Question:
My conslult with dr Ostroff was verbaly abussive?

My consult with Dr. Ostroff who seems to be the gate keeper for Dr Patti went horrable. he verbaly abused me by telling me I was to fat to have the surgery (my weight 280) and that if I wanted to be skinny I needed to starve my self if I wanted to be skinny. He also told me obvisly I liked being fat? has this happend to anywhere else.    — dddtaj (posted on January 10, 2003)


January 10, 2003
I wouldn't have put up with this bull @#@# from this man. I would turn him in to the ethics board of the medical board where you live. I would definetely file a complaint. I am an RN and I know that some docs think they are GOD. What egos some of them have!!!!!!!!!!!
   — Delores S.

January 10, 2003
And don't forget to tell Dr. Patti too! What a load of crap. This guy sounds mentally deranged. Why is he in this business anyway? I am so sorry you had to go through that. You may want to start looking another doc. There are compassionate ones out there.
   — PaulaM

January 10, 2003
I agree with the others to turn this guy in to the state ethics board as well as to find yourself another surgeon. As far as you being too fat to have the surgery, ridiculous! I had mine at 427 (I'm now 288). There are patients that have weighed 800 pounds that have had WLS. Hang in there - you'll find a good surgeon out there.
   — John Rushton

January 10, 2003
Does someone need to knock him off his high horse or what? Nobody should ever be talked to like that. I don't know if he was trying to scare you into it or what but that is not the way to do it. I agree, turn him in to somebody! Can you imagine the aftercare with that idiot? He would crush all your efforts if you didn't live up to "his" standards. Please find somebody else that is caring and wants to help the obese, not bash them.
   — Dee ,.

January 10, 2003
I agree with the previous posters. You definately need to turn this guy in. He obviously has no idea what he is talking about. You aren't even remotely close to being too fat to have the surgery. I had mine at 396 and know of others a lot heavier than myself. I would suggest going to another surgeon, one who isn't a complete jerk.
   — Rebekah A.

January 10, 2003
Call your surgeon Asap, and tell them this is being discussed here. Surgeons really respect this site negative comments here can haunt them for years,. Let us know what your surgeon says.
   — bob-haller

January 10, 2003
I am so sorry that this has happened to you. If it's not enough. If Dr. Patti has e-mail, e-mail him/her immediately letting them know how you were treated and cc: this Dr. Ostroff and then find another doctor or clinic. My doctor who is only a bariatric doctor treated me with the utmost respect. Please, not all doctors are that way - just the jerks who shouldn't be allowed to call themselves doctors.
   — dolphins94

January 10, 2003
I am so sorry to hear that this happened to you. I have heard many similar stories about Dr. Ostroff, both on this site and at the support group I have been attending. Unfortunately, most Northern California HMOs I am finding refer to UCSF and the screening appointment is with Ostoff. I myself have a referral to the UCSF program and will have my "opportunity" to see him in May (making a 6 month wait by the way). I have not met him myself, but by all accounts he is unprofessional and is crossing the line on what is even acceptable human behavior. If everyone that was treated in this way were to compalin, UCSF and insurance companies would listen. I myself am mentally preparing for the inevitable confrontation and plan to tape record my visit and be prepared to write to my insurance, medical group, UCSF, State Medical Board to file my complaint. The insurance company might not care, because maybe this is their strategy - to slow down and scare off as many people as possible. BUT the places that certify him as a physician will care. I wonder, did you also meet with Karen Bagatelos, the Nurse Practitioner and with Leslie the coordinator? Were they helpful? I would encourage you to formalize your compalint about how you were treated. I plan to do the same when the time comes, and the voice of many can bring about change.
   — w8free

January 10, 2003
What kind of doctor is Ostroff? Certainly not one in the WLS business, otherwise he would not have said what he said to you! I hope you told him that you did not seek help just to receive abuse. Definitely write down what he said to you and send the info to Dr. Patti and the Medical Board for your State. There are tactful ways of talking to people, and I do believe it a doctor's job to inform their patients that they are overweight and putting their health at risk in doing so, however, to tell you you needto starve to be skinny and that you liked being fat, is way overboard. And definitely unprofessional....
   — Cindy R.

January 10, 2003
What a MORON! You see, it's those type of people that need their behinds whooped! Me personally, I would have done everything imaginable to have this guy reviewed by the medical board. How dare he! Better you than me- ha I would have probably been arrested if I was there. I don't know karate, but I would have kung-fu him that day!
   — Luscious1 X.

January 10, 2003
You might want to consider taking a dictaphone or voice recorder if you have to go back to see him. Or if anyone else is scheduled to see him you might want to do the same thing. This would give you proof to take to the medical review board. Verbal abuse is unnacceptable regardless of what type of surgery you are having or what your weight is. I feel that patients who have experienced this type of abuse with this man are honor bound to make an effort to prevent it from happening to other potential WLS patients. I hope you have a succesful journey. Shame on this healthcare professional (and I use the term loosely) for being so insensitive! Best wishes!
   — ronascott

January 10, 2003
I am having surgery in Concord, Ca at Mt Diablo Hospital. I also have attended a support group at the hospital and Dr. Ostroff and his lack of bedside manners were brought up. There was more then one person who had had bad experiences with him. He sounds like a jerk. I would find out the appropriate means to make a formal complaint. I'm sure you won't be the first person. GOOD LUCK!
   — Francie S.

January 10, 2003
Geez, what a JERK! I was 258 lbs & 5'3" and they did not tell me I was too fat, and there are more people out there that weigh much more and they are encouraged to have the operation. That guy seems to get his kicks by putting other people down. I hope someone does something about him, no one deserves treatment like that. I do hope you go ahead with the operation or change docs. Good luck and do not give up or give in to jerks like that.
   — Betty Todd

January 10, 2003
Lord help us! Is this guy insane or what? I would go directly to Dr. Patti and tell him EXACTLY what you have told us here. Not only is Ostroff's information wrong (280 is too "fat" to have surgery? What? Starve yourself? Huh?), his delivery was extremely abusive and downright unethical. This guy needs to be called onto the carpet by whoever his superiors are. Good luck, and please let us know what response you get. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 11, 2003
Debbie, Dr. Ostroff is an ass. I am sorry, but Dr. Patti did my surgery a year ago and I had to start with Dr. Ostroff. Part of the problem is that you need him to get a referral to Dr. Patti. Dr. Ostroff actually started the program at UCSF. Nobody wants to call him on some of the things he says for fear of not getting a referral. The good news is that you should only have to see him once. And Dr. Patti is a nice, compassionate man. You will like him. Good luck with your journey.
   — Barbara H.

January 11, 2003
My PCP told me that wls surgery is for people who weigh 500lbs +. I said no it's not, as if stop playing! -- he did not want to give me that referral. If it wasn't for this site I would have been fooled. Oh turn his piss ass in! GOOD LUCK!!
   — JUNE P.




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