Six former patients or their families have accused Charlotte-area surgeon Dr. Timothy Ryan Heider of wrongful death or malpractice in lawsuits over the past 15 years, with four settled out of court with cash payments.. That’s an unusually high number for surgeons across any specialty, data shows.
Two of the doctor’s patients died within days of weight-loss operations that typically carry a death rate of less than 0.1%, according to experts Others said they faced serious complications, including kidney injury and stomach removal.
But, to the frustration of people interviewed by the Observer, Heider continues to operate. He’s been assigned to emergency general surgery at Atrium Health Lincoln since May 2025, according to the hospital…