Any info on Dr. Alex Argotte?

My lap-band surgery was done at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah by Alex Argotte.  A few months ago he relocated to Herrin, IL.  Since then I've seen him once in Paducah.  I had an appt. to see him in Herrin today, but his office cancelled the appt. at the last minute because (they said) his KY medical license has been suspended.

I like Dr. Argotte and feel he has given me good care, but this freaked me out.  Does anybody know what happened?

Thanks,
Jean

Oh, Jean
That would be a bit disconcerting, wouldn't it?  I know nothing, but wanted to say I am just hoping that all works out well for you.

best of luck
teach

Greetings,
I had WLS oneyear ago today to be exact with Dr. Argotte as well. I ave only saw him once science he moved office.  I don't know what is going on.  I know there has been a lot of confusion with the move but I had no idea his liscense got suspended.  

THE NEWS TONIGHT SAID THAT HIS LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED AND HE WAS UNDER 5 YEARS PROBATION.. iT SAID THAT HE RESIGNED FROM lOURDES HOSPITAL IN PADUCAH AND THAT HE WAS FIRED FROM SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MEDICAL.  THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY A FORMER GIRLFRIENDS FATHER AGAINST HIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE .  ALSO I GUESS HE TREATED HER AS A PATIENT WHILE THEY WERE DATING. THAT IS AGAINST MEDICAL POLICY.. THEN HE WAS ALSO ACCUSED OF WRITING HER PRESCRIPTIONS THAT WERE ACTUALLY FOR HIS USE.. nOW REMEMBER THESE ALLEGATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVEN.. HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH A LONG DRAWN OUT TRIAL OF SORTS, INSTEAD HE CHOSE THE OPTION OF 90 DAY SUSPENSION AND 5 YEAR PROBATION. HE DENIES THE CLAIMS AND SAYS HE HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. I GUESS I FIGURED HE WOULD NOT DO SURGERY'S IN PADUCAH ANYMORE SO HIS RESIGNING FROM THERE A MONTH AGO WAS NOT A SHOCK, BUT THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE HAS BEEN FIRED FROM HERRIN IS SHOCKING.. NOW ALL HIS PATIENTS ARE UP IN THE AIR.. WHO CAN WE CALL TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO...MAYBE THE HERRIN HOSPITAL CAN TELL US SOMETHING.. IF WE NEED TO JUST WAIT OUT THE 90 DAYS OR LOOF FOR ANOTHER DOCTOR..

Teresa,

Wow, that is shocking.  And sad.

I just looked up the story on the Channel 6 website - ugly stuff.

One of the readers who commented on the story said, "This is just the tip of the iceberg. Ask any local surgeon why they won't touch his former patients."

I called 4 surgeons yesterday, 1 in Mayfield and 3 in Tennessee.  A Memphis surgeon's office was willing to talk to me until they asked who had done my band surgery.  When I said Alex Argotte, the woman said in a rush, "We don't accept other surgeon's patients."

The Herrin office told me they're sending out a letter soon referring patients to surgeons in St. Louis, Louisville, and Mayfield.  The Mayfield practice wanted $750 up front to see me - a $500 "program fee" plus $250 for the office visit (my insurance would reimburse me $245).  I don't happen to have $750 lying around, but if you want the name and number of the Mayfield practice, let me know.  I finally got an appt. (in late July) with a surgeon in Memphis *****quires a $250 "patient transfer fee" and just my $5 co-pay for the office visit.

Jean

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE SURGEONS IN MAYFIELD BUT THEY ONLY DO LAPBAND SURGERY THERE.. THEY SEE PATIENTS IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON KY TOO.. I AM SO CONFUSED AS TO WHAT TO DO..
WHAT DOCTOR DID YOU CHOOSE IN MEMPHIS AND WHY..

Teresa,

To be honest, I "chose" the doctor in Memphis because she was the only one who would take me on.  And the woman I talked to in the office there was so kind and helpful, as opposed to rude and obnoxious elsewhere.

Speaking of rude and obnoxious, when I called the office of Dr. William Steely, they were polite until I told them my surgeon was Alex Argotte.  Suddenly I was persona non grata.

The doctor I chose in Memphis is in charge of the center for weight loss surgery at St. Francis Hospital.  I didn't ask, but I would have to assume that they do RNY as well as lap-band there.

The phone number is 901-765-3040.  The office is on the St. Francis Hospital campus.

The practice in Mayfield wanted $750 up front (a $500 program fee & $250 for the office visit, part of which would be reimbursed by my insurance).  The person I spoke to there acted like she was doing me a favor just to talk to me.

The doctor at St. Francis wants $250 up front (a patient transfer fee) and just my co-pay for the office visit.  Usually they have a NP do the follow-ups but as a new patient, you have to see the surgeon the first time.  The earliest appt. I could get was 7/29/09.

Don't put off finding a new surgeon.  You may not need aftercare like fills, but what if you have a problem?  Don't assume that your local ER will be willing or able to treat you.  You don't want to wait 2 months for an appt. if you have a serious problem.

I originally chose Lourdes in Paducah for my WLS because it was relatively convenient.  Mayfield would be even more convenient, but I'd rather go to Memphis and be treated like a human being than to Mayfield and be treated like crap.

Jean

tHANKS FOR THE INFORMATION........I CALLED HERRIN THIS MORNING AND TALKED TO CRYSTAL. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A TEMPORARY DOCTOR FROM ST LOUIS DOWN HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD SURGERY. THEY ALSO ARE NEGOTIATING TO GET A PERMANENT ONE HERE FROM THERE TOO AND DONT THINK IT WILL BE VERY LONG.. IN THE MEAN TIME THOSE PATIENTS WHO ARE READY FOR THE SURGERY CAN GO TO ST LOUIS AND HAVE SURGERY WITH DOCTOR RICHARDSON AND DR FOLLWELL. NO PROGRAM FEES AND THEY WILL ACCEPT THE TESTS DONE HERE.. THEN AFTER THE SURGERY YOU WILL BE RELEASED TO NEW LIFE IN HERRIN FOR ALL THE FOLLOWUPS. THE TEMP DOCTOR HAS PERFORMED OVER 700 BARIATRIC SURGERIES AND THE OTHERS  TO DO THE SURGERY NOW HAVE PERFORMED OVER 1000..  I THINK I WILL WAIT IT OUT WITH NEW LIFE AS LONG AS I CAN, IF IT GETS CLOSE TO THE TESTS EXPIRING THEN I WILL GO TO ST LOUIS FOR THE SURGERY AND FOLLOW UP HERE,,

I HATE TO LOOSE DR ARGOTTE BECAUSE I KNOW DARN WELL HE IS A VERY GOOD SURGEON, I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING HIS PRACTICE SINCE 2004 WHEN HE WAS IN MAYFIELD, BEFORE PADUCAH. THEY SAID HE TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS GOING TO OPEN A PRIVATE PRACTICE NOW AND NOT ABANDON HIS PATIENTS OVER THIS.. AND HE STILL HAS PRIVILEDGES AT HERRIN HOSPITAL AT THIS TIME. BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THIS STORY THEN WE ALL KNOW.. A BOARD OF MEDICAL REVIEW DIDNT SUSPEND HIS LICENSE OVER HEARSAY AND MAKE HIM GO TO PSYCHOTHERAPY BECAUSE HIS GIRLFRIEND MADE ACCUSATIONS. HE HAS TO SUBMIT TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTS RANDOMLY.. I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR HIM BUT HE DID THIS TO HIMSELF. HE SAYS HE WAS SINGLE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN HE DATED THAT GIRL BUT YET HE IS STILL MARRIED TODAY.  THEY MAY HAVE BEEN SEPERATED.. BUT THAT IS NOT SINGLE...BUT YOU KNOW HE IS A DOCTOR AND DID NOT THINK OF HIS PATIENTS AT ALL WHEN HE WAS PLAYING GAMES WITH THE SURGICAL TECH..  THAT MEANS ALSO THAT THIS SURGICAL TECH WAS WORKING WITH HIM AND DATING AT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO BE THE PERSON ON THE SURGERY TABLE ON A MORNING WHEN THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT.. I HAVE LOST MY TRUST IN HIM AS A PERSON NOT A SURGEON BUT I FEEL I NEED TRUST IN HIM ALL THE WAY IN ORDER TO PUT MY LIFE IN HIS HANDS.. i PRAY FOR HIM THAT ALL THIS WILL BLOW OVER AND HE WILL GET THE THERAPY HE NEEDS AND START A NEW PRACTICE BUT RIGHT NOW I AM NOT INTERESTED..

THANK YOU FOR THE PHONE NUMBER.. I WAS SO SCARED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE MY SURGERY NOW AFTER GOING THROUGH ALL THIS..BUT IT SEEMS THAT NEW LIFE HAS IT ALL WORKED OUT.. YOU KNOW PADUCAH IS STILL SEARCHING FOR A SURGEON AND NOT FOUND ONE.  SO I GIVE NEW LIFE IN HERRIN CREDIT THEY ARE REALLY ON TOP OF THIS.. THOSE POOR PEOPLE THERE DIDNT KNOW ANYTHING WAS GOING ON EITHER AND THE HOSPITAL BUILT A  NEW WING JUST FOR THE BARIATRIC PATIENTS.. I BET THEY ARE ALL MAD AS **LL ... I KNOW A LOT OF HIS PATIENTS ARE TOO.

GOD BLESS YOU FOR TRYING TO HELP ME. I AM GOING TO HANG ONTO THE PHONE NUMBER YOU GOT FOR ME. IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THE PLANS AT HERRIN.. I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THIS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY NOW.. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER I WILL GET IT .... MAY NOT BE NEXT MONTH OR TWO BUT I WILL GET IT.. 
 
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST WITH THE NEW DOCTOR IN MEMPHIS. I HEARD OF HER FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD SURGERY THERE AND THEY REALLY LIKED HER. THEY SAID SHE WAS LIKE TALKING TO A FRIEND WHEN YOU GO IN THERE. i KNOW THINGS ALWAYS HAPPEN FOR A REASON AND GOD IS IN CONTROL SO MAYBE THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE MEANT TO BE.. THE OTHER PLACES COULD HAVE BEEN JUST HAVING A BAD DAY BUT BEING RUDE IS NOT CALLED FOR OR MAKING A PERSON FEEL LIKE AN OUTCAST..  I WAS GOING TO CONTACT MAYFIELD BUT I CANT COME UP WITH THT TYPE OF MONEY EITHER.. PAYING FOR ALL THES TESTS AND TWO TO THREE DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS A MONTH IS REALLY STRAPING UP.. SO YOU SAVED ME SOME HEARTACHE GETTING SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT..
 
THANKS AGAIN AND GOD BLESS
TERESA S.

Ladies,
I am also in a quandry over this whole Dr. Argotte nightmare. He performed Roux-En-Y gastric bypass on me in December 2006. If you read the suspension document posted on WPSD-TV website, you will find that was during the period that many of the alleged abuse incidents occurred.

He performed the following surgeries/procedures on me:
1) Placement of an IVC filter Dec 2006
2) Gastric bypass Dec 2006
3) 3 endoscopy procedures to stretch my stoma Jan Feb 2007
4) Gall bladder removal March 2007
5) IVC filter removal Apr 2007
6) Emergency hernia repair surgery Sept 2007

I was seeing him up until November 2008. I lost to my goal weight and was ready to try and get approved for excess skin removal, so I kept my appointments. Over the last few visits he always told me I was an excellent candidate for skin removal, but then the office manager would tell me my insurance would not pay for it, so she never even tried to submit it. I was FED UP with them....spending $50 copay for that (not to mention the 2-3 hours driving time round trip).

I had complications during my gastric bypass--he nicked my spleen and I lost a lot of blood. My gall bladder removal was also extended because of problems.

One of my friends that had surgery the same week I did requested her records, and I am not sure if they ever released them to her.

Thanks for posting all the info about what kind of replies you got when you went "doctor shopping." I have been worried about that.