Italian thoracic surgeon Paolo Macchiarini, who rose to prominence after developing an organ transplant with no evidence of successful clinical trials, is at the center of the Netflix three-episode drama.

Many doctors often exhibit the “God Complex,” a term bestowed on physicians, exuding confidence and commanding superiority. They are perceived to be saviors by patients and the institutions that celebrate their pioneering contributions and enable their hubris. One man who fully embodies this larger-than-life persona is Paola Macchiarini, a surgeon who developed a plastic transplant device shrouded in the patient’s stem cells to replace their damaged or non-functioning trachea — a life-saving procedure if it actually worked.

In the first episode, we meet Benita Alexander-Noel, a long-time NBC producer and eventual fiancee of Paolo Macchiarini, assigned to tell the surgeon’s story after getting extensive press from mainstream media and international news organizations for his innovative invention.

The twist.

Paolo is not the revolutionary scientific surgeon he makes himself out to be.

This stranger-than-fiction true-crime tale will draw you in because it’s unfathomable that so many people, including an investigative journalist, were duped by this individual.

For over ten years, a narcissist fraud operated on eight patients in whom he implanted a plastic device and suffered severe complications, of which seven died. What’s most gripping about the docuseries is seeing footage of these people beforehand, living their lives, full of hope, and Dr. Paolo Macchiarrini assuring them that they will be fine after the procedure.

Macchiarrini’s deception doesn’t end with his medical profession. He’s also a raging philanderer and pathological liar in his personal life. Carrying five cell phones at a time, taking mysterious trips to Russia Barcelona, and touting to be a celebrity doctor to the pope, the Clintons, and Barack Obama, the extent of his rich, colorful lies have no bounds. Swedish investigative journalists present video of the surgeon committing crimes, and hard evidence documentation from former colleagues surfaces, yet there is barely any retribution for Macchiarinni.

This 3-part series is a roller-coaster ride of intrigue and deception that will keep you glued to your screen. And rethink how much trust you place in healthcare providers. To watch Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife, click here.