Guest guest Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 Dear Beth, We cant know it the patient heard him right. But just assume she did. So, if you wanted to write a letter, just my two cent's worth, consider putting it something like this: It is so easy to mishear things. Recently one of your patients thought you had said such and such. I was sure you knew that there are professionals who are certified in doing x y z surgery in such and such city. Just wanted to alert you that some of you patients might not be hearing you accurately or need more information. Then, you could add the names of certified doctors who do the rny/ ds and whatever else. If he is arrogant (read, has an inferiority complex) he will read it and either be angry or laugh and dismiss it --or all of the above. If he has even a sliver of heart, he will keep it in mind. You have said nothing that slanders anyone, you are just alerting a professional to a potential problem and providing information. Should you get involved? Can your heart let you not? love, ceep gmom In a message dated 1/26/04 9:36:06 AM, Graduate-OSSG writes: << But here's my dilemma -- do I SAY or DO anything about this with the surgeon involved? I am afraid that if I say anything, none of his patients will ever find our support group again ... and God knows, they need it (his aftercare sucks)! -- I'm also afraid of exposing myself to legal liability issues. I have thought about preparing a list of the surgeons in the area including what procedures they do and their certifications and mailing it to all of the surgeons in town ... but I suspect that would be a lot of work and expense with very little good coming from it. The surgeon in question is an old fart. He really should retire, in my opinion. His bedside manner is awful, he YELLS at his patients and calls them " fatties. " Unfortunately, many people put up with this because they are so desperate for surgery, any surgery, and they don't have any idea where else to go. So, do I just let this go...or do I do something? Beth >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 I like 's suggestion. Lori Owen - Denton, Texas SRVG 7/16/01 Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce 479/356/hoping for close to 200 On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 08:34:31 EST BethVBG@... writes: > I have a question for input. > I lead a local support group in Houston. We have a pager > number, and > I occasionally get phone calls from people who are interested in > surgery, or > who have had surgery and want to find a support group. > Over the weekend, I got a call from a woman who had been to a > > consultation with a local surgeon, who had given her our group > number. I talked with > this woman for a LONG time... it was obvious that she knew almost > nothing > about WLS or what she was considering. But, there was one thing > that concerned me > terribly. The surgeon she consulted with only does the VBG. She > mentioned > to me that other people had suggested to her that she consider the > RNY, but > when she asked the surgeon about it he told her that he " thought " to > get that she > would have to go to a hospital in Pasadena (a suburb outside of > Houston) and > that he didn't " know if the surgeon was even certified. " I about > blew a > gasket when she told me this!! We have several excellent surgeons > in the greater > Houston area -- I'm sure all are board certified general surgeons, > and most are > members of ASBS. It is my understanding that there is no such thing > as > " board certification " in bariatric surgery -- and in fact, I have > sent an email to > the ASBS to inquire about it. The RNY surgery is extremely > available in our > community and there are now at least three surgeons I know of who > are doing the > LapBand. We have a smaller number who also offer VBG, and a few who > only do > VBG. We also have a charlatan in town who does his " own thing " with > a > nonadjustable band -- and I occasionally see the sad results of that > come through the > support group doors (this guy tells his patients that no one else > does " his " > surgery because they don't want to pay the royalties on the process > he > patented)! > Well, obviously, I had a long discussion with this patient > and > educated her on her surgical options and it seems she will be > looking into things > some more. > But here's my dilemma -- do I SAY or DO anything about this > with the > surgeon involved? I am afraid that if I say anything, none of his > patients > will ever find our support group again ... and God knows, they need > it (his > aftercare sucks)! -- I'm also afraid of exposing myself to legal > liability issues. > I have thought about preparing a list of the surgeons in the area > including > what procedures they do and their certifications and mailing it to > all of the > surgeons in town ... but I suspect that would be a lot of work and > expense with > very little good coming from it. > The surgeon in question is an old fart. He really should > retire, in > my opinion. His bedside manner is awful, he YELLS at his patients > and calls > them " fatties. " Unfortunately, many people put up with this because > they are so > desperate for surgery, any surgery, and they don't have any idea > where else > to go. > So, do I just let this go...or do I do something? > > > Beth > Houston, TX > VBG - Dr. Srungaram > 05/31/00 - 314 lbs. > 11/01/02 - Abdominoplasty > 11/29/02 - 160 lbs. > 5'10 " > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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