So on his website Dr. Ariel Ortiz claims to have been named one of the top 15 bariatric surgeons in the US in Newsweek. But there's no link to the article. I've been to the Newsweek site to search and Googled the claim, but while I can find other doctors who also claim to have been in this "bariatric surgeon showcase", I can't find any evidence of the actual 2011 article. Newsweek searches go back as far as at least 2008. A search of "bariatric surgery" brings up plenty of other articles.

Not to be cynical, but my suspicion is this was maybe an info-tisement, where 15 doctors got together and brought some ad space hawking their skills as opposed to third party, independent recognition. Anyone have any more luck tracking down this accolade? Or another plausible explanation?

Such a bad taste in my mouth. Looks like he was featured in Newsweek "Showcase" which is exactly what I was afraid of- a paid advertisement made to look like an unbiased article. If you go to www.newsweekshowcase.com it expressly says "It does not constitute an endorsement by Newsweek and no endorsement is implied."

Contrast that with the following OCC video, which not only shows a Newsweek magazine, but talks about how Newsweek chose to honor them and, apparently surprised, he called them and said "Don't you know we're in Mexico? Are you sure we still qualify?"

Pretty sure money's money, pal. And paid advertising doesn't usually discriminate on the nationality of your bank account.

Ugh. Now I feel like everything's suspect. Super shady, no?

There's got to be a real difference in laws. In the US, that video is easily false advertising. It's not even on the borderline shady gray area. It's way deceptive.

It's unfortunate, but you will find practices like this a lot in Medical Tourism. Not just in Mexico, either. Anywhere there are doctors with a medical tourism based business, you'll see propaganda just like this.

Granted this is personal opinion, but this is one of the many reasons I'd never consider going to Mexico for anything medical related- especially surgery. I simply don't trust medical tourism.

It's unfortunate, but you will find practices like this a lot in medical tourism. Not just in Mexico, either. Anywhere there are doctors with a medical tourism based business, you'll see propaganda just like this.

Granted this is personal opinion, but this is one of the many reasons I'd never consider going to Mexico for anything medical related- especially surgery. I simply don't trust medical tourism.

Word.