*susan*

Heather, yes, that was my thread about my experience with my surgeon. I invite you to please start your own threads and complain about me there all you want. I am a big girl and can handle it. But, I am tired of your insistance on detracting from the importance of this thread and turning it into your own personal vendetta against me or anyone who dares to speak against your surgeon. There is an important message here to be heard. If you are traveling to Mexico, please be advised there are people who are willing to take advantage of you for their own personal needs. They understand you are in a very vulnerable state. Don't become a victim, protect yourself. And don't allow a handful of people to make you feel like you have done something wrong, when you haven't. No matter what anyone else says, it is unprofessional and unethical. Just because the doctor isn't directly doing it, his coordinator is, and his coordinator is the primary person who runs his business. When it occurs again and again, and it is not addressed, there is a problem. If this has happened to you, do not be afraid to stand up for yourself, don't allow yourself to be bullied.

Again, I was using it to make a point. You are taking it out context and once again grasping at straws and trying to make this thread about you. And, broken record time, I did not delete your messages or ban you, I do not have the rights to do that.

Whitney, I believe this is the post you are referring to, and even in it, I did not use the word rape, I was simply offering up scenarios for others to consider. My comments were not removed.

That is a really tough one. The best I can figure is because Surgeon X performed their surgery, they develop almost a hero worship type devotion to them. This person changed their life, they are healthy now, they are happier, and they give all the credit for that to Surgeon X. Because everything went perfectly for them, how could it have possibly gone any other way for anyone else? So, they come out in full force, well, in actually reality their are only a few here, as the same ones keep posting, to defend their hero. And in doing so, they will do everything they can to divert attention away from them, which includes going after others, discrediting others, attacking the victims or trying to make themselves appear the victim. It really is sad, and fascinating at the same time.

Heather, I challenge you to go back and quote where I used the word "rape". I believe you will have a very difficult time doing so, because I did not. I also challenge you post links to all these other threads where I have "trashed many other doctors". I posted about my experience with my surgeon, that was it.

What is funny about this, is Sherry admitted to me that she is actually close friends with one of the ladies and feels very badly about what happened to her.

Well, first off, any posts that were deleted and members that were banned would have been done by one person only, Alex. He is the founder of the website, and he makes those decisions. So, that is a question neither myself nor Lipsticklady can answer. Next, Whitney, for someone who has posted many, many times about having a real life with real friends, you have spent a great deal of time in this thread trying to discredit myself and the six woman who have been brave enough to come forward with their experiences. I wonder why? What exactly is your relationship and how do you benefit from protecting Omar? And, more importantly, why have you insisted on trying to make this thread about you, and to make yourself out to be the victim here? This is NOT about WHITNEY. This is about a coordinator who has been reported as having made unwelcome advances on patients, and entering into inappropriate relationships with them. How about we address that instead? This is about putting the word out there so other woman who are traveling to Mexico are aware of what could potentially happen to them so they can make an informed choice. Lets talk about the real issues here, if you wish to discuss your offense at Alex for removing your posts or banning you (which you obviously don't understand what being banned means), then private message him, private message me or open your own thread. In fact, I invite you to do that, so this thread may get back to the real issues at hand, which, despite some of you and your cohorts best efforts to declare otherwise, is very real and very serious. One that people have a right to know about.

My goal is not to ruin Dr. Illan's reputation, I said from the very first post that I feel he is a good surgeon. However, I have been advised that he is aware of what is going on with Omar, but chooses to look the other direction. If that is the case, then that is unacceptable, unprofessional and unethical.

OK...as Susan pointed out, you are her fiancee Bill....she didn't realize your profile was open when she posted HER response that travel mego caught....you magically opened this account tonight, with 4 posts and YOU quote the above....sorry, but i have to agree with travelmego...YOU are BillC..you made up this fake account for support....Not only that, but in May YOU Susan...wrote me personally to say that you thought both Dr. Illan and Omar were wonderful and if you were to go ahead with your revision it would be with him? You knew about these "allegations" in September but two months ago you thought they were both wonderful?? Doesn't make sense? I may be a newbie on here, but I have been researching and reading these boards for months and months...I have not had surgery yet...as mentioned, I've even had contact with you about different surgeons...this just seems way to fishy to me. Yes, but that was in May, as you pointed out. Shortly thereafter, I started receiving emails from woman and then I knew that the person who had first come to me last year did not misinterpret anything, and that I had done her a disservice. If you read my earlier post, I stated that Omar had done a wonderful job of convincing me nothing had happened. However, when one person turns into six, you realize there is a definite problem here, something unprofessional and unethical is occuring and it is time to take action.

Thank you for sharing what happened with you, that took a lot of guts to come forward and post this, and I admire you for doing so.

First off, you guys are having a field day with my fiance. Surely you can come up with better, more reasonable arguments than that? Bill and I sit in our recliners and the iPad is on the table between us. I went to do a load of laundry. He signed me out, then because it had been so long since he posted under his old name and couldn't remember it, he went ahead and started a new account. He has worked with many patients, he has also worked as a counselor with abused woman, so he has taken a great interest in this thread. And, naturally, he wanted to add his take on things. I came back, picked up the iPad not realizing he had been on it and typed my responses. After I hit enter on the second one, I saw his name instead of mine, so I deleted and reposted under my name. That is it, plain and simple. BariatricPal *susan*, Aussiegirl_73 has just posted a reply to a topic that you have subscribed to titled "Baja Bariatrics, Dr. Illan and Omar - A Warning". Susan.............Troll, Troll, Troll. Looks and sounds like the act of an internet troll to me.....dont ruin my experience with your unproven and destructive propoganda. If you were genuine, your would never have been a troll poster, but would have gone to the authorities and never made it onto a thread until it was a proven fact. Wow...

This is a violation of our forum's rules. Please do not attack people personally, or it could result in you being banned. Thank you.

Not busted, Bill is my fiance, we use the same computer. I didn't realize he was signed on, and when I did, I edited his post and reposted under my name. Alex knows who Bill is. So, no worries there.

I am very sorry that all of you feel the way you do. As stated before, my goal here is simply to make people aware and hopefully help someone avoid being in a similar situation. have the letters from the patients, they have the copies of the texts, emails, etc. If you want to accuse me slander, libel or anything else, you may. I have been aware of wrongdoings since last September, and am just now sharing based upon evidence gathered. Once again, for those of you who had a good experience, and I don't deny, there are many, I couldn't be happier that you did. And, I truly mean that. But, understand, not everyone has had the same positive experience as you. With many victims of any form of abuse, they are often afraid to come out and speak for themselves. This thread shows good reason why, because people would be attacking them, stating it was somehow their fault. They are in a very fragile way right now, emotionally speaking, and some are in therapy. The last thing they need is a group of people attacking them and saying "I had a wonderful experience, he was a perfect gentleman with me, so you must be telling lies, what is wrong with you." I will not apologize for the fact that I have made a lot of connections in the bariatric community, and that in the process, I have learned a lot, good, bad and otherwise. I could keep what I know to myself, but what kind of person would that make me? It would make me the kind of person who is afraid of others, and afraid to stand up for what is right. I would be an accomplish, condoning their actions if I just stand by and allow it to happen. I won't name names, but one of the very people who condemned me in this thread actually messaged me thereafter admitting she knows what is going on and is friends with one of the people, yet she chastised me on here. I am not that kind of person. I care about people. I want people to have good experiences. I won't have knowledge of things that are completely inappropriate and turn a blind eye to it. You can be a part of the problem, or a part of the solution. I choose the latter.. This thread has done what I set out to do, which is bring awareness to an inappropriate situation. Maybe, just by bringing it to light, Omar will take heed and redeem himself and change his ways. I knew from the onset his supporters would attack me, I expected it, I expected accusations to be made against me and have not been disappointed. I am not here to defend myself. I am here to defend the woman who are the victims. Have a nice evening all.

Absolutely, you are welcome.

1. No. I did coordinating for Bariatric Pal's service for one year until I resigned after receiving a promotion at my regular job and no longer was able to do both. 2. None 3. No, but I did refer patients to them. I work for a national construction research and education company, they have nothing to do with bariatrics. No competition involved. I am 48 years old, engaged, have two children, two dogs, and live in a small house in the woods. I was sleeved by the doctor the former poster claimed I had no experience with. I have the permission and blessing of all the woman to speak out on their behalf in the hopes that other woman will be more aware of what may or may not happen to them and hopefully prevent them from becoming victims. I feel sad that woman are so unwilling to stand up for others, and are so quick to assume that because something did not happen to them and they had a good experience, it must be the same for everyone else. I personally referred some of these woman to this doctor, and in part, feel responsible for the emotional distress they are now in. Others have sought me out because they know I have connections, and am a well-known voice in the bariatric world. Anything else you want to know about me?

If Dr. Illan is willing to turn a blind eye to his employee who is being inappropriate with his patients, then so be it.

I wasn't attacking, she basically accused me of having no right to post this, and stated I was spreading rumors and should take it down. I simply was explaining that I have been a respected, well-known member of these forums for years, and perhaps because she is new, she is not aware that I am very much in support of and an advocate for our members. Now, lets return to the topic at hand instead of trying to take this off topic.

Un-named person, my understanding is you started the facebook group, so again, I would expect your comments. Although, I also understand Omar was quite flirty with you and your husband was not appreciative. As I stated in my original post, I fully expected Omar's fan club to stand up for him and respond in full force to this thread. I wouldn't expect anything less from Omar to have his followers respond to this, and I am sure he has contacted Alex demanding removal of this thread. However, I posted this with his approval. I am simply posting fact. Again, while you may not have experienced this and had a great experience, many woman have not had the same experience as you. Just because it did not happen to you, doesn't mean these women were not taken advantage of. Just because a robber did not rob your bank, doesn't mean he is not a robber, just because a pedophile did not molest your child doesn't mean he is not a pedophile, just because a murderer did not murder you, does not mean he isn't a murderer. And, just because nothing inappropriate happened with you, it does not mean he wasn't inappropriate with others. People have a right to know, and I am going to make sure they know. If they take what I have shared, still choose Dr. Illan and Omar, and then have a bad experience, they can't say they were not warned.

Therein lies part of the problem, you are assuming these were all consensual relationships, on the contrary, for some of these woman, his advances were most certainly not appreciated, and they were quick to reject him and let him know his advances were not appreciated nor wanted. Unfortunately, that did not stop him from doing so.

Whitney, instead of assuming I am simply a "virtual friend" as you like to say, or that nothing happened, or accusing me of having no life outside of here (which is really simply grasping for anything to argue about instead of the very serious situation of which I am addressing), how about posting why you feel that because this did not happen to you, it could not possibly have happened to anyone else? This is a serious, serious situation, and for you to make light of it concerns me. I could share why you are apparently making light of this, from what others are sharing with me, but first, I am curious to hear your reasoning.

Whitney, your post just makes me sad. Are you also one of these who feels when a woman was raped, she deserved it because of the way she was dressed? As I said, I expected backlash from Omar's fans. However, as I said, just because he was not inappropriate with you, does not mean he wasn't with others. I am happy you had a a good experience with him, I truly am. The answer to your question is yes, these were adult woman, not minors. Do not continue to make them feel bad, as I stated, while you may be of a stronger personality, many woman who go to Mexico are not, and are in a very vulnerable state and people like Omar are able to see just who these woman are and take advantage of that. They did nothing wrong. Any person in the US, doctor or employee of a doctor, who had any type of such interactions/relationship with a patient would have been considered unprofessional and immoral. They would have been dismissed from their position and most likely facing criminal charges. These woman were taken advantage of, they were wronged. Shame on you for condoning it simply because they are adults. And, unlike you, a new member, I have been here for 8 years, administered these forums, worked with the Mexico doctors and have many, many connections with them. This is based on fact, not rumors. I am looking out for and protecting innocent woman, therefore, my post stands.

I strongly caution you to seek out another surgeon. Please see my post: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/313693-baja-bariatrics-dr-illan-and-omar-a-warning/

I am very disturbed by the recent contacts I have had from people who have been misled and approached in an inappropriate sexual manner by someone who works for a surgeon in Mexico. This is not acceptable. For someone to take advantage of a person in this manner, using their position to do so is completely unacceptable. I cannot, in good conscience, stand by and allow this to happen. Please, if you feel you were in any way the victim of any form of sexual misconduct/abuse/harassment, whatever term you wish to call it, please contact me at slackey66@gmail.com.

Stay away from Dr. Kelly, please trust me on this.