Message from Dr. Procter about Dateline

I do not monitor the message boards on this website routinely, but since many of our patients are responding with support to the Dateline show, I felt it would be appropriate to clarify a few things. I agreed to do the interview only because I thought it would be a means of informing a national audience that there are risks involved in bariatric procedures, even in the very best programs. Unfortunately, that was not the agenda of NBC's Dateline staff. Realize, as pointed out in the piece, that the patient profiled worked for GE, which owns NBC. What a coincidence. This patient had attended several of our informational meetings. The particular meeting they mentioned, however, was a reunion for our post op patients. What was referred to as a "cheerleading session" was just our patients getting a chance to show off their accomplishments. This patient was a very intelligent, motivated individual, and wrote a four page letter of understanding about the surgery and risks thereof. He was in the highest risk group for complications (older, super obese men), and was also at highest risk for complcations of his disease. It is telling, I believe, that a co-worker of his underwent the surgery after his death, and she stated to me that his wife was supporting her. I was trained in bariatric surgery in the 1970's by Dr. Ward Griffen, one of the grandfathers of bariatric surgery. I was doing bariatric surgery when very few surgeons in the country were doing it. Our mortality rate is very low, 3/1000. Our leak rate is also very low. We test the anastamosis in the operating room on every case, and then test it once again the morning after surgery with an x-ray test. Even then, patients can very rarely develop a late leak. The importance of this is having the experience to recognize a leak and treat it. The patient profiled had his leak successfully treated, but developed a bleeding duodenal ulcer which has nothing to do with his bypass. We had to stop the blood thinner which all of our patients are on to help prevent blood clots, due to the bleeding. When the ulcer bled again, he had to be operated on to suture the bleeding ulcer. It was then that he had the clots to the lung. The most disturbing aspect of this program to me, is that any patient who has been educated by their surgeon could doubt their decision based on this story. All of us as bariatric surgeons have lost patients to complications. Three in 100 patients undergoing heart bypass will die, and 5 in 100 patients undergoing aortic aneurysm will die. I think the fact that we are operating on the group of patients with the highest risk of complications was not mentioned in the Dateline story. I hope that those of you, and your families, are angered by the fact that this is another example of not recognizing morbid obesity as a lethal disease. The National Institute of Health has shown the you cannot control the disease yourself, and the only alternative is surgery. I agree with the person who said that patients need to seek out a surgeon with experience in bariatrics, as there are too many people injured by non-experienced surgeons. This is what has led to some insurance companies deciding it is OK to discriminate aginst morbidly obese patients and deny coverage for the surgery. In response to the statement about the name of our practice being ObesitySolutions and that somehow was a marketing ploy, when I left my former group because they were not bariatric surgeons and were therefore not comfortable taking care of them on call, I incorporated as the Vascular Disease Institute. (I am specialty trained and board certified in general surgery, critical care and vascular surgery). This was confusing to patients who were bariatric patients. When we developed the full program of preop and postop care, we designated that part of the practice ObesitySolutions. I have one associate who is a bariatric surgeon and one who is a vascular surgeon. This helps by keeping some separation of the practice in the two areas. As far a marketing goes, I feel that there is a difference in telling people about your interests and expertise (marketing) and advertising. That being said, please notice that you don't see obesity solutions billboards or flags at the top of this page. I spent a lot of time making our website informational and not an advertisement. I am proud of our practice and the sensitivty with which patients are treated. I am grateful to our hospital , which has spent lot of money to assure the best of care for the bariatric patient. Dan Procter, MD, FACS

Thank you Dr. Procter! I posted a reply to my thread from last night. I am a patient who will tell anyone reading these posts, that your practice is wonderful, and sensitive, just as you stated. And all of us know, it is hard for us to find a doctor that will look you in the eye and give you the time of day, but Dr. Procter is just such a doctor. I was treated with warmth and respect, and every single pre and post op patient I have talked to, on this board and in the community, feel the same way. This is a prime example of how the media allows you to see only what they deem is important. I am just thankful that his patients have more sense than NBC!! And for those of you looking into ObesitySolutions...I truly believe you could not find more experienced, competent, compassionate doctors with Dr. Procter, Dr. Richard, (whom I also met), and his practice!!

Dr. Proctor, I have all the faith in the world in you. My surgery was done by Dr. Richards but I would have gone to you too with no problem. We all know the risk going in and I felt safe with the two of you as my doctors. If I had to have it done again, I would let you be my surgeon. I will probably be seeing a lot of you this month as I know quite a few people who you are doing surgery on this month. Take care and have a Blessed evening. Hugs, Debra Bentley

Thank you Dr. Proctor. I am scheduled for surgery with you two weeks from today, and am thankful you are there to get me through this. I watched the show, and I feel you are a very caring, and competent surgeon. My mom watched the show, and called me and told me she felt more comfortable with my decision after seeing you. You were honest, straightforward, and sincere. Yes..there are risks... But I am well informed about them, as I am sure are all your patients. Your record speaks for itself. I feel I am in good hands, and the rest is up to God. See ya for pre-op in a few days

Dr. Proctor, You have operated on 4 of my family members and me over the last 10 years. Me being the last one just 7 months ago and we all have done great !! I was so mad at the people on Dateline, because you are our friend and I don't like anybody messing with my friends !!! I know that you have saved hundreds of peoples lives doing this surgery and I feel like I am one of them . We all knew the dangers of the surgery going in . Just keep up the good work and know that your patients still love and respect you !! Judy