PLEASE READ!!! LICENCE SUSPENED!!

 i just thought it was funny that he was telling everyone he had to go away for some sort of treatment and ended up in thailand.  it was me being sarcastic...this is the beauty of text.  no tone is inflected.  

the trouble with this surgeon is he is the only doc in louisiana that accepted medicaid for this surgery.  a LOT of women got their hopes up.  some of us don't have any other choice.  some of them...and i was one of them until i started miraculously losing weight on my own (by the grace of God!)  are on death's doorstep....and this opportunity to have some kind of help seemed like a miracle to a LOT of people!  and now this guy might not ever come back...and even if he does...who would trust him to cut them...not this girl right here.    i may just be preaching to the choir.  but it seems so unfair to all of the people who trusted these medical professionals.  and not only that..but this clinic is run out of a university system, not a here today gone tomorrow physician's office.  

i've come to closure that this surgery wasn't meant for me to have..i am doing well enough on my own and i am seeing significant progress.  but what about those other ladies out there who struggle and have so many health issues...and really needed this!  makes me disgusted.  why didn't he just tell the truth in the first place...."i'm an addict..i'm on probation...i'm scamming off your medicaid card so i can go to the golden banana in thailand and go swim with the exotic fishies in cambodia."

Again, I totally get your anger and frustration but let's get real about a few issues here.

His license has been at issue for a long time.  A simple web search for the medical board.. something that is critical for anyone having elective surgery or going to any doctor for anything other than an emergency... should have done.  I don't even know the man, I have no issue with this doctor, I'm not even in the same state and I found it in less than 5 minutes that his license was suspended.  Anyone with a computer could find that and again, it's a responsibility.

I almost went to a doc that has had his license on probation for the better part of 10+ years for sexually abusing his male patients.  He gives them an injection in the butt and kisses their injection site when he's done!  He makes a whole new meaning out of prostate and hernia exams.  As many complaints as this guy has had it's shocking to me that he even HAS a license but that is a topic for another day (I'm happy to dig his name up again if someone is interested in morbid reading of a perverted doc).

I guess my point here is that before I went to him I did a simple check of his license and was shocked at what I read.  If ANY of you would have done the same, you would have seen the same.  People think if they are having surgery in the US it must be safe.  I have news for you, it isn't.  You have to research your potential surgeon JUST as much as you would if you were leaving the country.  According to Dr. Oz the 3rd leading cause of death in the US is medical error.  If that doesn't justify doing a bit of legwork for an elective procedure, I don't know what does.

As for him milking Medicare... I'm pretty sure he wasn't banking on having his license suspended.  I doubt he was trying to see what he could get for months ahead of time knowing he'd be suspended.  When something is serious enough to suspend a doc's license it's usually done quickly.  For the medical board to act on a bloody thing it has to be serious, for them suspend or revoke a license it's usually done quickly.  So it doesn't really add up that he was milking Medicaid waiting for his suspension.

****IF**** a doc can get his addictions under control I wouldn't think twice about going to him/her.  It doesn't appear that this guy can, he's had the same problems for a long time.  Just like us with food, some folks just never get to their goals.  Sad yet true.

There are likely docs outside the state that take your state's medicaid.  I was just reading recently someone talking about another state, she lives on the border of two states and she has options in her state and the state 2 miles from her home.  Might be something to consider.

You all dodged a bullet on this one from what it sounds.

 i called myself researching.  and nothing ever popped up for this guy.  i wasn't smart enough i guess to pull up his license.  i wouldn't even know how to pull up the "why"  if indeed i discovered a doctor had an issue with his license...how do you do that by the way?

You call the number on the website.

Sorry I forgot to come back and tell my story. I was finished with my 6 month diet and they said they were ready to submit to insurance. I was watching the morning news and there was a story about my Dr. being fired. Some back story. I live in Illinois and went to Dr Argote in Paducah KY. I liked him a lot and was a little surprized when he said he was going to open a practice in Herri IL, but I thought it was an additional clinic. It turns out that his licence was suspended in KY for 3 months. When the Herrin clinic found out he was let go for breach of contract. The Herrin clinic made arraingments for a Clinic in St Louis MO to take their patients. That is where I had my surgery. I think the charges against Dr Argote were trumped up by an ex girl friend, but I didn't want two wait 3 months for him plus I wasn't sure there wasn't some truth hidden amoung the lies. My new DR is Norbert Richardson and I really like him and his staff.
I hope you find a new surgeon soon.

 unfortunately for me and medicaid..my medicaid is vamoosh in august because i *GASP* got a job.  at 75 cents an hour above minimum wage...and i am a single mom..but still don't qualify to keep my medical card though i have all these medical problems that need to be addressed...

if they come and take my CPAP machine...i will pitch a holy terror fit.  if i can't get back into the "charity" medical clinic without sitting in the er of the "charity" hospital for 18 hours to get my bp med and my anti-seizure med (which costs 150 bucks a month) i will pitch a holy terror fit.  

god bless the leader of our nation and our health care...it's the pits.

hey!

dale the office manager called me last week and scheduled me an appointment for the 1st @ 1pm. she said that his name is no longer in the LSU system because he was out for so long, but that was not a problem for us. all they have to do is re-enter his info into the system. 

trina, dont give up!  you have come so far. we all have! i dont have a choice but to wait, i have medicaid and he's the only doctor that accepts it. so i will wait as long as it takes. 

r u kidding me?? im not giving up!! but im def not going to dr steeb!! hes not going back angel, & if he does...it wont be 4 long bc his license is no more good after may! did u not research?? are u not reading everything in my post!! this has been goin on for years! he is an addict, that has recieved help too many times. and u r willing to still allow him 2 still do ur surgery??? some drs in other staes except louisiana medicaid..."DO MORE RESEARCH" i have already contacted the louisiana medical board & they r emailing me all of dr steebs records, & reasons 4 being put on probabtion, susp, ect 4 all of these years!! ur very brave!! i wish u the best of luck...<3

WOW....Im really in shock in reading all this about Dr. Steeb. My husband kept telling me that it was a sign that everything kept getting put off but, I really thought he was only saying that because he really didnt want me having the surgery to begin with. However, I dont think I can have this surgery with Dr. Steeb even if he called me tomorrow and said come in now and I can do it. My life isnt worth it and now my gut says NO WAY!!!! 

Angel: I know we have been waiting a long time for this and I respect any decision you make but, GIRL I dunno now im more scared then ever. Told my hubby the news and he says we will find a way to find a good doc and just pay out of pocket. Im not holding my breath but, looks like our journey will be a little longer. Im calling in the am to get my records faxed over to me ASAP or I will even go pick them up (over a 3 hour drive but worth it) if it doesn't mean I have to start over when I find a new surgeon. MAN IM STILL IN SHOCK AND NOW I CANT EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING ANY SLEEP.

shyest, im so sorry i had to be the bearer of bad news, but i wanted everyone2 be aware!! (especially his patients) i have requested all of his info through louisiana medical board, & i am waiting on it anyday!! u need to sign a medical release get all ur records from his office, & find another dr...theres still time, & hope! dont give up we have all come too far! this has been such a hard pill 4 me 2 swallow myself, but we gotta stay focused!! (just makes me very nervous abt the next dr) im def doing all my homewor****ep up the good work u have done, & if u need to ever talk, just know im here! we can exchange #'s through messaging :o) good luck, & god bless!! <3