Has anyone heard???

Has anyone heard about 3 patients dying from the gastric bypass in Des Moines Iowa??? I just heard from a friend, she didn't know any details. I was wondering if anyone else heard anything?? Thank you Angel

I believe that was from a few years ago. There was an incompetent surgeon at Iowa Methodist Medical Center who had several deaths. He left the state and they closed down the program for a while. It was just in the news again recently due to a lawsuit. The program has reopened with a wonderful surgeon who previously practiced at Grinnell, Dr. Todd Eibes. He has had no deaths and a very low complication rate. I am not aware of any deaths with the Mercy Capitol program either. Jan Marie

At the time when I had my surgery at Mercy Capitol, they had only had one fatality out of the 200 they had performed up to that time. I don't know if anyone esle has died from complications or not. The guy who did die lied about medication he was taking and he had trouble with the anesthesia. So his death was not the fault of Mercy or any of the surgeon's, etc. It was the guy's own fault for not being honest. But, keep in mind that overall, the mortality rate for this surgery is 1 in 200. jean

http://www.kcci.com/news/9736421/detail.html?taf=des Former Des Moines Doctor Faces Incompetency Charges POSTED: 8:28 am CDT August 25, 2006 UPDATED: 9:34 am CDT August 25, 2006 DES MOINES, Iowa -- A former Des Moines doctor faces incompetency charges after several of his patients died after weight-loss surgery. Dr. Akella Chendrasekhar is accused of having a "substantial lack of knowledge or ability,'' according to charges announced Thursday by the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners. A hearing is set for Nov. 29. Chendrasekhar has been sued a dozen times since at least six of his patients died of complications from gastric-bypass surgery, which is meant to shrink the stomach and make overeating difficult. The lawsuits prompted the temporary closure in 2004 of the gastric-bypass program at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, where Chendrasekhar worked before moving out of state. Chendrasekhar has won at least two of the cases against him, while others have been settled out of court. Still, the board is considering suspending or revoking his license. *********This guy quit doing them the day before my surgery was scheduled with him! I have said there has been someone upstairs watching out for me. His partner did my surgery one week later. I haven't had any complications (except only losing 80 lbs in 3 years now) but I have had absolutely NO follow up care since I was about 9 months out. Your surgeon has a great reputation and a great record for surgeries, so I wouldn't even think twice about his competency. If I had it to do over again, I would pick either your surgeon or Dr Hardy in Ames. HTH! Elizabeth

OOPS, sorry, I thought you were in Des Moines and had Dr. Eibes as your surgeon. Not enough coffee yet I guess! There is nothing wrong with your surgeon either, just it would be too far for me to travel! LOL Elizabeth