This is WAY over the top!
(deactivated member)
on 3/26/10 11:14 am
on 3/26/10 11:14 am
Telling people to do thorough research, is fine. Unfortunately, your research process is flawed greatly. It sounds like you've read through OH posts and perhaps VST.com and then repeated what you read that was only negative. Nonetheless, many people have asked you for evidence to back-up all of your claims. Since you will not provide it, people have every right to be suspicious. Freedom of Information and Privacy (FOIP) in Canada does not apply to ID's used on boards, so that argument does not hold water. Behaviorism may play a part, yet this also seems to be a matter of "thinking theories" for which critical thinking has been applied.
I'm not certain why your position as a behavioral sciences teacher is relevant? Are you trying to say you should have asked for a balanced report -- for positive and negative experiences? If you mean to say that you've done peer reviewed research, you will most certainly know that qualitative research--anecdotes, interviews, and personal experiences are not generalizable. 1 person = 1 experience because each has a different context.
I believe PeanutFreeMom/Mel. Yet, if one considers all of the surgeries performed at any hospital and then factors in the number of complications Mel has provided plus those you've allegedly gathered, the percentage of complications can still be quite low. Then those complications need to be ranked for severity. Other questions are whether or not they were due to co-morbidities? to the non-cleanliness of the patient? Can it be shown that (regardless of surgery/hospital) infections were solely the caused by one factor and not other(s)? I have put in the search term "incision infection" and there are many who have experienced them even though their surgeons/hospitals are in the USA. How do the rates compare? Why?
I think you will find that people on this and other boards are quite against prejudicial statements and slander. I also think you have a right to your assumptions but until you complete and report on all necessary research, that's all they are -- assumptions. Do not confuse yourself with PeanutFreeMom/Mel. Her experiences and research are hers alone and it is inappropriate for you claim them as yours. If that's all you've got your trustworthiness and credibility are at stake no matter how much you "yell". Believe what you like and post what you like and make your own decisions but only for you. Don't expect people to believe you and don't expect people follow you.
I wish you the best with your continued research and whatever decision you make for yourself.
I'm not certain why your position as a behavioral sciences teacher is relevant? Are you trying to say you should have asked for a balanced report -- for positive and negative experiences? If you mean to say that you've done peer reviewed research, you will most certainly know that qualitative research--anecdotes, interviews, and personal experiences are not generalizable. 1 person = 1 experience because each has a different context.
I believe PeanutFreeMom/Mel. Yet, if one considers all of the surgeries performed at any hospital and then factors in the number of complications Mel has provided plus those you've allegedly gathered, the percentage of complications can still be quite low. Then those complications need to be ranked for severity. Other questions are whether or not they were due to co-morbidities? to the non-cleanliness of the patient? Can it be shown that (regardless of surgery/hospital) infections were solely the caused by one factor and not other(s)? I have put in the search term "incision infection" and there are many who have experienced them even though their surgeons/hospitals are in the USA. How do the rates compare? Why?
I think you will find that people on this and other boards are quite against prejudicial statements and slander. I also think you have a right to your assumptions but until you complete and report on all necessary research, that's all they are -- assumptions. Do not confuse yourself with PeanutFreeMom/Mel. Her experiences and research are hers alone and it is inappropriate for you claim them as yours. If that's all you've got your trustworthiness and credibility are at stake no matter how much you "yell". Believe what you like and post what you like and make your own decisions but only for you. Don't expect people to believe you and don't expect people follow you.
I wish you the best with your continued research and whatever decision you make for yourself.
Ahem....a yeah....what's up with this "Brenda"???? Why in the world would he still be on her site if she stopped sending patients to him in January???? THREE loooonnnnggg months ago....very strange indeed!
Kimberly
Kimberly
Goal in EIGHT months!
Highest/Surgery Weight 248 Goal Weight 165 Current Weight 165-175
Starting BMI 33.7 Current BMI 22.1
I'm 42 years young, my height is 6' and I've had no plastics!
I
my sleeve!!!
Highest/Surgery Weight 248 Goal Weight 165 Current Weight 165-175
Starting BMI 33.7 Current BMI 22.1
I'm 42 years young, my height is 6' and I've had no plastics!
I
my sleeve!!!
What the hell! Let's see if we can make this thread more effing stupid! LOL!
I recently received a few calls regarding this nonsense posted to this thread. I debated about whether or not to post. Well, here I am!
To donemytime, I don’t believe for one minute you are who you say you are nor did you speak to so many people that had so many complications. You will not tell anyone who they are. You are adamant about insisting that you want to spread the news so that all are safe from this Center. So you would think that you would be anxious to show your proof and all the details of what you found. But you haven’t done that.
You say, “There have been so many reports of so many bad things..blah..blah.." Besides a few infections here and there, where are they. From you and the other 3 people that have NEVER been to this Center? With an average more than 100 surgeries a month in the last year or so, I would say 6 or 7 infections is a pretty good statistic! Do you think there are any U.S. docs with less than that?
For instance, Dr. Betancourt was NOT your direct coordinator that took your deposit then refused to return it. He doesn’t even take calls from potential patients. You MUST go through a coordinator! Caught in lie #1.
You say you talked to 12 patients only, all of which had serious complications. How is that even possible? If this Center does over 110 surgeries per month, how could you reach only people with a complication? Lie #2.
You clearly state you wouldn’t have surgery with a surgeon from this Center. Then don’t! I certainly wouldn’t book you for all the money in the world! I mean after all, your words, anyone that would go there is willing to “Drink the Kool-Aid". We have no Kool-Aid to sell to you dear.
You say, again your words, “There is so much controversy there. Why not go somewhere where there is no controversy?" Talk about drinking the Kool-Aid. Does such a place exist? Please tell me about any doctor with no complications. I’ll show you one who is lying or is VERY new!
You have done a lot of research on this board. You've known Peanutfreemom for a long time. But you never heard of Midwesterngirl. Clearly an attempt to try to distance yourself from her. Are you her? Hmmm... Lie #3.
You claim to know all kinds of little details about the Center. How do you know them? Oh yes, you’ll say, so and so told you. Or maybe it is because you said so? You really sound like Midwestern!
I just hope you mean what you say and are outta here! My guess is you're not. You won't be able to contain yourself!
Peanutfreemom is full of integrity and is very brave? First let me say I wasn’t even going to address this for a couple of reason. First I thought it would be very unprofessional of me to get involved in this person’s business since it isn’t any of my business. I have since changed my mind, since she sent me an email, which I will post excerpts from here just to make my point.
First off, in her own email she has patients booked in to March. Second, she comes on this board just after she receives an email from Dr. Betancourt’s assistant asking her to remove all evidence of their Center and surgeons. Only then does she grow a conscience. Just look at the dates of the emails! Only then does she feel the need to blow the Clinic out of the water and post about all these, so called terrible things that she can’t work with any longer.
This is the most UNPROFESSIONAL person I have ever seen. Had she really had a case of conscience, instead of sending threatening emails to everyone that does business with this Center in an obvious attempt to cause loss of business, she would have contacted all of us and asked us about our client’s health. Have we seen the same complications? Are we having any problems out of the ordinary or seen anything that seems suspect? She didn’t do any of that.
By the way, I haven’t had any patients have a feeding tube or become septic or be hospitalized with a serious complication thus far. I have been sending patients to this Center for about 1 ½ years.
This email also contains the first and last names of her patients for March. She has no regard for their privacy. She included them in her email to EVERYONE! She has no regard for professionalism. I have no idea what happened, but I can put 2 and 2 together from just a few excerpts of her own email! Apparently there was an issue with money and who knows what else! I really don’t know nor do I care.
And by the way Melanie, no one tells me what to do in my business. I only accept legal advice from my attorney.
Then I get the following email from the other crazy loon, below. Gee I didn’t know I was also “doubleflame" and “fightingfat". I guess I could go out to lunch with me, myself and I. Sorry doubleflame and fightingfat, but she says you don’t really exist.
I will tell you that I have been in this business for over 8 years now. I have seen people just like this come and go. There will always be crazies on these boards. What is sad is that most are not really crazy, they are making money referring patients to other doctors. The sad part is that they are not very good at sales and the only way they know how to sell is to trash the Big Guy. I was once with another doctor who became a “Big Guy". He was nothing when I started with him, then he grew to over 100 surgeries a month. Then guess what? Yup! The same thing! He became this horrible butcher that shouldn’t be practicing medicine! You see, whenever ANY practice gets really big, some of the others want to try to knock them down a few pegs and send more business their way. It usually works for a short time, until the “Big Guy" has so many happy patients, that it’s just too ridiculous to post the same old stuff.
Special note to Michelle, I don’t make threats I can’t keep. I do have an attorney on retainer as you well know. I do things legally and correctly. That’s how I do business, you should learn from that.
So go ahead and take your best shot. I was here before you came and I will be here after you leave. Still helping people suffering from obesity become healthy and happy again!
By the way Boscogirl, if you would like to find out more about becoming a coordinator, give me a call and I can put you in touch with the appropriate person!
Much Love!
Here are the emails. Enjoy…..
(from Midwesterngirl aka Michelle) From: Bipley < [email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: CCing this to your attorney
Sandy...
Call me psychic but I have a hunch... you are going down with Betancourt. The fake doc wannabe. You posted his license, I *have* the original thread where YOU posted his fake medical license on my hard drive along with your IP address. Betancoourt has a 7th grade education and stole the medical license of a "real" doctor and you were duped, you fell for it! BWAHAHAHAHA
You threaten to sue everyone that posts truth on the boards. The REAL truth is you have no case and you have no money. You couldn't afford to sue everyone you have threatened if your very life depended on it.
I'm going to sit back, point, and giggle.
Before you suggest I contact your attorney, do note.. I already did.
Heh...
BTW... when you posted on the boards that I lied to your lawyer claiming *I* did not really post the posts but instead, claimed that I was suffering from identity theft, if you should care to check your emails you will see I made no such claim. I'm just going to let you hang yourself. ;o))) I believe you may have already done that.
BTW... IP address check... doubleflame and Fightingfat... they are you. You just hung yourself and I'm going to watch this drama play out and enjoy every minute.
(From Peanutfreemom, aka Melanie)
……….. and continues to refer patients to you is legally liable both in Canada and in the United States. Your clinic had no patients of mine past the end of January………. Our website will be changed as soon as possible. It is certainly not in our interests to have your clinic's information on it. Please do not email me or contact me any further about this, or about any other matter, or I will be forced to report you to the appropriate authorities.
Thank you, Melanie
Melanie Wildman
President, CEO
Weight Loss Forever Ltd.
Suite 28-901 1st Ave. N
Saskatoon, SK S7K 1Y4
1-877-306-8891
t: 306-665-8891
f: 306-665-8848
c: 306-262-4855
weightlossforever.ca ________________________________________________________________________ On 2010-03-26, at 12:28 AM, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX wrote:
Read below. How is it that Melany on December knew of supposed infections and still continued to book patients on march 29th. Mmmmmm. It's a mystery. Sounds fishy.also our info is still on melanys website. By the way she ran away owing $11,000.00. We will follow up with Melany.I never took her for a thief
On Mar 25, 2010, at 12:16 PM, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXwrote:
Good afternoon Melanie! Per Dr. Betancourt, please remove all references to Dr. Almanza and Emmanuel Medical Center from your website immediately. Thank you in advance for your quick cooperation in this matter!!
On 2010-03-10, at 2:53 PM, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX wrote: Your patients for March
AXXX NXXX 3/11 DXXX CXXX 3/15 SXXX SXXX 3/29 DXXX SXXX 3/29
I recently received a few calls regarding this nonsense posted to this thread. I debated about whether or not to post. Well, here I am!
To donemytime, I don’t believe for one minute you are who you say you are nor did you speak to so many people that had so many complications. You will not tell anyone who they are. You are adamant about insisting that you want to spread the news so that all are safe from this Center. So you would think that you would be anxious to show your proof and all the details of what you found. But you haven’t done that.
You say, “There have been so many reports of so many bad things..blah..blah.." Besides a few infections here and there, where are they. From you and the other 3 people that have NEVER been to this Center? With an average more than 100 surgeries a month in the last year or so, I would say 6 or 7 infections is a pretty good statistic! Do you think there are any U.S. docs with less than that?
For instance, Dr. Betancourt was NOT your direct coordinator that took your deposit then refused to return it. He doesn’t even take calls from potential patients. You MUST go through a coordinator! Caught in lie #1.
You say you talked to 12 patients only, all of which had serious complications. How is that even possible? If this Center does over 110 surgeries per month, how could you reach only people with a complication? Lie #2.
You clearly state you wouldn’t have surgery with a surgeon from this Center. Then don’t! I certainly wouldn’t book you for all the money in the world! I mean after all, your words, anyone that would go there is willing to “Drink the Kool-Aid". We have no Kool-Aid to sell to you dear.
You say, again your words, “There is so much controversy there. Why not go somewhere where there is no controversy?" Talk about drinking the Kool-Aid. Does such a place exist? Please tell me about any doctor with no complications. I’ll show you one who is lying or is VERY new!
You have done a lot of research on this board. You've known Peanutfreemom for a long time. But you never heard of Midwesterngirl. Clearly an attempt to try to distance yourself from her. Are you her? Hmmm... Lie #3.
You claim to know all kinds of little details about the Center. How do you know them? Oh yes, you’ll say, so and so told you. Or maybe it is because you said so? You really sound like Midwestern!
I just hope you mean what you say and are outta here! My guess is you're not. You won't be able to contain yourself!
Peanutfreemom is full of integrity and is very brave? First let me say I wasn’t even going to address this for a couple of reason. First I thought it would be very unprofessional of me to get involved in this person’s business since it isn’t any of my business. I have since changed my mind, since she sent me an email, which I will post excerpts from here just to make my point.
First off, in her own email she has patients booked in to March. Second, she comes on this board just after she receives an email from Dr. Betancourt’s assistant asking her to remove all evidence of their Center and surgeons. Only then does she grow a conscience. Just look at the dates of the emails! Only then does she feel the need to blow the Clinic out of the water and post about all these, so called terrible things that she can’t work with any longer.
This is the most UNPROFESSIONAL person I have ever seen. Had she really had a case of conscience, instead of sending threatening emails to everyone that does business with this Center in an obvious attempt to cause loss of business, she would have contacted all of us and asked us about our client’s health. Have we seen the same complications? Are we having any problems out of the ordinary or seen anything that seems suspect? She didn’t do any of that.
By the way, I haven’t had any patients have a feeding tube or become septic or be hospitalized with a serious complication thus far. I have been sending patients to this Center for about 1 ½ years.
This email also contains the first and last names of her patients for March. She has no regard for their privacy. She included them in her email to EVERYONE! She has no regard for professionalism. I have no idea what happened, but I can put 2 and 2 together from just a few excerpts of her own email! Apparently there was an issue with money and who knows what else! I really don’t know nor do I care.
And by the way Melanie, no one tells me what to do in my business. I only accept legal advice from my attorney.
Then I get the following email from the other crazy loon, below. Gee I didn’t know I was also “doubleflame" and “fightingfat". I guess I could go out to lunch with me, myself and I. Sorry doubleflame and fightingfat, but she says you don’t really exist.
I will tell you that I have been in this business for over 8 years now. I have seen people just like this come and go. There will always be crazies on these boards. What is sad is that most are not really crazy, they are making money referring patients to other doctors. The sad part is that they are not very good at sales and the only way they know how to sell is to trash the Big Guy. I was once with another doctor who became a “Big Guy". He was nothing when I started with him, then he grew to over 100 surgeries a month. Then guess what? Yup! The same thing! He became this horrible butcher that shouldn’t be practicing medicine! You see, whenever ANY practice gets really big, some of the others want to try to knock them down a few pegs and send more business their way. It usually works for a short time, until the “Big Guy" has so many happy patients, that it’s just too ridiculous to post the same old stuff.
Special note to Michelle, I don’t make threats I can’t keep. I do have an attorney on retainer as you well know. I do things legally and correctly. That’s how I do business, you should learn from that.
So go ahead and take your best shot. I was here before you came and I will be here after you leave. Still helping people suffering from obesity become healthy and happy again!
By the way Boscogirl, if you would like to find out more about becoming a coordinator, give me a call and I can put you in touch with the appropriate person!
Much Love!
Here are the emails. Enjoy…..
(from Midwesterngirl aka Michelle) From: Bipley < [email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: CCing this to your attorney
Sandy...
Call me psychic but I have a hunch... you are going down with Betancourt. The fake doc wannabe. You posted his license, I *have* the original thread where YOU posted his fake medical license on my hard drive along with your IP address. Betancoourt has a 7th grade education and stole the medical license of a "real" doctor and you were duped, you fell for it! BWAHAHAHAHA
You threaten to sue everyone that posts truth on the boards. The REAL truth is you have no case and you have no money. You couldn't afford to sue everyone you have threatened if your very life depended on it.
I'm going to sit back, point, and giggle.
Before you suggest I contact your attorney, do note.. I already did.
Heh...
BTW... when you posted on the boards that I lied to your lawyer claiming *I* did not really post the posts but instead, claimed that I was suffering from identity theft, if you should care to check your emails you will see I made no such claim. I'm just going to let you hang yourself. ;o))) I believe you may have already done that.
BTW... IP address check... doubleflame and Fightingfat... they are you. You just hung yourself and I'm going to watch this drama play out and enjoy every minute.
(From Peanutfreemom, aka Melanie)
……….. and continues to refer patients to you is legally liable both in Canada and in the United States. Your clinic had no patients of mine past the end of January………. Our website will be changed as soon as possible. It is certainly not in our interests to have your clinic's information on it. Please do not email me or contact me any further about this, or about any other matter, or I will be forced to report you to the appropriate authorities.
Thank you, Melanie
Melanie Wildman
President, CEO
Weight Loss Forever Ltd.
Suite 28-901 1st Ave. N
Saskatoon, SK S7K 1Y4
1-877-306-8891
t: 306-665-8891
f: 306-665-8848
c: 306-262-4855
weightlossforever.ca ________________________________________________________________________ On 2010-03-26, at 12:28 AM, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX wrote:
Read below. How is it that Melany on December knew of supposed infections and still continued to book patients on march 29th. Mmmmmm. It's a mystery. Sounds fishy.also our info is still on melanys website. By the way she ran away owing $11,000.00. We will follow up with Melany.I never took her for a thief
On Mar 25, 2010, at 12:16 PM, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXwrote:
Good afternoon Melanie! Per Dr. Betancourt, please remove all references to Dr. Almanza and Emmanuel Medical Center from your website immediately. Thank you in advance for your quick cooperation in this matter!!
On 2010-03-10, at 2:53 PM, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX wrote: Your patients for March
AXXX NXXX 3/11 DXXX CXXX 3/15 SXXX SXXX 3/29 DXXX SXXX 3/29
Sandy Johnston
Patient Care Coordinator
aLighterMe.com
(deactivated member)
on 3/27/10 3:17 pm
on 3/27/10 3:17 pm
Wow, did you really just post the full names of patients on here from a private e-mail you received (the last e-mail message in your reply: "Your patients for March")? If you have any respect for patient privacy, I'd suggest you delete that part of your reply. Not cool.
On March 27, 2010 at 10:17 PM Pacific Time, reinventingBetty wrote:
Wow, did you really just post the full names of patients on here from a private e-mail you received (the last e-mail message in your reply: "Your patients for March")? If you have any respect for patient privacy, I'd suggest you delete that part of your reply. Not cool. Sandy Johnston
Patient Care Coordinator
aLighterMe.com
On March 27, 2010 at 10:30 PM Pacific Time, zsflower wrote:
On March 27, 2010 at 10:17 PM Pacific Time, reinventingBetty wrote:
Wow, did you really just post the full names of patients on here from a private e-mail you received (the last e-mail message in your reply: "Your patients for March")? If you have any respect for patient privacy, I'd suggest you delete that part of your reply. Not cool. I have noticed that when you get desperate you make mistakes. You've done it before, no doubt you will do it again.
I must have missed your reply where you answered a question from earlier today. I'm hoping you can help me out here.
A few months ago you posted your "proof" that Betancourt is a licensed physician. You posted your "proof" that the clinic is a licensed hospital. You also claimed that Almanza is board certified in surgery.
Again... do you still stand behind these claims?
Shall I post the post you wrote making the licensing claims? I do not believe I saved the post (the one you later had deleted) where you claim Almanza is board certified in surgery but I have witnesses that read your words.
Would that help to refresh your memory?
Do you suppose there is some type of civil action that infected, leaky, damaged patients could take against YOU for lying to them about these issues and sending them to a place that you knew full well had serious problems with a ton of infections, leaks, stomach perforations, etc? I'll bet there is.
Good thing you have an attorney on retainer. He can "email" them like he did me! BWAHAHAHAHAHA As I have told you before, stop with the threats and put your money where your mouth is. Have your attorney "email" me another letter asking me not to discuss Betancourt anymore... as if it is any of your business anyway!
And no, I am not interested in a contract between you and I where you stop your silly nonsense. As I told your attorney, buggar off. Maybe you can get Joey (aka Betancourt) to help you out with the cost... again. ;o)
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