CASH PAY WARNING- Thomas R. Brown

I adore Dr. Thomas R Brown from CBSI in Denver. He's like Mr. Bean in a way. Dry humor, smiling eyes. I really felt at ease. He just sort of casually sauntered in and started explaining things. He answered all of my questions like we had been friends for years. No nonsense, no little rays of sunshine, just honest to goodness truth.

But sadly, that is as far as the good times roll. I had some complications after surgery. At only 2 1/2 months out, my port stitches came loose and Dr. Brown refused to fix it for free. This should have been covered!!! It was less than 90 days out from surgery and typically any complications (surgical errors) are remedied by the MD at no charge. This was not the case. My new MD even agrees that he should have been responsible and liable to fix the port stitches.

I was informed by the billing office at CBSI that since I paid the discounted cash pay price of $9900.00 that no complications would be covered. Yes- I paid cash for this through donations from friends, family and a sizable loan.

This complication fix/refusal was NOT in the paperwork I signed. NEVER in any of the contracts did it say that since I was paying the lowest fee, I would be getting the lowest quality of car and the lowest amount of service.

I have since transferred care to closer to home. I would NOT recommend going to Dr. Brown as a cash pay patient or if you do, get the additional BLIS insurance for cash pay patients that is advertised on this site. If I would have done that, this would not be an issue. I'm going to have to pay an additional $4000 dollars that I don't have to replace the work that should have been covered under the 90 global. This stinks!!!

Tiff,
Sorry that the doc behaved unethically. Of course he should have fixed the work that he'd done wrong. This is just unbelievable that a surgeon would jeopardize the health of his patient for profit.

I think this info should be posted on the main board as a warning to others who are paying cash so they will know what to look for before signing a contract.

Hope all goes well for you with your new doc.

it's odd, none of the complication lingo was in the paperwork from the MD. There was plenty of liablity paperwork at the hospital, but not from the clnic.

I actually posted this under just about every heading forum option and then went to a few other sites to post as well. I just want others to be warned.  Buy BLIS!!!!

THATS EXACTLY WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!!!!! IM HAVIN MY SURGERY IN MEXICO AND ALL IVE BEEN HEARING(FAMILY) IS NEGATIVE TALK ABOUT NOT GOIN THERE B/C I MIGHT NOT GET THE TREATMENT I NEED OR THE FACILITY MIGHT BE DIRTY,AND STILL IF I HAVE THE SURGERYHERE IN THE U.S.A THE TREATMENT MIGHT NOT BE LEGGITE EITHER. ALOT OF MY FRIENDS HAVE WENT TO MX AND HAD SURGERY FOR LESS THAN WHAT YOU PAID ;AND GOT TREATED LIKE ROYALITY!!!! THIS SHOULD GIVE OTHER PPL SOMETHIN TO THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY WANNA GO MOUTHIN OFF ABOUT MX B/C ALL U.S DOCTORS ARENT ALL GOOD. IM SORRY U HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT. I WOUL D HAV TOOK LEGAL ACTION.

Until you have done your research about the good Mexico Dr. ....you have no idea what you are talking about. Unfortuantly most of our family and friends don't know anything about WLS let alone anything about Surgery in Mexico.
For example: they cater to US self-paying Americans and treat you like gold and they have had way more experience than American Doctors because they have legally been able to practice WLS longer.
Just to name a few.