Bariatric surgery at Lee Memorial stopped

A patient passed away recently during a gastric bypass procedure at Lee Memorial hospital in Fort Myers. The surgeon was Dr. Benitez formerly from US Bariatric. They say this is a temporary hold while the program is reviewed. press.com/news/local_state/040709bariatric.html Just add www Lynda ME/FL

I am so sorry to hear of this. Did this patient have an angel that can tell us more. I am pre-op and now my nerves had hit "another high" . I know this happens. Just want to send my heartfelt love and sympathy out to the patient's family and friends. Carol

Hi Lynda, I have know about this since the day it happened (about 6 weeks ago) but do not know who it was and when I copied and pasted your link above, just took me to a page for the press.com, not to the article. I also wondered if this was someone from the board and though I have spoke with the office and hospital about this matter, no name was mentioned, nor would I ever ask. I have not seen anything on the news nor in print. I am very disappointed they have chosen to put a hold on the surgery we all knowing going in what could happen.

Hey Linda, It was Southwest Regional Medical Center, is that part of Lee Memorial, I didn't think it was?

Sorry about the bad link. When I cut off the www so I wouldn't be posting a link I cut off the news- part of the link. news-press.com/news/local_state/040709bariatric.html You are right--I goofed--dh said Lee memorial and I believed him. Didn't even really sink in when I was reading the article. I just wonder if his complication rate has been high and that may be also why they are reviewing the situation. I have no idea. It was on the front page of the newspaper today. Lynda ME/FL

From what I was told from the hospital and office it was first complication and the hospital was investigating. This is awful for everyone, the patient, Dr. Benitez and his patients like me. I still can't get to that article....not sure why, I added the http://www If you have a moment can you copy and paste the article to an email for me so I can read it. My email is [email protected] please.

got the link to work...just went to the main page and scrolled down and they it be! I had left off the new- before press bu t was determined to find it. Would you believe I have been living here 8 yrs and didn't know the name of the paper. LOL I usually get my news off CNN or WINK.

I was scheduled to have surgery with Dr. B when it all came down. Dr. B and his office have been working hard to get the program back up and running. I have spoken to the hospital and it seems that things are moving along put at a buricraticly slow pace. Dr. B has a great track record and cares about all of his people. Let's hope that they will come up with something that can only improve the surgery. It will always be a risk but lets face it the risks always decrease as they keep improving.