*** NEGATIVE MGB STATEMENT BY ALVARADO CENTER ***

[Guest guest]

Hi Marjory and :

I'm a pre-op and lurking this evening. , you probably got a ton of

replies to your earlier inquiry, but I was one of them

Marjory, what an interesting story about your experience with Alvarado,

thanks for taking the time to share it. I personally don't have a problem

with Alvarado wanting to make money, even if they charge an excessive fee.

While aware of GBP for a long time, I didn't give it serious thought until

last year when I heard about Carnie hiring Alvarado to do her

surgery. Whatever I may think about Alvarado, I cheer Ms. for 'going

public' because I don't think I would have been aware of the advances in GBP

and the advent of laprascopic surgery, without the media promotion Alvarado

provided. So I guess I do owe Alvarado a vote of thanks for that! I kind

of wish you had gone further down the Alvarado path, so we'd have more

insight. Are they saying they wouldn't even let you be interviewed by the

physician without paying $7,600? Jeeze, I hope Alvarado is more thorough

with its' medical performance than it was in it's investigation regarding

what your insurance company would cover! Imagine if you had relied on what

they told you!

I don't object to negative MGB comments either, but what I find most curious

(and I haven't read of even one other person who is bothered by this),

however, is that Dr. R made his presentation to ASBS and of the membership

(how many members? hundreds?) only eight were willing to sign their names

to the negative MGB site. 8. Eight. Only eight. The owners of the site

(Alvarado) didn't even have the courage of their convictions to disclose

their names, they just registered and purchased the site and provided the

forum to these other people. Can you believe after all of the publicity

they've sought with Ms. 's surgery, they don't want their names

publicized? If the MGB is so egregious why haven't more members been more

vocal? Why hasn't ASBS condemned Dr. R? And examination of the comments

made by those eight don't really appear to address the issues.

Any how Marjory, I was wondering if you would be willing to be a contact for

me too. I'd like to speak with you on the telephone in the next few weeks.

What I've been doing is e-mailing to ascertain a convenient time, then I'll

telephone so you don't have it on your bill. If this is okay just privately

e-mail your number to me. Who knows? and I might be littermates....

And : try to find out why your other surgeon won't do LAP RNY on men.

I've been on a number of sites, but never heard that one before, have you?

Well, I'm in Seattle and it is 1am so I'd better get to bed! Night.

All the best,

Judith in Seattle

Pre-op

BMI 43