Some of and Alvarado's Experts

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to say, that about 1.5 years ago, I was looking into WLS. At

the time, I definitely thought Dr. R had the best site, and communicated the

best with his patients, but chose to go with the more well-known procedure,

the Roux-en-Y. (As an e-commerce MBA, I should have known to go with the

better site!) Being a vain girl, I wanted minimal scarring, so I chose a

Lap RNY. Living in Nashville, I sought out a surgeon near my home, and came

upon Doctor X (I'm not including his name, because he has a tendency to sue

people who threaten him). I was planning to pay cash for the procedure, as

my health insurance as a student didn't cover it. I drove four hours to

meet with Dr. X for my pre-op consult and was very disappointed. To be

fair, my opinion of Dr. X was severely influenced by Dr. Rutledge. Dr. X

gave me very little information, very little post-op info (a few xeroxed

sheets, if I remember), etc. Dr. R's site even over 1.5 years ago, was

extremely robust--studies, post-op guides, everything an info junkie like

myself could want. At the time, I was participating heavily on the

obesityhelp website, and I went in to post my comments on my experience with

Dr. X's office and my opinion of his severely lacking post-op instructions

and care. As a result of posting my opinion, Dr. X threatened to sue me for

libel and of course, cancelled my surgery. It was a very stressful time

during which I received many threatening emails (threatening legal action)

from Dr. X. He also threatened to sue , the owner of the ObesityHelp

site. Eventually, it all stopped. Perhaps my seeking out the help of

Vanderbilt's First Amendment Law Center helped, I have no idea. As a

result, there are no comments about Dr. X on the Obesity Help website. To

the best of my knowledge, he is the only doctor that this is the case for.

During this incredibly stressful time, I emailed Dr. Rutledge for advice.

To my surprise not only did he respond to my email, he called me. As the

daughter of a doctor (as well as the niece of several more, and the

granddaughter of yet another), I know that this was quite unusual. I also

emailed Walter for help, and he basically said there was nothing he could

do. Perhaps he didn't want to anger the RNY doctors who provide so many

clients for his firm? No idea. Perhaps he didn't want to venture into the

still relatively new area of Internet law. Dr. R was the only support I

got--and I wasn't even a patient of his.

Anyway... the reason I am relating this is both to show what an incredible

man I feel Dr. R is, even though I still haven't decided whether or not

surgery is for me. He is one of the most empathetic doctors I have ever

come into contact with. I also feel that you should know a bit more about

the character of one of the so called respected men quoted on and the

Alvarado site. , if you are reading this.. please be careful in your

choice of surgeon for your revision/reversal--if you are seeking one out.

There are some very defensive ones out there who can't stand criticism--even

if it is two lines on a website from a student in Nashville.