Hello,

I am a television health news producer and am doing a story

on lap band surgery for adolescents. I am looking for parents

of teens in the greater NY City area willing to talk to me about

their experiences. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Peter Kaplan

DrPeterKaplan@aol.com

I don't think there are any children at this site, nor any parents of lap banded children that I am aware of. I'm sure you have an idea of how asking about someone's children over the internet might look? Perhaps more credentials or a link to your homepage for verification might be beneficial.

I don't think there are any children at this site, nor any parents of lap banded children that I am aware of. I'm sure you have an idea of how asking about someone's children over the internet might look? Perhaps more credentials or a link to your homepage for verification might be beneficial.

I agree. There ARE a few parents of teens on this board. I haven't noticed recent posts, and I have no idea what area of the country they are from. Maybe they will pop in and notice this thread.

Sounds like an honest inquiry, but I hesitate to go to bat for anyone without more info...do you mind Dr Pete?

I am a lapband surgeon in Seattle. We have patients who's children have gone through an adolescent program. I can get you their information.

Peter Billing

425-776-7132

She asked for your website and credentials. The question was not answered.

I am a lapband surgeon in Seattle. We have patients who's children have gone through an adolescent program. I can get you their information.

Peter Billing

425-776-7132

Dr. Billings is well-known in the Seattle area and exceptionally well qualified at what he does. Now, that doesn't mean necessarily that this is him, but this is his legitimate phone # that I know. I guess I'm being overly cautious but Dr. Billings is spelled with an S. It seems he would know how to spell his own name. Am I being overly cautious?

2 different dr. petes posting here. but i agree, i think a few more credentials need to be given from the first dr. pete before personal info should be given out.

If that is indeed a post from Dr. Peter Billings of Washington, I hope he will come back and delete or edit it. That is very unprofessionally presented, to say the least. And in any event, the inquiry was for NYC-area teens.

And IF anyone is inspired to contact Peter Kaplan, who originally posted the inquiry, PLEASE CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY. Do NOT post any information here.

I work for an Internet Provider. My comment on this whole thread from just looking at it, is that if it were real, then wouldn't his domain name have the name of his organization unstead of an aol account? That is unprofessional in itself.

I work for an Internet Provider. My comment on this whole thread from just looking at it, is that if it were real, then wouldn't his domain name have the name of his organization unstead of an aol account? That is unprofessional in itself.

I've seen loads of journalistic inquiries posted online with only an e-mail address as a contact. That's not unusual.

And it's not the first Pete's post that was remarked upon. The psbilling post is the one that has me concerned. NO doctor should offer to share patient information, for any reason. Now, maybe he just meant that he has patients who fit the requested profile and can help put the producer in touch with them, but if that's what he meant that's what he should have said.

Creepy is more like it.

My name is Peter Billing, MD. I am not Dr. Pete. I would never give out patient information without express permission from the patient. It is against HIPAA. I also do not think the message board is where we should discuss specific patients.

My name does not have an "s" but that is a common misconception.

My intent in joining this conversation is to offer support, not to create controversy.

I appreciate your concerns.

Peter Billing, MD

Edmonds, WA

I'm not trying to pass judgment here, but it must be the full moon, that seems to have everyone on this board just ready to jump and scratch someone's eyes out. The first post asked to speak to parents of lapbanded adolescents. Not directly to them. I think that if someone is trying to brodcast a television health news program on lap band surgery for adolescents, its a wonderful idea. I wish I would have had my band when I was a fat teenager-because being fat thru highschool was no fun. Be honest don't you wish that when our eating habits started spining out of control we could have gotten control of it? Many things would be different in my life, if I hadn't been fat and had my band in place helping me. I don't know --- Just my opinion..

Thank you for clarifying, Dr. Billing. Glad to have you hear!

I wish I would have had my band when I was a fat teenager-because being fat thru highschool was no fun. Be honest don't you wish that when our eating habits started spining out of control we could have gotten control of it? Many things would be different in my life, if I hadn't been fat and had my band in place helping me. I don't know --- Just my opinion..

I agree! I would have loved to have had this years ago. Only, when I start thinking about how different my life would be I realize I might not have my children or my Dawg now. Deep thoughts eh? But yes, if this can help us at a younger age, why not?

Dr. Pete - Be sure to give us your findings on this. I think it would be very interesting.

I'm not suggesting the idea for research into teen obesity and banding is bad. On the contrary, I think education is the key to freedom. I would just like to see verification from anyone asking for information about children over the internet. Particularly when an unknown is asking about a group (or their desperate to help them parents), who may suffer with self esteem issues making them vulnerable to exploitation. I guess it's just my protective nature both as a mother and as a patient advocate. A legitimate source of inquiry will only respect that.