Seriously, my surgeon was booked for reckless driving and driving under the influence after crashing into a house. The news link is below, along with surveilance video of the crash.

I'm a pre-op patient awaiting insurance approval and now this happens. He just did my EGD last week!

At first I couldn't believe it, but now I'm fearful and angry. He does have 2 partners that will probably take me on as a patient, but I hope it doesn't delay my pending surgery.

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Doctor-arrested-after-crashing-into-house-265602731.html

Edited July 3, 201412 yr by April Biloxi

Just thought I would mention, everyone can check out their docs information. At least this is true in Texas. U can go to the board of medical examiners, input the docs name and specialty and u will get all the information such as grad date, honors, and anything that is being or has been stipulated against their license.

If you have children please do the same when

Choosing your ped and so on.

Also, if for any reason you have a problem, those are the folks to report it to.

We all answer to somebody.

This is true - but they also need to check out the surgeon's philosophies and their offices. I've seen problems, not just for me but others also, in terms of aftercare. Once they have that $$$$ surgery out of the way, you're not a lot for them to do unless they can sell you Vitamins, books, etc. Frankly, a once a year appt. is stuff the PCP does. So if they're going to function as PCP's ...

that's why I say I am wondering what the background is for it. I was told that my anatomy, in terms of the sleeve, is nothing different and there's no difference between me and any one else, so I can be treated like any one else. Ok ... then why in my case do I keep having docs that have asked where is the surgeon? If that's true for sleeves, then why do the docs need to see you back, in terms of a yearly visit and medical necessity?

Does this make sense? Its $$$. Once you are gone after the first year, those people are just $$$ to fill in for money and for the ASMBS COE needs, research. If you have a problem that is related to weight regain that is due to a malfunction physically/mechanically, there isn't a need to go back.

This is true - but they also need to check out the surgeon's philosophies and their offices. I've seen problems, not just for me but others also, in terms of aftercare. Once they have that $$$$ surgery out of the way, you're not a lot for them to do unless they can sell you Vitamins, books, etc. Frankly, a once a year appt. is stuff the PCP does. So if they're going to function as PCP's ...

that's why I say I am wondering what the background is for it. I was told that my anatomy, in terms of the sleeve, is nothing different and there's no difference between me and any one else, so I can be treated like any one else. Ok ... then why in my case do I keep having docs that have asked where is the surgeon? If that's true for sleeves, then why do the docs need to see you back, in terms of a yearly visit and medical necessity?

Does this make sense? Its $$$. Once you are gone after the first year, those people are just $$$ to fill in for money and for the ASMBS COE needs, research. If you have a problem that is related to weight regain that is due to a malfunction physically/mechanically, there isn't a need to go back.

I have a very different view of the patient/doctor relationship I expect to have with my bariatric surgeon. I do not view the relationship as antagonistic - with a winner and a loser or (as you seem to view it) a doctor who financially exploits a patient.

Yes, we pay doctors (and lawyers, engineers, architects, and other professionals) for their services. And that's fine with me.

But lifelong weight loss for those who have been overweight most of their lives is a very complicated disability to unwind and resolve. And it isn't typically solved solely by WLS. Follow-up with support, counseling (nutritional, exercise, psychological) is critical for some people to be successful long-term.

As a professional myself (not medical), I have a big vested interest in all my clients doing well after I've worked with them. After all, "long-term satisfied clients" and the unsolicited referrals they give to future clients is how professionals have a satisfactory career. The long-term doctor/patient relationship is not only about money, but about satisfaction and the promise of satisfaction.

And of course there's that other little thing -- the medical code of ethics.

I agree with you that it should not be a winner/loser type of thing. However, I've seen that happen and I think people need to understand what mindset their doctors come from. Its going to be getting you in for surgery.

You haven't been far enough out yet. Its only 7 months for you. Wait until you hit the 2 year mark. Or even the 1 year. Its not a secret that there is not a lot of support for many in terms of that support like what you are talking about. Go to long term support groups and that's what you hear about. To be successful, the ones I know aren't in any specific program, they're more attached to the long term type of groups that are more online and the like. Either that or they get revisions.

I'm also saying what I said because the surgeon, he stated that my anatomy is normal and there is nothing special about it. I can be treated just like any other patient. If that is true, that would be true for all sleeves. He goes against the ASMBS in that sense. One of the reasons why I say investigate your doctor. Had I known his outlook was this way, I would have thought differently.

Its that far end, long term, look that you are looking at, that many people don't ask about. Its the surgery, its the big event. Its not what happens after when I've gotten regain. How many patients and what protocols do you do then. You don't see that advertised.

You are right from terms of the persons' point of view, but the surgeon is not graded by the ASMBS for COE's in terms of how many people and how long people stay in a program. They are graded on # of surgeries done. As for satisfaction, again do you see any intro sessions that talk long term satisfaction? How they deal with complications 2 years out or more? No. Its the surgery.

Medical ethics. If you allege a HIPAA violation and get your care dropped, and there are laws against retaliation, would you wonder about medical ethics? I sure would want to know if that situation came up. What about you all?

So what did you end up doing?

Wow! I agree this man has made a mistake and after paying back his debt to society should be able to continue forward as a productive citizen. It will be up to the licensing board to determine what happens with his medical license. In the meantime, even if he is allowed to continue practicing, there is a distinct possibility that he will be very stressed out and pre-occupied. And I don't want a stressed out, preoccupied surgeon, performing my WLS! Good luck to you! Let is know how it goes for you - Shellie

I agree

So what did you end up doing?

Another surgeon in the program took me as his patient. Bypass scheduled for 8/11.

I am a criminal defense attorney. I can tell you that if this guy hasn't had a load of DUI's at this point, then he is probably is not a drunk and fine on the job. He made a poor choice for sure, but I certainly hope it doesn't ruin his life or practice. Everyone makes mistakes, let him take responsibility for it and move on. I am sure he will have to answer to the licensing board and work it out with them. Best of luck, but I would not freak out about it.

Good advice! Everyone needs a chance, and if this was out of character or bizarre behavior, I would hate to see this ruin him forever.

I think that the issue comes down to where we are committing ourselves in a very different way to this person than any other. The problem also comes in in that we're not allowed to know if it is a problem or becomes one. Look at Christopher Duntsch.

It happened once and then happened again. The problem is that we don't know if this was an isolated event or not. Whether or not it might happen again or is part of the pattern.

That's where I can understand the response of people going ... I need to move on. In medicine, especially in surgery, cardiology, oncology, its a bigger issue in not just what happened but how the doctor responds to that. If he or she responds maturely to it, I'd say ok. If not, that's where you have to wonder.

The same is true for us, but there is a difference between my friend who maybe is a secretary or stocker at Walmart compared to a surgeon or cardiologist.

@@swimbikerun very we'll said!

He was my surgeon too, but I'm switching to Dr. Lancaster now. He made a mistake and he's still a good person...I just wouldn't be comfortable having him do my surgery.

Hi jukerr. I am having the sleeve done by Dr Lancaster in about a month. How are things going for you?

He was my surgeon too, but I'm switching to Dr. Lancaster now. He made a mistake and he's still a good person...I just wouldn't be comfortable having him do my surgery.

Hi jukerr. I am having the sleeve done by Dr Lancaster in about a month. How are things going for you?

He was my surgeon too, but I'm switching to Dr. Lancaster now. He made a mistake and he's still a good person...I just wouldn't be comfortable having him do my surgery.

Hi jukerr. How do you like Dr. Lancaster?

Forgiving crowd around here.

He could have easily killed the woman watering her lawn.....or any number of people on that day.

Killed.

Ended the woman's life......

There is no way in hell that I'd alloy a fool like that to operate on me. No way whatsoever.

That type of lapse of judgment is simply not acceptable from someone who will be operating on you.

Good call, OP.

What would work best is if we had something around the circumstances. The docs' only child got married or graduated from Harvard & were celebrating. Were they just .01 over the limit or .08? The problem with driving is that, gracious you should have enough sense by now not to drink and drive.

That the medical community hides these things makes it worse. Cover ups. The "butt slapping" surgeon. Too many variables.

What would work best is if we had something around the circumstances. The docs' only child got married or graduated from Harvard & were celebrating. Were they just .01 over the limit or .08? The problem with driving is that, gracious you should have enough sense by now not to drink and drive.

That the medical community hides these things makes it worse. Cover ups. The "butt slapping" surgeon. Too many variables.

Maybe I'm just a jerk......but his reasons for drinking don't matter to me.

The facts are what matter to me: He was driving insanely through a neighborhood, after drinking, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into lady's home.......a lady that had to dive for cover and was almost taken out by him.

This lapse of judgement is not something that I'd allow in a surgeon.

Could I forgive the fool? Perhaps.

Would I ever want to associate with him or allow him to operate on me? Absolutely not.

Like I said.....maybe I'm just a jerk.