Question:
What if the surgen you picked allowed someone else to do your surgery without your knowledge?

I researched and researched my surgen for a year. I wanted a member of the American Society of Bariatric surgens to do my surgery. I found a surgen who was a member and has done thousands of RNY's. Well I had my RNY 7 months ago and have had nothing but problems with it, but I trusted my surgen. Finally I went to get a copy of my operative report and found out that she didn't even do my surgery, she only assisted. A cardio-thoracic surgen did it. I know nothing about him and never even was told about him before surgery. I don't know how many RNY's he ever did, his track record or anything. And the only way I found this out is because I went to the hospital and go my report. My bariatric surgen has lied to me all along, saying that she did my surgery. With all the problems I've have had with surgery, should I seek legal advice? Please help?    — melissa J. (posted on May 5, 2001)

May 5, 2001
Hi Melissa, I spoke to you on the phone not long ago and now understand why that pulmonary doctor is so negative on WLS, seeing this post does give me pause on my rush to get surgery. I find it unreal that your surgeon only assisted, but have been warned to always specify in advance that you want them doing the surgery, and not a understudy. Hey everyone has to learn, but just not on me. I think you should get a appointment with dr schauer for a second opinion, at this point it cant hurt and I will say a prayer for you. I will definetely show Jen this chilling post and hope things improve. Of course at this point you probably should consult with a attorney. Your surgeon should of been upfront with who actually did the surgery.
   — bob-haller

May 5, 2001
I have been thinking, if the pouch is too small persistant vomiting will result from what I have read. This sometimes goes aeway in time because the pouch stretches a bit. Have you checked your pouch size by eating cottage cheese? The directions to do this are in that book Jen showed you. Its easy, by eating till full then measuring the difference of water poured in and out of the remaining cheese. It was written by Barbara Thompson who is a member here. I hope this can be of some help, bob
   — bob-haller

October 26, 2004
Let me first say I am not a medical nor legal professional, consequently this is only my opinion. I would suggest asking to see your surgical consent form prior to going to the hospital. This would be particularly important in the case of a large practice (ie many doctors) or in a teaching hospital. It has been my experience with surgery in general that the nurse gives you the form to sign right before they start the pre-op sedation. That is not the time to discover that a "team" will be operating. At that point many people feel they have no choice but to sign the form and the medical staff can be pretty nasty if you start asking anything more than very simple questions. In most cases the consent form must be signed prior to the adminstration of any sort of sedative. It is questionable whether someone can really give "informed" consent under the influence of a tranquilizer or other pre-op sedation.
   — Redhaired