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And if you looked up other docs u don't get to see law suits settled out of court.. and take your racist inneundo and shove it where the sun don't shine sister... that was low

If you want to use him fine.. but we are here to support each other and tell of our experiences.... period.

CC

He may be a good doctor, good doctors can make mistakes.  If he's the "right" doctor for you, that's all that matters for you.  If you like him, trust him, and feel like he's the one for you, I wish you all the best.

Personally, I never even considered Dr. Duncan and after some of the research I've done...I wouldn't use him. 
#1 - He usually operates out of Atlanta Medical Center.  AMC is owned by Tenet.  I used to work for North Fulton Regional Hospital, also owned by Tenet.  AMC isn't the greatest hospital (there are worse, but there are better).
#2 - One of the ladies on this thread had her lapband in Sept (?).  It wasn't done at a hospital, it was done at a surgical center.  That's curious and would not make me comfortable.  And she was discharged the same day.  Also unusual, even for a lapband.  Again, FOR ME, I would be uneasy.  I have medical issues that I suspect may buy me an extra day in the hospital beyond the standard 2 days.
#3 - I saw the malpractice suits attached to his license when I did a license search.  They are pretty recent 2005 & 2006.  We live in a litigeous society, that's a fact.  Some people think if a doc does them wrong (even if it's a minor wrong) they can earn big bucks.  So, there are many docs walking around with malpractice suits attached to their licenses.  On top of that, as CC stated, we don't get to see the ones settled out of court.  Truth be told, if I'm choosing between 2 surgeons who are equal in ALL aspects, yet one of them has searchable malpractice suits and the other doesn't?  I'm going to pick the one with no lawsuits - just my feeling.
#4 - The most concerning thing to me about Dr. Duncan is that he also is doing plastic surgery.  I truly have a problem with his hand being in that many pots.  It's one thing for a surgeon who specialized in bariatric (gastrointestinal) surgery to go fixing a hernia or remove a gallbladder while he's in there.  It's all part of the gastrointestinal structure.  But I will not have a bariatric surgeon do plastic surgery on me and I will not allow a heart surgeon take the place of a neurosurgeon to fix the bleed in my brain.

That being said, you stated there were approximately 270 mostly positive posts about Dr. Duncan.  GREAT!  But he's done THOUSANDS of surgeries.  Where are the rest of them?  Okay, not everybody uses the internet.  Not everybody is on OH.  If people settled lawsuits with him, they may be bound by the settlement NOT to say anything about their surgery.  And there are people around who are vocal about their surgeries with Dr. Duncan.  GeorgiaGirl is the only one I know off-hand.  And while I don't know specifics of her problems with Dr. Duncan, I do know she almost died following surgery. 

As far as people around here possibly not wanting to use Dr. Duncan because he is African-American?  Yes, there are people in this world who are still living in the 1960's.  I personally do not make decisions based on the color of ones skin.  I voted for the person I felt would do the best job for our country for President...I am a very proud Obama supporter.  He is an awesome man!  I don't care if he's purple!  I have had awesome doctors who happen to have been African-American...and I loved them to death.  They did a great job for me and I had good relationships with them.  Not picking Titus Duncan has NOTHING to do with the color of his skin.

Surgeons are a different breed of doctor.  Most doctors go into surgery because they don't want patients.  What I mean, is they want to go in, work their magic and discharge their patients.  Bariatric surgery is different.  Long term follow up is required!  So you really need to have a surgeon you can develop a working relationship with.  What this all boils down to is that if you like and are comfortable with Dr. Duncan, use him.  But don't pick him just because he's African-American...don't pick him just because you like his CV...don't pick him solely because of what he has accomplished for the African-American community...

Just my $.02 for the day,
Elli

P.S. If you ever need an orthopaedic surgeon who only does feet and ankles, I've got one who is African-American, had a great CV, and has done a lot for the African-American community...and on top of all that?  He's gotta be one of the most awesome physicians I have ever had the pleasure of working with.  And he fixed my plantar faciitis!

 
WONDER why he is not using the hospital for his patients any more???  Why have your own center?  Maybe there is more to this than meets the eye....?????

EDITED TO TAKE OUT THAT HE DID MY SURGERY, HE DID NOT...THAT WAS WHAT  SPECK HAD WRITTEN ABOVE.   DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT ON HERE...SOME KIND OF GLITCH.    I HAD MY SURGERY WITH DR FREEMAN AND WAS AT A REPUTABLE HOSPITAL...I STAYED 3 DAYS.  

WHY WOULD ANY DR SEND YOU HOME THAT SOON.  WHAT DOES HE KNOW THAT 1000'S OF OTHER DR'S ON HERE DON'T KNOW????   

 

Who knows?  What I do know is that the insurance for GA state employees IMPLICITLY states that surgery has to be at a Center of Excellence on a very short list.  So, the state of GA insurance would cover an employee for Dr. Duncan if he was performing surgery out of Atlanta Medical Center, but NOT his private center.

-Elli

Maybe she wasn't given a choice?  Maybe she was already "signed up with him" (for lack of better terminology) when she found out it wouldn't be at a hospital?

The other problem is that sometimes, we feel our doctors are God and we just do what they tell us to do thinking they have our best interests at heart.  But they aren't Gods and it's okay to call them on things.  We as patients have to remember that and take an active role in all decisions made where our healthcare is concerned.

-Elli

DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ....THIS WAS THE REPLY FROM SOMEONE ABOVE.  IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WROTE.. I WOULD NEVER HAVE USED HIM AFTER DOING RESEARCH....  DR DUNCAN DID NOT DO MY SURGERY.   I WROTE THE FOLLOWING ONLY 

WONDER why he is not using the hospital for his patients any more???  Why have your own center?  Maybe there is more to this than meets the eye....?????

I know, I realized that.  The other part of the post was from "Speck" (2nd post on this thread). 

-Elli