Hanbe

I can’t remember off the top of my head. I will contact my doctors office once it opens again after COVID-19. I will post when I know

If you just go to your family doctor you can get a referral to a surgeon that will remove a lapband under OHIP. I had mine remove at St.Mikes hospital 2 years ago under OHIP.

Yes are you able to practise in Canada? If you have experience in Class Action suits and defective medical devices that would be great. The doctor and the clinic I don't think are where we go from here. I think it is to go after the its a multiple party law suit where Slimband is part of it but the financial company which is the same partners as the clinic and governing corporate parties, and the big boys to bring to the table is the manufacture of the lapband that is causing is a complete malfunctioning device and causing massive health issues for all us that in some cases have been life threatening and incorrectable. So definitely if your a lawyer that could spear head a class action suit here in Canada you will have a lot of plaintiffs that are more then willing to step up and provide a case for you that will be lucrative to all parties!

No they are the same product just two different clinic names. Dr Lau originally opened it as Toronto Lapband Clinic. Then when he was sued. Him and his partners declared bankruptcy and opened up the same clinic in the same location doing the same procedure which is the Lapband and doing fills and they called it Slimband. Same procedure, same company just two different names. There is only one type of weight loss surgery that they do which is the Lapband.

Thanks for the update on the Vancouver law firm. I would be very interested in pursuing that. Since having my band removed I’ve had to have 2 surgeries to repair the damage because of my band being put in upside down. But I do lose a lot of weight with restrictions although I couldn’t ever have a fill but I didn’t have any appetite and I found with the help of my nutritionist and trainer I did lose the weight. But since removing the band I have gain about 70 pounds back. I’m going next week for gastric sleeve procedure. The doctor I’ve been working with went through different options and because of the band issues he feels this is the best option for me. But I definitely would want to be involved in the legal

Sorry you have also had a bad experience. Dr Lau and Slimband have both filed bankruptcy so you would be unable to file lawsuits against either and get anywhere. i would if I were you I would go to you’re family doctor and let them know that you’re having major issues. They can send you to a general surgeon and possibly remove the lapband. That would be what I would suggest

Wow that's interesting! I am going to check on CANLII and see if I can find any case law and see if there is anything and possibly its worthwhile to contact any of the lawyers and see if they would be interested …..if there are any. But I agree with what your saying if there isn't one we should all band together and approach a law firm and yes that works on contingency and see if we can instigate a class action that goes after the manufacturers of lapband, still include Dr Yau because he has errors and ommissions insurance and if he has enough claims against him eventually he wont be able to get insurance so then he can't practise but also so it goes against his liabity.

My understanding is the Class Action Law suit has already begun and it’s filed against the pharmaceutical company that created and sells the lapband which is a better law suit as they have the money to pay. Can anyone confirm knowledge or know of this?

Dr.Lau was one of the owners of the clinic and he was negligent in providing the proper treatment and care. He also as a practising Doctor has to carry Errors and Ommissions Insurance for when he is negligent

I would contact your General Doctor and asked to be referred to a internal surgeon and have it removed. I had to have mine removed and it has caused me massive damage to my esophagus and upper stomach. I had issues with cancer in my esophagus three years ago and the surgeon felt definetly it had to due to the lapband and the negligence of the Dr. Lau's insertion of it. Please go and talk to your local MD asap so that you are treated for the pain and regurtiation immediately! Its very serious. There was a W5 series where two lapband patients suffered from this and both died because they left it too long. I have spoken to the woman that won the Small Claims against Slimband but because they filed bankruptcy she hasn't been able to collect. I am thinking about filing against Dr. LAu personally but she also told be about a law firm in Vancouver that is doing a class action suit that are suing the company that makes the slim band. She has told me she will provide me with the law firm. As soon as I have info I will post info.

I have had non stop issues since being banded in Dec 2007. I've had my band removed because it completely destroyed my esophagus. For nearly a year I was bleeding interning. The chances of cancer in my esophagus are more then 70% due to the trama it has caused. I was never able to have a fill as it just made me vomit non stop. I want my $16,500 back. And compensation for all the money this has cost me in lost wages for being self employed and even pain and suffering. Dr Yau never completed any of the things that he promised. I found the article of the Surgeons Association. Hes on restricted duties but still practising!

Hi There, I'm glad you won your case. Did you go to Small Claims? So all doctors have to have errors and omission insurance which lawsuits fall under. So I would think that they would be required to pay you out of that. I;m thinking that the company name, and all Dr's that are partners in the company are named personally. I had a lapband performed Dec 2007. I lost over 250 pounds in total during my time but I was never able to get a fill. I would throw up for days and have to go back and have it unfilled. I mainly drank protein shakes, water and exercised non stop. The clinic never returned calls. And Two years ago I had to have my band remove because it has destroyed my esophagus so badly and I was constanly bleeding internally and my hemoglobin had hit so low that I was going weeks not able to get out of bed. Dr. Yau was suspended after and sold the Lapband Clinic to Slimband but apparently kept performing and working there. I have spent so much money and lost so much money because of being self employed and not being able to work so often due to my health. I would like to begin a law suit if anyone else is interested.

Wow! Thanks for the site info! I just checked it out and thats a great site. Has some really great message forums. I have some menu's that I have used in the last year that have worked for me that if anyone wants a look at just email me and I will send them over. I still stick by using a Protein Meal Replacement shake for breakfast as I have never been a breakfast eater but its the most important meal so that has worked for me. And I really do have to say exercise is a big component to losing weight.