Do Not Go To Betencourt Medical

[NataliesMommy 1]

My husband pointed out to me when we knew we were self pay that if something should go wrong, God forbid, what recourse did we have in another country? In the states atleast we had an appeals process, the AMA and a sundry of other agencies to go.

Thank you!!!!!!!

[Lap_dancer 8]

Thank you!!!!!!!

I'll tell him your thanks.

** I remember a woman on here several months ago stating she would not hesitate to go to the U.S. for care and wondered why so many would risk going out of the country. Of course it was bottom line $$ but her response resonated with me...how much is your life worth?

touche`

...............

I think the best thing we can do for eachother is post as much information on here as possible, the good, bad and ugly. I even think naming names is appropriate. Let's list the good ones with the hacks. We are all in the same boat together with the same journey and destiny in mind.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I'll tell him your thanks.

** I remember a woman on here several months ago stating she would not hesitate to go to the U.S. for care and wondered why so many would risk going out of the country. Of course it was bottom line $$ but her response resonated with me...how much is your life worth?

Mine is worth every penny I paid my Mexican surgeon.

Sorry, I can't let a post go when the theme is that surgery in the US is better than anywhere else. It simply isn't true. Yes, if something bad happens here we do have recourse. A friend of mine is a great example. She is a nurse, she went to a surgeon in the US without doing her research. Turns out she should have done her research. She had to have her thyroid removed. Actually, she didn't HAVE to have it removed, she didn't do her research on treatment options either. Shame on her.

Long story short, the doc cut nerves by mistake. The nerves control her ability to speak and breathe. She currently has a trach and will die an early death due to the trach and various complications that come with that procedure.

She had the typical US options and she reported him to the medical board. They wrote him a letter (again) telling him not to do that anymore. She sued him, his medical malpractice insurance co filed bankruptcy. She got nothing but a lot of court costs and attorney fees.

The *real* key here isn't a matter of deciding which country to have surgery. The key here is that patients have a responsibility to do their research. No way around it. I don't care if you are in the US, Mexico, or Asia. Do your research, know what the heck you are doing. Know everything you can about your doc, look for dirt on your doc. Talk to his patients, verify credentials, don't go to a doc based on price, go to a doc based on his long term track record.

Patients have responsibilities today that they didn't have before. It's not a nice reality but it IS a reality.

Don't go to a doc that has such a horrible reputation that even those in his home country wouldn't go to him.

Verify credentials.

Know the laws in that country, even if it is your own.

Assume nothing.

Don't go by price.

Don't go by ONE person's suggestions. "I had surgery and I'm still alive so he must be good!"

Find a doc in that country that will help you research if you are unable or don't know how. In Mexico I paid $30.00 to a trauma surgeon to help me verify credentials, ask his other MD friends about the surgeon, etc. This is NOT an expensive process.

Read at least 100 patient reviews for the doc.

Don't assume that just because your doc has charisma that this makes him a good surgeon. Know what the heck you are doing. "Nice" does not mean skilled in surgery, it means NICE!

There is more, but this is the idea I am attempting to convey.

Having surgery in the US is not a promise things will go any better than they do in another country. Patients have a responsibility and if they don't follow through with their own responsibilities, they pay dearly in the end. That holds true regardless if the doc is in their home country or not.

I have a real problem with people that don't do all the right things and then blame an entire country for their own failures to protect themselves. One just can't go to the absolute worst possible place for surgery and then blame the country for what happens. It's just not right. There is a right and there is a wrong. When it comes to this topic there is little middle ground.

[Lap_dancer 8]

Mine is worth every penny I paid my Mexican surgeon.

Sorry, I can't let a post go when the theme is that surgery in the US is better than anywhere else. It simply isn't true. Yes, if something bad happens here we do have recourse. A friend of mine is a great example. She is a nurse, she went to a surgeon in the US without doing her research. Turns out she should have done her research. She had to have her thyroid removed. Actually, she didn't HAVE to have it removed, she didn't do her research on treatment options either. Shame on her.

Long story short, the doc cut nerves by mistake. The nerves control her ability to speak and breathe. She currently has a trach and will die an early death due to the trach and various complications that come with that procedure.

She had the typical US options and she reported him to the medical board. They wrote him a letter (again) telling him not to do that anymore. She sued him, his medical malpractice insurance co filed bankruptcy. She got nothing but a lot of court costs and attorney fees.

The *real* key here isn't a matter of deciding which country to have surgery. The key here is that patients have a responsibility to do their research. No way around it. I don't care if you are in the US, Mexico, or Asia. Do your research, know what the heck you are doing. Know everything you can about your doc, look for dirt on your doc. Talk to his patients, verify credentials, don't go to a doc based on price, go to a doc based on his long term track record.

Patients have responsibilities today that they didn't have before. It's not a nice reality but it IS a reality.

Don't go to a doc that has such a horrible reputation that even those in his home country wouldn't go to him.

Verify credentials.

Know the laws in that country, even if it is your own.

Assume nothing.

Don't go by price.

Don't go by ONE person's suggestions. "I had surgery and I'm still alive so he must be good!"

Find a doc in that country that will help you research if you are unable or don't know how. In Mexico I paid $30.00 to a trauma surgeon to help me verify credentials, ask his other MD friends about the surgeon, etc. This is NOT an expensive process.

Read at least 100 patient reviews for the doc.

Don't assume that just because your doc has charisma that this makes him a good surgeon. Know what the heck you are doing. "Nice" does not mean skilled in surgery, it means NICE!

There is more, but this is the idea I am attempting to convey.

Having surgery in the US is not a promise things will go any better than they do in another country. Patients have a responsibility and if they don't follow through with their own responsibilities, they pay dearly in the end. That holds true regardless if the doc is in their home country or not.

I have a real problem with people that don't do all the right things and then blame an entire country for their own failures to protect themselves. One just can't go to the absolute worst possible place for surgery and then blame the country for what happens. It's just not right. There is a right and there is a wrong. When it comes to this topic there is little middle ground.

I think we are all passionate about our surgeries, our doctors and so forth because of the nature of our lives and all we've been through and are going through.

Somewhere in all the words we say to oneanother is a healthy balance of what it is that is right for us. That's the key thing.

[Marlluvia 1]

Well I'm just here to tell everyone that you don't have to go to Mexico to have problems or run into a brick wall of sorts. I was banded in the U.S., had my insurance carrier changed and now no doctor in the U.S. will take me as their patient. Their reason being: I did not do the surgery. How screwed up is that. My port has come undone and I have yet to find a doctor that will help me.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

What city/state are you in? I'll look on a list of docs and see what I can find in your area if you wish.

[anonemouse 1]

Well I'm just here to tell everyone that you don't have to go to Mexico to have problems or run into a brick wall of sorts. I was banded in the U.S., had my insurance carrier changed and now no doctor in the U.S. will take me as their patient. Their reason being: I did not do the surgery. How screwed up is that. My port has come undone and I have yet to find a doctor that will help me.

Have you contacted Dr. Curry? Whenever he posts here, he always seems willing to see patients that he didn't band.

[Marlluvia 1]

I meant to put Texas in my post, and instead put U.S. I would appreciate any help. I have called about a dozen Drs. in Houston, closest to me. No one will see me. Any help would be appreciated.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

All these docs see patients they did not band:

Arlington Fort Worth Area

Dr. Dobson & Dr. Peterson

972 660 3188

Dallas

Dirk Rodriquez

877-TXBRCTR

Paris TX

Dr. Clifford

903-785-8521

Walter Dobson

972-660-3188

drwalteradobson@<WBR>swbell.net

Nova Body Solutions

972 665 2639

Dr. Cynthia Jones

cynthia@newyouwmc.<WBR>com

214-956-9999

Decatur

Dr. Snow

940-627-1707

El Paso

Dr. Castro & Applebaum

915-351-6272

Houston

Obesity Surgery Specialists

1-800-664-9177

Tomball

Jason DeMattia

866-345-5872

[Marlluvia 1]

Thank you WABB, I will call them and hopefully have some good news from them. Thanks again for you help.

[janed 0]

You are correct about Betencourt, it is the worst and cheapest place in Mexico. Sadly, this is one of those times that you do get what you pay for.

Betencourt's docs.

The key is to do serious research regardless of doctor or what country they are in. My doc is in Mexico and I'd go to him again in a heartbeat but he has a fantastic reputation and he does a good job. There is a lot of good care to be had in Mexico just as in the US. Don't let the horrific reputations of a few bad docs turn you against an entire country. We have really bad docs in the US too.

I had my surgery done in Mexico by Dr. De La Garza. I never hear his name mentioned. Anyone have any bad experiences.

My surgery was 1-19-2007. Hopefully is I was to have had complications I would have by now. I really liked the Doctor and staff. The hospital was superior to any I have been to in the US. ]

I just need someone to ease my mind after reading all the bad comments on Mexico. Thanks.....

Janed

[bchalker 0]

Having the surgery in the states doesn't mean better quality when it comes to the procedure or the surgeon.

It means there is accountability and avenues to pursue bad treatment. Get bad treatment in Mexico and hold your breath waiting for the Mexican govmt to help. Bad treatment can be had here too but those doctors dont stay in business long.

Brad

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

It means there is accountability and avenues to pursue bad treatment. Get bad treatment in Mexico and hold your breath waiting for the Mexican govmt to help. Bad treatment can be had here too but those doctors dont stay in business long.

Brad

People are often times surprised at what accountability means in the US when it comes to docs. We have the attitude that the best medical care with the most checks and balances is to be had in the US. That simply isn't true, it is an assumption by people and nothing more. Years ago (and to some degree today) people idolized doctors and really believed they could do no wrong. Today we know better but the old time rules from yesterday still apply to docs today.

In Arizona (as many other states) doctors get a letter placed in their file if they kill someone. If they keep doing that then something is done assuming they are not one of the good 'ol boys. For example, in AZ the farthest you can go with a complaint of a doctor is the Az Medical Board. They call the shots. If you don't agree that the doc who killed your loved one should continue practicing medicine, too bad. It's not up to you. It's up to the peers of that physician. You know, often times that means his friends.

There is a pediatrician in Maryvale, AZ that is a known, convicted, and admitted pedophile. His "punishment" you ask? He was told to get therapy and have a female licensed person with him while he examined children. Most rational people would question why he still has a license to examine and treat children especially after the CA police dept was done with him, but not our medical board. He got therapy, his records were made available for public record for two years. The licensed female that was supposed to be with him? He didn't wanna. So he didn't and continues examining them without supervision.

Want to sue? Insurance companies used to just pay off claims because it was easier and cheaper to pay it off vs. fighting it. Not anymore, insurance companies are tired of lawyers that take advantage of the fact that most insurance co's used to pay off $5K claims without even trying to fight the case no matter how stupid the case. So now they fight them ALL tooth and nail. They won't be taken advantage of anymore.

So with all due respect I we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. As long as doctors police themselves, we get what we get. Sometimes the system works and sometimes it doesn't. Just like in Mexico.

The key here isn't to plan ahead on if you can sue or not, the key is to research the doc REGARDLESS of country. 99% of the time that takes care of the potential problems.

[Evilah 1]

Someone was posting earlier about community MRSA. I am one of those evil people who carry it around. I spent 6 months in a transplant ICU with family member, and that's where drug-resistant bugs get started. In immuno-supressed people who need tons of antibiotics/anti-fungals to stay alive. I'm pretty sure I've got it living on my skin along with all the regular staph aureus. I feel guilty about it. My family member died, btw. Makes you wonder if transplants are worth it at all.

[FurEllie 0]

All these docs see patients they did not band:

WABB - where did you get that list? Do you have a similar one for Georgia? Like you, I was banded by Dr. Ortiz and am VERY, VERY pleased, but if an emergency should arise, I've realized I need to have someone w/in ASAP driving distance