May 31 2005
The American Board of Surgery is being forced to rewrite its certifying exam and change its examination rules after 86 answers to the test turned up for auction on eBay in August, 2004.
Apparently, rectal specialist Craig Edward Amshel, of St. Augustine, Fla., failed the 2002 exam, however, under rules in place at that time test-takers were allowed to review their tests privately.
Amshel then, according to his lawyer, David R. Dearden, sold sets of questions that were auctioned off on eBay for up to $300 each.
Amshel passed the board's test in 2003 but has since had his board certification revoked. He has agreed to pay $36,000 to the board which is the estimated cost of drafting new questions.
An Arm and a Leg: The hack