT TO ME OVER A YEAR AGO.

TO BE HONEST, I HAD BEEN HESITANT TO AGREE TO SPEAK ON THE RECORD, PARTLY BECAUSE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHATTUCK WERE , YES, ABOUT PATIENT CARE UNDER DR. CARRILLO'’S CARE, BUT MUCH LARGER ISSUES WHICH IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED WHEN I WORKED THERE FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS.

THE REASON WHY I DID AGREE TO FINALLY SPEAK OUT WAS BECAUSE OF CONTINUING TO SEE BOTH COMMUNITY INCARCERATED PATIENTS THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CARE THAT DR. CARRILLO HAS BEEN DELIVERING.

DEVASTATION SECONDARY TO THE SURGERIES SHE HAS DONE AND THE NEGATIVE INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS.

THAT COUPLED WITH THE FACT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS LACK OF OVERSIGHT IS REALLY A TIP OF THE ICEBERG TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED AT THE SHATTUCK WHEN I WORKED THERE AND CONTINUE TO SEE IN THE PATIENTS I CARE FOR.

CRYSTAL: TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

YOU SAID YOU EXPERIENCED SOME THINGS THAT OBVIOUSLY MADE YOU CONCERNED ENOUGH TO COME FORWARD AS A PHYSICIAN.

I KNOW THAT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION FOR YOU.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHEN -- WAS THERE A DEFINING MOMENT?

WAS THERE A PARTICULAR CASE THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?

DR. ARMSTRONG: OVERALL, THE LACK OF OVERSIGHT, THE LACK OF SAFETY, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE SHATTUCK HAD LED TO CASES I HAD SEEN THAT I WOULD REPORT, THAT I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT.

I DID HAVE A CONCERN OFABOUT ONE PARTICULAR CASE BEFORE I LEFT WHICH WAS EMBLEMATIC OF OTHER CASES WHERE A PATIENT WAS RECEIVING SURGERY UNDER DR. CARRILLO.

SHE HAD OPERATED ON THE WRONG LIMB.

THE PATIENT WAS QUITE DISTRAUGHT AFTER THAT.

AS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR, I RECEIVED AN IMMEDIATE URGENT CONSULT.

THIS CONSULT WAS FROM THE PATIENT WHO HAVE THE OPERATION DONE ON THE WRONG LIMB, AND HE WANTED TO HAVE HIS IMMEDIATE HEPATITIS C TREATMENT.

I WAS ASKED TO DO AN IMMEDIATE CONSULT.

THAT WAS SHOCKING TO ME AND VERY CONCERNING.

THIS PATIENT WAS AN INCARCERATED PATIENT.

OTHER AREAS AND EXAMPLES OF CONCERN ARE CONTINUING.

I WOULD HAVE PATIENTS CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT THAT CARE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE LACK OF OVERSIGHT FOR DR. CARRILLO, THE LACK OF THE ADMINISTRATION ANSWERING CONCERNS THAT I WOULD HAVE AND OTHER DOCTORS WOULD HAVE ABOUT SAFETY, ABOUT OVERSIGHT, ABOUT TRANSPARENCY WERE VERY UPSETTING.

AND IT PROMPTED ME TO, ULTIMATELY IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXPERIENCING MY OWN TOXICITY IN THE WORKPLACE, WORKPLACE VIOLENCE DIRECTED TO ME FROM THE PRIOR COO, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, WITNESSING COWORKERS -- CEO.

AND WITNESSING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT TOWARDS COWORKERS BY THAT SAME PERSON, REPORTING ALL OF THESE WITH OTHER CLINICIANS, PROMPTED ME TO FEAR FOR MY OWN SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE.

AND NOW HAS PROMPTED ME TO REALLY WANT TO SPEAK OUT, NOT ONLY TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE, PATIENT SAFETY AND OVERSIGHT, BUT IMPROVE THE SUPPORT FOR THE CURRENT CLINICIANS THAT ARE THERE THAT ARE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD.

THAT WORK EVERY DAY AND HAVE FOUGHT EVERY DAY TO GIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE TO THEIR PATIENTS.

THEY REMAIN.

I HOPE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT OVERSIGHT, THAT TRANSPARENCY AND IMPROVE SAFETY.

CRYSTAL: YOU ARE NODDING YOUR HEAD AT EVERYTHING DR. ARMSTRONG IS TALKING ABOUT.

YOU EXPERIENCED THE AFTERMATH OF WHAT DR. CARRILLO IS ALLEGED TO HAVE DONE.

DR. ALRAKAWI: I DIDN'’T HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH DR. ARMSTRONG OR DR. CARRILLO, BUT I HEARD A FEW CASES FROM OTHER DOCTORS.

TO THINK SYSTEMATICALLY, I'’M NOT TALKING ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL, WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS THE SYSTEM THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN AND CONTINUES TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.

A SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE A DISPARITY OF CARE FOR VULNERABLE PATIENT POPULATION -- PRISONERS, MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS, PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDERINSURED, UNDOCUMENTED.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE STANDARD OF CARE WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON IN CERTAIN FIELDS OF MEDICINE.

I KNOW THE HOSPITAL IS UNDER RESOURCED.

THERE'’S A LOT OF PRESSURE THERE.

AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE PATIENTS.

WHAT WORRIES ME IS ANYTIME WE TRY TO SPEAK UP AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PATIENT, SPEAK ABOUT PATIENT SAFETY, DURING OUR TIME THERE, WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RETALIATION.

RETALIATION DOES NOT HAPPEN DIRECTLY, BUT IT IS IN DIRECT RETALIATION.

WE HAVE WITNESSED OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF MY JOURNEY AT THE SHATTUCK, A VERY TOXIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU REALLY -- YOU ARE REALLY PARALYZED AS A PHYSICIAN TO ACT.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO A PLACE THAT IS VERY TOXIC, THAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING EVERYTHING YOU SAY, THAT THEY ARE MISINTERPRETING WHAT YOU SAY, AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU SAY, THAT'’S REALLY -- YOU WON'’T BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND CONTINUE TO DELIVER.

WHEN YOU ARE WITNESSING A MISCONDUCT BY A PERSON WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR EVERYONE IN THE HOSPITAL, MAINLY THE CEO, WHO'’S PRACTICING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE IN A STATE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO AGREE TO THE WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AND A TEST TO IT.

I'’M NOT TALKING ABOUT ONE OCCASION.

BUT WE HAVE A PATTERN OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, AND YOU REPORT IT TO THE STATE AND NO ACTION IS TAKEN.

WHEN YOU SEE THIS PERSON HAS PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT, WHEN YOU SEE THIS PERSON -- I KNOW FROM THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO -- SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, MAKING SEXUAL COMMENTS THAT REALLY MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THEN YOU REPORT TO THE STATE.

THEY WILL MAKE AN INVESTIGATION AND THE PERSON WILL GET FIRED AND COME UP WITH ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR WILL BASICALLY COME UP WITH A REPORT SAYING THERE'’S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT.

THAT WOULD MAKE YOU AT SOME POINT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, AFTER SPENDING 23 YEARS IN THE HOSPITAL, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE PLACE FOR ME TO WORK AT ANYMORE.

BECAUSE YOU TRY TO ADVOCATE FOR PATIENT SAFETY BUT WE ARE PAYING THE PRICE.

CRYSTAL: JENIFER, I READ THEIR OTHER CLAIMS OR ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DR. CARRILLO BUT SOME OF THOSE DID NOT GET OVER THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE ATTORNEYS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS, OR THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS NECESSARY.

JENIFER: THERE WERE 20 LAWSUITS AND NONE OF THEM HAS RESULTED IN ANY WRONGDOING FOUND BY THE DOCTOR.

BUT, THEY ARE VERY CHALLENGING TO FILE, TO -- FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'’T HAVE RESOURCES, MEDICAL WRECKL MALPRACTICE -- MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, YOU NEED A LOT OF EXPERTS.

WE SPOKE TO PRISONERS NOW WHO HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

SO, THE NUMBERS ARE MUCH BIGGER.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY I DID NOT INVESTIGATE SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS WE ARE HEARING NOW, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND OTHER THINGS.

I DID SPEAK TO THE STATE AND THIS STATE DID SAY WE INVESTIGATED AND RESOLVED THE ISSUES, AND THAT THE FORMER CEO RESIGNED ON HIS OWN WILL.

SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE ARE THOSE FEELINGS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THESE DOCTORS WHEN THEY HEARD THAT, THAT IS THE MOMENT WHEN THEY SAID WE WANT TO TALK BECAUSE WE DON'’T THINK THAT IS RIGHT, AND WE WANT TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON SOMETHING WHERE THEY FELT LIKE THERE WAS NOT A TRUE LOOK AT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THIS HOSPITAL.

CRYSTAL: IN READING YOUR REPORT, IT SAYS THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAID WE DON'’T HAVE ANYTHING ON HER IN THIS.

JENIFER: THEY ALSO SAID THEY DIDN'’T HAVE ANY FORMAL PATIENT COMPLAINTS WHICH WAS CONFUSING TO ME.

THAT DOES NOT COUNT MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS?

I GUESS NOT.

THAT IS UNUSUAL FOR ME.

IT SEEMS LIKE -- SEMANTICS.

CRYSTAL: I IMAGINE FOLKS ARE T HOME -- THAT IS INCREDIBLE TO EVEN HEAR WHEN I READ IT.

I IMAGINE FOLKS AT HOME MUST BE SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT AS WELL.

DR. ALRAKAWI: IF I MAY.

WE ARE DEALING WITH PATIENTS -- HALF OF THE HOSPITAL IS UNDER MENTAL HEALTH.

MOST OF THOSE PATIENTS CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

YOU DON'’T EXPECT THOSE PATIENTS TO FINALLY REPORT.

WE ARE THE ONES WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REPORT IT.

WHEN YOU SEE A PATIENT MISTREATED, UNDERTREATED, OR YOU SEE A NONCLINICAL PERSON MAKING CLINICAL DECISIONS OVERRIDING THE EXPERT, THE DOCTOR, BY MAKING SOME IMPULSIVE MEDICAL DECISION, WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO SPEAK UP.

I'’M REALLY SURPRISED THEY DON'’T HAVE COMPLAINTS FROM THE PRISON PART OF IT.

BUT BACK TO THE INVESTIGATION, YES, THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION DONE, BUT THEY HAVE THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION PRIOR TO THE INVESTIGATION BEING DONE AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING.

WE WERE TOLD THERE WOULD BE A NEW CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, WHO IS LIKE A GREAT PERSON WHO CAME TO US FROM ONE OF THE BEST HOSPITALS IN BOSTON.

HER SPECIALTY WAS QUALITY OF CARE AND PATIENT SAFETY.

THAT PATIENT COULD NOT SURVIVE IN THE HOSPITAL MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AND HAD TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE WAY SHE WAS TREATED AND WHAT SHE SAW IN THE HOSPITAL.

THAT TELLS YOU HOW BIG THE PROBLEM IS THAT IS HAPPENING IN A STATE HOSPITAL.

WE COMPLAINED THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

WE WENT TO THE COMMISSIONER, THE GOVERNOR.

WE WERE HOPING, DESPERATE TO TALK TO SOMEONE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES IN A TRANSPARENT WAY AND THAT DIDN'’T HAPPEN.

CRYSTAL: NOW YOU ARE ALL CALLING FOR A STATE INVESTIGATION.

DR. ALRAKAWI: DEFINITELY.

I'’M WILLING TO SIT ONE-ON-ONE WITH ANYONE, WHETHER IT IS THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, PREVIOUS.

IF WE DON'’T LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANY BETTER.

TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO WERE STILL WORKING THERE, THEY ARE TELLING ME THE PLACE IS MUCH WORSE THAN WHEN WE LEFT.

IMAGINE THOSE PATIENTS HOW THEY ARE BEING TREATED.

THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED, UNDER RESOURCED.

THE PEOPLE END UP LEAVING THEIR ARE THE PEOPLE -- THERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO -- THOSE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY GOT REWARDED BY HANDING THEM A STATE JOB OR A STATE POSITION, OR PUTTING AN AD FOR STATE POSITION TO SUIT SOMEONE'’S OWN CV.

WE HAVE AN AD FOR A CHIEF OF MEDICINE THAT WAS PLACED AND SAYING SOMEONE WITH AN ONCOLOGY BACKGROUND IS RECOMMENDED TO APPLY IN A HOSPITAL THAT IS ALL ADDICTION MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

WHY WOULD YOU ASKED FOR THE CHIEF OF MEDICINE TO HAVE AN ONCOLOGY RECORD?

JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS A PERSON HELPING THEM OUT TO JUST REWARD THAT PERSON.

CRYSTAL: THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO UNCOVER.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

THE TIME GOES BY QUICKLY.

I AM SURE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS STORY.

DR. ALRAKAWI: I HOPE.

THERE'’S A LOT TO UNCOVER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIFICS, A LOT OF WITNESSES, AND WE HAVE BEEN DESPERATE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'’S HAPPENING.

DR. ARMSTRONG: AND TO SUPPORT THE PATIENTS THAT CONTINUE TO GET CARE AND TO SUPPORT THE CURRENT CLINICIANS THAT ARE WORKING SO HARD.

BY SPEAKING UP FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY, SAFETY AND OVERSIGHT, THEY FEAR RETALIATION AS I DID.

DR. ALRAKAWI: WE ALL PAID THE PRICE FOR SPEAKING UP.

CRYSTAL: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

JENIFER MCKIM, CATHARINA ARMSTRONG AND SALAH ALRAKAWI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

FRONTLINE'’S NEW FILM "THE AGE OF EASY MONEY."

PLUS, THE YOUTUBER TRAVELING THE STATE TO BRING MASSACHUSETTS BLACK HISTORY ALIVE.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ >> I'’M DEEP IN THE LYNN WOODS INSIDE THE BELLY OF THE BEAST, DUNGEON ROCK.

SOME SAY THAT THIS PLACE IS SERIOUSLY HAUNTED.

DO YOU WORRY THAT IT'’S ACTUALLY HAUNTED?

>> FOR SURE.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> OTHERS THINK THAT IT HIDES THE TREASURE OF 17TH-CENTURY PIRATE THOMAS VEAL.

>> HE'’S IN THE CAVE.

THE TREASURE'’S IN THE CAVE AND HE'’S SMASHED FLAT.

SO, THIS ROCK BECOMES HIS DUNGEON.

>> ONE THING THAT IS CERTAIN, IT WAS DUG BY A MAN WHO BELIEVED HE WAS BEING LED RIGHT HERE FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE.

SO, THERE IS A SUPPOSEDLY HAUNTED CAVE HERE IN LYNN.

WE'’RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SPOOKY STORY AND OUR QUEST BEGINS RIGHT HERE.

>> I GREW UP NOT TOO FAR FROM THE WOODS.

WE DEFINITELY LEARNED ABOUT DUNGEON ROCK AS KIDS, FOR SURE.

IT'’S A PRETTY COOL AND COMPELLING STORY.

>> IN THE MID-1800'’S, THE WOODS ENTERED AN OMINOUS CHAPTER, BECOMING A HOTBED OF THE PARANORMAL THANKS TO A MASSACHUSETTS MAN NAMED HIRAM MARBLE, A MEMBER OF A SOCIAL-RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT CALLED SPIRITUALISM.

>> THEY HAD MEDIUMS THAT BELIEVED THAT THEY COULD SPEAK TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED ON.

AND SO HIRAM MARBLE WOULD USE THESE MEDIUMS.

>> MARBLE PURCHASED THE LAND IN LYNN WOODS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED HE WAS BEING LED THERE BY ONE SPIRIT IN PARTICULAR, THE GHOST OF A PIRATE FROM THE 1600'’S NAMED THOMAS VEAL.

>> STORIES HAVE IT THAT THERE WAS A PIRATE WHO ENDED UP TAKING UP SHOP THERE, HIDING WITH HIS TREASURE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAPPENED AND HE WAS SEALED IN THE CAVE WITH THE TREASURE, ALLEGEDLY.

>> THE PIRATE STORY FIRST APPEARED IN PRINT NEARLY TWO CENTURIES AFTER IT SUPPOSEDLY HAPPENED.

AND SOON, VERSIONS BEGAN POPPING UP ALL OVER.

AND IT WAS AGAINST THIS BACKDROP THAT HIRAM MARBLE AND HIS SON EDWIN WOULD SPEND 30 YEARS RELENTLESSLY DIGGING A CAVE IN SEARCH OF THE REMAINS OF THOMAS VEAL AND HIS BURIED TREASURE.

A CAVE STILL THERE TODAY.

DUNGEON ROCK.

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN JOINING ME FOR A LITTLE TRIP TO THE PIRATE CAVE?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO STILL GO TO DUNGEON ROCK.

I'’M JUST NOT ONE OF THEM.

>> WAIT, YOU'’VE NEVER BEEN INSIDE?

>> NO.

>> WHY?

>> IT CREEPS ME OUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> DO YOU WORRY THAT IT'’S ACTUALLY HAUNTED?

>> YEAH, FOR SURE.

>> FOR SURE?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'’T NEED TO ENCOUNTER THAT SPIRIT.

>> AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS, TODAY A 2200-ACRE PARK, WE MET UP WITH RANGER DAN SMALL, OUR GUIDE INTO THE HEART OF HIRAM MARBLE'’S UNHOLY OBSESSION.

THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK NOW.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WON'’T GO IN.

>> ONE TIME, OH, 20 YEARS AGO, I HAD AN ASSISTANT RANGER AND HE WAS A RUGGED GUY, HE WAS LIKE A REGULAR GUY.

BUT, HE WOULD NOT GO IN THERE.

>> AS THE ORIGINAL STORY GOES, ONE NIGHT IN 1658, A MYSTERIOUS SHIP APPEARED IN THE BAY.

FOUR MEN, INCLUDING THOMAS VEAL, WERE SEEN ROWING FROM IT UP THE SAUGUS RIVER.

THEY TOOK UP RESIDENCY IN THE WOODS.

>> AND HE HAD THE TREASURE WITH HIM, WHICH IS THE IMPORTANT PART.

>> THREE OF THE PIRATES WERE CAPTURED BY AUTHORITIES, BUT THOMAS VEAL ESCAPED.

>> HE RAN UP INTO HERE WITH THE TREASURE.

BEHIND THIS BIG ROCK THAT YOU'’RE STANDING NEXT TO, THERE'’S ACTUALLY A NATURAL CAVE.

>> AND THERE, HE LIVED FOR A TIME UNTIL A GREAT EARTHQUAKE STRUCK AND COLLAPSED HIS MAKESHIFT ABODE.

>> THAT'’S WHY IT'’S CALLED DUNGEON ROCK.

THIS IS THE PIRATE'’S DUNGEON BECAUSE A BIG BOULDER HAS HIM TRAPPED UNDERNEATH IT.

>> AS FOR THE VERACITY OF THIS OLD YARN, MEH.

>> THERE WERE PIRATES IN THIS AREA AT THAT TIME.

THERE REALLY WAS A GUY NAMED TOM VEAL.

THERE'’S RECORDS OF HIM IN THE SALEM COURT.

>> BUT WHILE THERE ARE FIRSTHAND RECORDS OF EARTHQUAKES HERE IN 1638 AND 1663, THERE WASN'’T ONE IN 1658.

>> ANOTHER MAJOR FAULT WITH THE STORY, TOO, IS NOWHERE BEFORE ABOUT 1850 OR 1840 IS THERE ANY REFERENCE TO THIS AREA BEING CALLED DUNGEON ROCK.

>> TRUE OR NOT, HIRAM MARBLE WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVED THE TALE.

AS FOR PEOPLE TODAY?

>> I'’VE FOUND RITUALLY-KILLED CHICKENS.

I'’VE FOUND THINGS WITH CANDLES AND COCONUT AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT WERE SET UP.

IT'’S EASY TO DISMISS IT ALL AS A HOAX OR HOOEY, BUT THE REALITY IS A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE THAT THERE'’S SOMETHING GOING ON UP HERE.

AND WHO AM I TO SAY THERE ISN'’T?

>> OUT OF EXCUSES AND REASONS TO STALL, IT WAS TIME TO ENTER THIS LITERAL UNDERWORLD.

INSIDE, IT IS COLD, IT IS DAMP, AND IT IS DARK.

THE TUNNEL IS ERRATIC.

>> THEY ACTUALLY WOULD HOLD SEANCES IN THE CAVE.

THE GHOST WOULD APPEAR, HE WOULD SAY, "GO RIGHT, GO LEFT," AND THAT'’S WHY IT MAKES THESE ABRUPT CHANGES.

>> AND IT ABRUPTLY ENDS, 174 FEET FROM THE START, WITH TWO STAGNANT POOLS OF WATER.

WE GOT A TRUSTY GHOST METER HERE.

IT RUNS ON A NINE-VOLT BATTERY.

SO, I'’M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF A GHOST METER IT CAN REALLY BE, BUT WE'’RE GOING TO TURN IT ON AND SEE WHAT WE FIND HERE AT THE END OF THE CAVE.

ALL RIGHT.

THE NEEDLE SEEMS TO BE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN ANY DIRECTION.

A LITTLE BOUNCE HERE.

>> HELLO?

>> WHAT?

HONESTLY, WHAT THE -- WAS THAT?

>> HELLO?

>> HELLO.

>> TURNS OUT IT WAS JUST SOME KIDS MESSING WITH US.

LIKE, THAT WAS LEGITIMATELY, FOR A MOMENT, TERRIFYING.

IN THE END, THERE WERE NO GHOSTS.

THERE WAS NO GOLD.

A DISAPPOINTMENT, I THINK, THE MARBLES MIGHT RELATE TO.

HIRAM PASSED AWAY IN 1868.

EDWIN KEPT DIGGING UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1880 AND IS BURIED IN AN UNMARKED GRAVE JUST STEPS FROM THE CAVE'’S ENTRANCE.

THEY DIDN'’T FIND THE TREASURE EITHER, BUT IN A WAY, THEY DID GET WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

>> EDWIN AND HIRAM'’S PLAN FROM THE START, AND THEY MADE THIS VERY PUBLIC, WAS THAT IF THEY EVER FOUND THE MONEY, THEY WERE GOING TO BUY ALL THIS LAND AROUND HERE AND THEY WERE GOING TO TURN IT INTO A PARK FOR THE PEOPLE IN LYNN.

>> TODAY, IT IS EXACTLY THAT.

AND THEIR MANMADE CAVE AT DUNGEON ROCK IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WHENEVER THE WEATHER ALLOWS.

SO, YES, YOU CAN COME AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

IF YOU DARE.