Surgeon: John De Barros

I just got approved for my surgery and when I called yesterday to confirm, they told me YES I had been confirmed but my surgeon had moved out of state and that I would have a new surgeon, John DeBarros who worked in Florida and Connecticut and possibly Texas, but new to Arizona. I read he is from Illinois originally. I dont know what to think, and so I am coming here to ask if there is anyone out there who knows of this surgeon or has any experience with this surgeon. PLEASE HELP!! This is sooooo upsetting, I havent slept well last night just worrying. MY preop is Jan 21, 2005 and will be meeting him then for the first time. Thanks, Lourdes

I've not heard of him, but maybe try googling his name and see what you come up with. Not much help this morning, I'm still trying to wake up. lol

Here is a little on what I found out.. if you go to Bariatric Surgeons in the AZ message board, he's in there. Not much info. I also googled and got this: John DeBarros, MD Dr. John DeBarros is a member of the surgical team at The WISH Center. He is board-eligible in general surgery. Dr. DeBarros currently belongs to multiple medical societies including the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, the Society of Colorectal Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. DeBarros received his medical degree from the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine in Farmington, Connecticut. He continued at the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine to complete his residency in general surgery. Dr. DeBarros also completed a colorectal fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida. Dr. DeBarros is seeing patients out of the Mission, Texas office. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Home | Doctor Search General Information John James De Barros MD 2801 Finley Rd Downers Grove Illinois 60515-1038 Phone: 630-627-7800 License Number: 33625 License Status: Active License Date: 12/22/2004 License Renewed: Renew By: 09/2005 License Expires: 01/2006 Education and Training (a) Medical School: UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FARMINGTON, CT Graduation Date: 5/25/1995 Fellowship: 7/1/1998 - 6/30/2000 (Research) UNIVERSITY OF CT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT Fellowship: 7/1/2002 - 6/30/2003 (Colon & Rectal Surgery) CLEVELAND CLINIC FLORIDA WESTON, FLORIDA Residency: 7/1/1995 - 6/30/1998 (General Surgery) UNIVERSITY OF CT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT Residency: 7/1/2000 - 6/30/2002 (General Surgery) UNIVERSITY OF CT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT (b) Area of Interest: Colon & Rectal Surgery (b) Area of Interest: General Surgery Board Investigations and Actions BOARD ACTIONS: 0 NON DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS: 0 (c) OPEN INVESTIGATIONS: 0 Malpractice/Criminal Information CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS / "NO CONTEST" PLEAS: 0 (e) MALPRACTICE CASES RESULTING IN PAYMENT: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Arizona Medical Board presents this information as a service to the public. The Board relies upon information provided by licensees to be true and correct, as required by statute. It is an act of unprofessional conduct for a licensee to provide erroneous information to the Board. The Board makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content of this website or the content of any other website to which it may link. Assessing accuracy and reliability of the information obtained from this website is solely the responsibility of the user. The Board is not liable for errors or for any damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Information up to the date of initial licensure is verified by the Board. Information provided by the physician after this date is not verified by the Board. (b) The Board does not verify current specialties. For more information please see the American Board of Medical Specialties website at: http://www.abms.org to determine if the physician has earned a specialty certification from this private agency. (c) Open investigations represent unproven allegations - Upon investigation many complaints are found to be without merit and dismissed. (d) Advisory Letters and Physician Responses to the Advisory Letters are only available on-line for a 5 year period from date of issuance by the Board. (e) The settlement of a medical malpractice action may occur for a variety of reasons that do not necessarily reflect negatively on the professional competence or conduct of the doctor. A payment in settlement of a medical malpractice action does not create a presumption that medical malpractice occurred. (f) Prior to 1999, "Advisory Letters" were known as "Letters of Concern"

Call the center and ask about the background of the surgeon. It's important to know what kind of surgery you are having and then find out how many times he has performed this surgery. If you are having open RNY ask how many times he has done this. "I don't know" is not an acceptable answer. If need be, ask him directly. I'd also ask for the number of patients he has had with unfavorable outcomes (death) vs. the total number of procedures he has done. The biggest determinate to success with this surgery is surgeon skill (I have a friend who is a dean of a medical school who taught me how to "shop" for a surgeon). The average death rate is about 1 - 2% for all procedures, but it is much higher in new surgeons. You want a guy who has done it so many times, there is nothing he will encounter while inside you that he has not dealt with before. This is a time to be assertive. It's your life - be tough. Ask tough questions. Don't be afraid to say "No" if it comes to that. I'm sorry if I'm lecturing (my wife says I am too prone to get in this mode) - but, while asking folks "What have you heard" is a great way to validate your own research, still ask him. I guess I'm especially wired about this issue as an Illinois guy just died from what sounds like surgeon/hospital error. Good surgeons have good teams. Typically, a top surgeon will not tolerate hospital errors as he/she can easily move to another hospital. I have an appointment with a surgeon that's well regarded here (Dr. F). He has an on-line profile with numbers. I still asked his office for current numbers including deaths. The comments I have received from the board just backed up what I learned from his office. He's great. I'll be in good hands. You deserve to have this kind of assurance, too. Good luck on this great new adventure! --Harbor

Damn skippy!! Dr. Frantzides is the MASTER

Sorry for the hijack: Dixie: You were the first person to tell me what a great choice Dr. F was when I first floated his name as my possible surgeon. Everyone speaks of him with awe. Thank you for the support. It's important. Lourdes - I hope you get a doc who you also can be confident of. I figure that we have all paid serious dues getting to this point. For most of us, this is elective surgery. We assume the risk to better our lives and, by extension, the lives of our friends and family. Get a surgeon you can believe in. Again, my best, Harbor