Is There Caution Tape Around Your wls Surgeon's Door?

                                           

Seeing a recent post about a Switch Sister's recent complications from her surgery made me pause and take a moment to remind pre-ops out there to think carefully about who you choose to have your surgery with.

The surgeon this person used has a pretty bad track record.  He was kicked out of medical school because of his incompetence and his problems with alcoholism. He has had patients complain that he didn't give then the proper stomach size. Another patient had external bleeding several months out from surgery while she was on vacation on a cruise. 


Another local wls surgeon is a known recovering drug addict. This is clearly listed on his records with the Georgia Medical review Board.  He fails to mention this on his tv commercials and highway billboards.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do everything you can to RESEARCH your surgeon before you let him operate on you.  If you have people warning you that the surgeon is not a good one,  take it seriously!   You can have a complication with any surgeon, but at least give yourself a fighting chance by picking one of the best. 

I know it is hard especially with less common surgeries like DS or vertical sleeve or fobi pouch,  to find a surgeon nearby. And, let's not mention finding someone your insurance covers.  Sometimes, you just may have to travel to a different city or even a neighboring state to get the surgery you desire. It may just be the difference between life and death, or complications down the road, or having to go back into the OR a few days post op. 

I had the option of having my DS here with Dr. Maynard or driving 4 hours to Nashville or Charlotte (the closest DS surgeons to Atl in network w/ Cigna).  With all the warnings I had heard about Maynard, it was an easy decision to gas up the car and make the drive to a more competent surgeon.  It made things a little less convenient, but my life  and health is worth it!


Some things you may want to consider:

What is the surgeon's complication rate?

Had any deaths?

How many re-operations has he had?

Has he bounced around to several different hospitals? Why does he keep moving?  (the surgeon my Switch Sister used has bounced around to different hospitals)

Can he do laproscopic surgery? Why not? Is he not competent enough to learn the latest, most advanced, and safest techniques? (the surgeon my Switch Sister used does not do lap surgery) 

Has he had any professional complaints?  Check him out on the Georgia Medical Review Board.  Google search him to see what comes up under his name.

Talk to other wls surgeons about him. It is a tight circle. They know more about each other's reputations than you think.  If his colleagues spill the beans about him, take it seriously! My wls surgeon all the way in Nashville knew about this DS surgeon's bad reputation here in Atlanta! Now if that wasn't a warning sign...

What are his patients saying about him? What do their scars look like? Have they had complications?  What about the patients that DON't go to his support group. The ones at support group are likely the happy patients.  Pissed off people are not likely to want to hang out with their surgeon and his staff.  Can you get in touch with some of those people that don't come to the meetings?  Talk to the post-ops in the waiting room  when you go for your consult. Put the magazine down and snoop!  What does the telephone conversation sound like between the receptionist and people on the other line.  BE NOSEY!

How is his office staff? Are they friendly, Do they seem happy? Do you want to deal with them the rest of your life?

What hospital does he operate out of? Is it modern and clean?  Do they have the best and most advanced equipment? Go take a walk through to see the facilities! Meet the nurses, check to see if there is dust on the mini blinds, really.  This is your LIFE we're taking about. YOU WANT THE BEST YOU HAVE ACCESS TO!

                             



Maybe some other veterans can chime in and share some things to look for that may be warning signs...


         Think twice, cut once!

    Choose the right surgery and the right surgeon the 1st time!


I want all of my OH sisters and brothers to have safe, successful surgeries. It breaks my heart to see one of us suffer when I know it likely could have been prevented. 

 





         

Okay here we go again.. you are the most ignorant person I know.... you have a person who had the surgery and had a complication and you have to take this oppurtunity to bash her surgeon... I am finally figuring out, you are a spiteful warped person. you could not hack his program so you got out and went to one that was not as strict because you are not strong enough!

I have had people emailing me today asking for my help in dealing with you and as I have told them to just consider the sourse you are still attacking a person who has all the confidence in the world in our seurgeon with every right. He is one of a kind, and as you for you, you well you are a parasite on this board and we just have to deal with people like you... you post stupid questions, ones that have been answered 100 times and then grip about the way you feel when you do not follow thier advise. so us all a favor dry up and blow away PLEASE!!! He is not your surgeon (thank god this wasy I do not have to deal with you every month... ) so just SHUT UP!!!! you choice someone else so be glad... If you are so happy with your choice and with your life why the HELL do you spend so much time in everyone elses?

GROW UP!!! and stop trying to scare people no one is listening to you and we have warned everyone about you so it i****ting deaf ears you are just making a total fool of yourself!!!

Denise

She gets attacked because she tries to prevent someone else from having complications with a surgeon??? LaShelles concerns have always been in the best interest of those considering, or that have had wls. This is not a vendetta against Maynard..............it is simply a plea to those that are considering wls to research their potential Dr. to avoid some unnecessary complications.

If you beleive these statements that LaShelle has made are untrue..........then perhaps you should have your Dr. issue a response to this???

Oh............and btw................SPELL CHECK!

really you should not get into things you don't understand this is a vendetta against Maynard it always has been.. attacking a person in the hospital and some of the things she said to her angel was uncalled for and as far as my Surgeon he was told of her comments and considers himself to be above her...  remeber I have met this woman have you?

As far as spell check you are right I should have I was texting and should have used my laptop on this one... I am a college grad and hold a Master's what about you?

I understood what you said. You don't have to have a Masters to understand simple english.

Yes, I have met LaShelle. We don't agree on everything wls related, but we are able to converse quite well and discuss topics without attacking each other. (I personally am not a big fan of the DS. However a lot of people on here have had it with wonderfull results and NO complications and I couldn't be happier for them! LaShelle on the other hand is not a fan of lap band. When these things have come up we respected each other's point of view.)

And I may not have my Master's yet, but somehow I am able to manage to spell "surgeon" without using spell check!

well I have two things to say to you sorry you have met her and I am so proud of your spelling, now can you tell me how to write a 10,000 word paper on Ithicology? you know what that is don't you? ya know the study of fish.... Sting rays and Mantas to be more exact... It is due Sunday and I thought maybe you were up for it.... how many cells and the species and family ya know stupid little stuff like that...

Actually, it is IChthyology.  But, since you are so smart you probably already knew that.

You know, a little message to Dr. Maynard would give him some decent ammo for his lawyer.  Nicolle can tell you that LaShelle is not as anonymous as she may think.  She's treading on the edge of slander and libel now....not to mention very bad form.

Well Val, I sent all messages to Donna as a matter of fact... Dr. Maynard was very interested when I stopped by...

Denise

link to court documents showing Dr. Maynard had to repeat residency because of incompetency

2

5

On April 9, 1999, Dr. Richard Karl, Chairman of the Department of Surgery

at USF, told Maynard that he would have to repeat his fourth year of residency

because he received low scores on his ABSITE exam, a specialty in-service

examination that residents across the country take each year.

 

Maynard’s ABSITE scores ranked as follows: in 1996, Maynard ranked in the 2nd

percentile (nationally); in 1997, Maynard ranked in the 36

in the 7

which Maynard was under particular scrutiny – Maynard ranked in the 2

th percentile; in 1998, Maynard rankedth percentile; in 1999, Maynard ranked in the 5th percentile; and in 2000 – the year innd percentile.
http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200215596.pdf


Dr. Maynard claims he is discriminated against and that's why they kicked him out of the program

"On April 17, 2000, Maynard was notified by the University that his contract had been terminated and that he was no longer a resident in the program. In August 2000, Maynard filed a nine-count complaint against the University...

http://www.justice.gov/eoir/OcahoMain/publisheddecisions/Loo seleaf/Volume8/1055.pdf

He was ordered to pay University of Florida for making a falsse claim:

:Following trial, the jury found for the University both on Maynard's claims and on the University's counterclaim. Based on the jury's verdict, the trial court entered a final judgment ordering Maynard to pay the University $167,993 for the malicious prosecution claim.



I will post the other documents detailing his incompetence and alcohol problems. I have  to did for them...


I don't want people thinking I am spreading false info. This is all documented in court.  If you see all this and still think he is the best surgeon for you, the go for it, but at least know what you're getting into.