help me narrow down mexico surgeon choice

[Alyssa 0]

Here's a link to an article about Dr. Verboonan being arrested and charged with insurance fraud:

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Six Tijuana doctors arrested in sting

Just a reminder of how careful we need to be!

[MrsCooper 1]

Dr. Chua in Milwaukee will take Dr. Rodriguez's patients. I haven't checked into fill prices yet, but will let you know as soon as I do!

There are also 2 other doctors in Milwaukee that work with Dr. Rodriguez - I was familiar with Dr. Chua so that is who I will go to. I don't remember the names of the other doctors.

On Dr. Rodriguez's website (Lap band surgery - Gastric Banding - Grupo Endro-Bariatrico Mexico) he lists fill doctors by state that work with him.

[lena23 0]

Having lapband on 5/23/08...anyone had surgery with dr. Ramos Kelly in mexico.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Actually, I never heard that tale about Dr. "V"... I just know he saved my life, unlike any of the doctors (or especially the insurance companies here). Not one insurance company here would consider covering my lap band surgery and I was almost 200 lbs overweight, suffering from so many illnesses I can't count... but yet they wanted me to pay twice as much as I did in Mexico to have the surgery done. Now, you tell me who should go to jail?

Hmm... who should go to jail? Dr. Verboonan. He stole money by scamming US insurance companies. He doesn't have the right to take money that belongs to someone else. Isn't that what we teach little children? Don't take things that belong to others and lie about it?

A "tale" implies there is something false about the story and there is nothing false about it. Here is a newspaper article that explains fairly well what Dr. Verboonan did:

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Six Tijuana doctors arrested in sting

Here is a small bit from the article:

During the FBI investigation, an undercover agent posed as a private investigator hired by U.S. insurance companies to investigate claims filed on behalf of Mexican doctors.

The undercover agent was given copies of suspected fraudulent claims by five insurance companies that agreed to take part in the investigation, including Aetna U.S. HealthCare, Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California.

After interviewing patients who received care in Mexico and verifying that the medical claims were fraudulent, the agent approached the doctors, pretending to be a corrupt investigator. The agent offered to take a financial kickback in return for recommending to the insurance companies that the claims be paid.

Doctors who agreed to go along with the scheme were also given the opportunity to submit claims for fictitious or "phantom" patients, using patient identification and insurance policy information that the undercover agent claimed to have obtained during other foreign insurance claim investigations.

And:

Those arrested in the sting operation include Dr. Carlos Alessandrini, Dr. Carlos Jaime Herrera and Dr. Severo Rios Ornelas, all Mexican citizens who also have U.S. legal permanent resident status. Alessandrini and Herrera both live in Chula Vista, while Ornelas lives in Tijuana.< /em>

Also arrested were Dr. Elia Judith Cerecer, Dr. Ricardo Vega Montiel and Dr. José Sergio verboonen Sotelo, all Mexican citizens living in Tijuana.

Doesn't sound fake to me. Of course, you are free to call Dr. Verboonan and attempt to convince him the time he spent in jail didn't really happen but I think you'll both feel a little silly. ;o)

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Having lapband on 5/23/08...anyone had surgery with dr. Ramos Kelly in Mexico.

He just had a death a couple of weeks ago but I don't know all the details. I do know that a crappy coordinator that contracts with him ended their contractual relationship over it. When a crappy scum level type coordinator won't even work with him, that's bad. I mean, there are decent coordinators and horrible ones. He had a horrible business he contracted with.

A death does not always mean the doc did something wrong. If doctors could control everything that goes on with patients nobody would ever die. But overall no, he does not have a great rep.

He also inflates his stats, claims he has done farrrr more bands than he has.

[lena23 0]

Was this death from a lapband surgery?

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Was this death from a lapband surgery?

I don't believe so.

[Dedria 0]

They saved my life -- that's pay enough for me. I had no hope of ever loosing the weight. I dieted and failed too many times to count and was facing so many life-threatening illnesses. So, if it seems that I am very happy with that group... then, yes I am, especially after I went to several doctors here in the good ole' USA who were either unwilling or unable to help me -- that's what I call unethical and illegal. How about those sweet US insurance companies who are always robbing us blind with high premiums, but never willing to cover a simple procedure that can save our lives. To me we are living in jail in our unethical health care system where the rich get richer and the sick get sicker. Now, if you want to criticize someone... as my grandmother would say -- "we should sweep around our own backdoors first" before we go sweeping around someone else's.

[Dedria 0]

P.S. Who's paying you to be the foremost authority on lapbands... I checked out your highly opinionated, AKA disguised as "neutral" site, on "How to Find a Mexican Surgeon". I though maybe you were like me... just somebody happy to have a gastric band, healthier, hopefully adding a few years to my life as a result. Alas, I guess I'm one of those people whose cup is always half full and trying to find the best in people... someone you would probably consider niave.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

They saved my life -- that's pay enough for me. I had no hope of ever loosing the weight. I dieted and failed too many times to count and was facing so many life-threatening illnesses. So, if it seems that I am very happy with that group... then, yes I am, especially after I went to several doctors here in the good ole' USA who were either unwilling or unable to help me -- that's what I call unethical and illegal. How about those sweet US insurance companies who are always robbing us blind with high premiums, but never willing to cover a simple procedure that can save our lives. To me we are living in jail in our unethical health care system where the rich get richer and the sick get sicker. Now, if you want to criticize someone... as my grandmother would say -- "we should sweep around our own backdoors first" before we go sweeping around someone else's.

When someone screws over the insurance industry do you honestly think the insurance co's are going to eat the costs? Of course not, they pass them on to us. In one sentence you claim premiums are too high and yet in another you infer your doc (the one that stole from insurance co's) wasn't much of a criminal. Well, he was enough of a criminal that he went to jail for it. If you aren't willing to scream about those robbing the insurance co's with fake claims for free money, do you really have a moral right to complain about the premiums you pay?

I can appreciate they saved your life. All our doctors saved our lives, that's what WLS is all about. We all had obesity related issues, you aren't alone there. You are merely one of us. However, skill IS an issue. I'm glad your surgery went well, that isn't true for all the patients your doctor has cared for.

P.S. Who's paying you to be the foremost authority on lapbands... I checked out your highly opinionated, AKA disguised as "neutral" site, on "How to Find a Mexican Surgeon". I though maybe you were like me... just somebody happy to have a gastric band, healthier, hopefully adding a few years to my life as a result. Alas, I guess I'm one of those people whose cup is always half full and trying to find the best in people... someone you would probably consider niave.

Nobody pays me for my services, I do it all for free. I am not the one pushing one doc, I push research. I push having a freak'en clue about who you are going to. I push knowing about the doctor that will be cutting into you. There are about 4 docs in Mexico that are better than average, there are about 4 that are simply dangerous. The rest are simply average.

I find it funny that you infer I am being paid for posting a research thread on this forum (sig link) when in fact, you are the one selling your own doc on this board. Who is really behaving as a patient coordinator here? How much do you think people pay me for reading my sig link? Are you serious?

Try harder for a better slam, you aren't doing so well.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

P.S. Who's paying you to be the foremost authority on lapbands... I checked out your highly opinionated, AKA disguised as "neutral" site, on "How to Find a Mexican Surgeon". I though maybe you were like me... just somebody happy to have a gastric band, healthier, hopefully adding a few years to my life as a result. Alas, I guess I'm one of those people whose cup is always half full and trying to find the best in people... someone you would probably consider niave.

I just found something curious. You infer I make money by helping people find a way to research a doctor that will be cutting them open and looking through your posts I see that of 23 posts, 15 of them are pushing your doctor and your doctor only. The rest are about Christianity and how it is your mission to help people get surgery. Check it out:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/search.php?searchid=1152374

I have over 5000 posts and the vast majority of mine are helping people with band problems, emotional problems, WLS issues, eating disorders, sharing information, giving/receiving support, researching information on doctors, etc.

Now it makes sense why you don't want folks researching their doctor, it would appear it cuts into your income if people know the truth about yours.

Cheers.

[catzintj 1]

ive been to dr.verboonan "clinic" . not in a nice area of town. kinda scary. everyone seemed really nice and friendly. i went there for a fill once. never again . i didnt feel safe . just my opinion. some places are nicer and more modern than others.......

[lena23 0]

Was This Also For Dr. Ricardo Ramos Kelly.....coordinator For Lapband.surgery.com Said That Was Not Their Dr. Info. I Did Go To The Site Of Obesity.help They Had A Dr. Listed As Jamison Ramos Kelly. I Just Have Found Info On This Dr....i Guess But Still Seaching.....ty For Replies!!!!!

[Dedria 0]

I quit... you bore me and insult my intelligence -- plus you are have a real mean streak... I won't speak to you anymore on your soapbox... from now on you are number 1 on my prayer list, but no more on your own personal forum.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I quit... you bore me and insult my intelligence -- plus you are have a real mean streak... I won't speak to you anymore on your soapbox... from now on you are number 1 on my prayer list, but no more on your own personal forum.

Thank you. That would be nice.

This does not change reality. The majority of your posts are pushing Dr. Verboonan and you only have 24 as of this minute. The majority of my posts are helping people with issues, answering questions, but most important, researching ALL doctors, not pushing them to go to only one doctor.

Who is the patient coordinator?

Face it, you got caught. Just be honest for goodness sakes. Is that such a horror?