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twitterCity shuts clinic, with harsh words for owners
Official: Staff told to reuse vials, syringes to save money
Sat, Mar 1, 2008 (2 a.m.)
Sun Archives
Turns out, it was greed.
Dr. Dipak Desai, one of the state’s most prominent physicians, willfully chose to “mortally hazard his patients for profit” by operating an endoscopy clinic fraught with cost-cutting sloppiness, a Las Vegas city official said Friday.
Desai, who was a member of Gov. Jim Gibbons’ transition team in 2006, is the majority owner of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, the source of a disease outbreak that’s caused the largest hepatitis C scare in the country, according to health officials, who said 40,000 people who received anesthesia while undergoing endoscopic procedures there, including colonoscopies, must be tested immediately for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. The clinic was one of the busiest of its kind in Nevada.
When Jim DiFiore, manager of the city’s business services decision, suspended the facility’s license Friday, he cited previously undisclosed findings by health investigators who inspected the clinic in January.
DiFiore said in a letter to the clinic’s owners that Desai ordered his nurses to reuse syringes and reuse single-dose vials of medication when administering anesthesia to patients who received endoscopic procedures. The practice, which allowed cross contamination of patients’ blood, caused six people to become infected with hepatitis C.
Desai did it to save money, DiFiore said.
The state Licensure and Certification Bureau, which oversees the ambulatory surgical center, allowed it to stay open because the dangerous procedures were corrected.
But DiFiore quoted a health investigator who said, “It’s very hard to believe that they won’t do it again,” when explaining why he was shuttering the clinic.
“The fact that, once caught, you have agreed not to engage in a technique well known to the medical community to subject patients to death or serious illness again does not persuade me that you won’t do it again,” DiFiore wrote.
Desai and the other Endoscopy Center owners would not comment for this story, on the advice of their attorneys, Abran Vigil and Alan Sklar.
DiFiore, who referred to the investigators from the Southern Nevada Health District, the Licensure and Certification Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a “tiger team,” said he was told by a CDC officer that the Endoscopy Center practices were so obviously dangerous it was like “driving the wrong way down the freeway.”
“I do not believe that there is any department of motor vehicles in this country that would not immediately revoke the driving license of a driver when given credible evidence that the driver had driven the wrong way down the freeway every day for the past four years,” he wrote.
Citing more information provided by the health investigators, DiFiore said many nurses knew the technique was dangerous to patients, but they were ordered by administrators, mainly Desai, “to engage in the practice in order to save money.”
Some followed Desai’s orders and risked contaminating patients with life-threatening diseases, while others disobeyed him, DiFiore wrote.
Desai used to sit on the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners, which has now launched an investigation into the clinic, which is also owned by Dr. Vishvinder Sharma, Dr. Eladio Carrera and Dr. Clifford Carrol.
Dr. Jim Christensen, an allergist who is on the board of the Health District, said the allegations in DiFiore’s letter elevate the situation from malpractice to criminal behavior.
District Attorney David Roger promised “a massive investigation” into what occurred at the clinic.
Discussion: 35 comments so far…
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The patients that this medically facility had endangered is criminal. Not only Dr. Desai, but any nurse or medical practitioner who knowingly endangered any person should lose their license and be held accountable in the courts. If found guilty, they should go to jail.
Not long ago an organization named "Keep Our Doctors in Nevada" pressured the Nevada Legislature into an emergency session and persuaded the Nevada citizens to vote for medical malpractice protection, all in the name of a phony "medical malpractice crisis." Dr. Dipak Desai and the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada were behind the Keep Our Doctors in Nevada group, shelling out at least $25,000 to buy protection from injured patients. As a result, medical providers, INCLUDING DR. DESAI AND HIS CLINIC, are protected by caps on damage awards. Does anyone now think $350,000 is adequate compensation for the pain and suffering that will be endured by any patient of Dr. Desai who contracts HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C?
Like many lawyers who represent injured medical patients, our law firm, Myers & Gomel, fought against the caps, and I can tell you this is precisely the type of situation we were concerned about when the doctors and their insurance companies used the "Keep Our Doctors in Nevada" fear campaign to achieve their selfish goal of protective caps. The truth is we shouldn't keep doctors like Dr. Desai in Nevada, and doctors like Dr. Desai don't deserve protective caps so they can practice sub-standard medicine with no fear of a jury's verdict.
This is a real "medical malpractice crisis," and it will not be the last one unless and until doctors like Dr. Desai can be held accountable in full for the pain and suffering caused by such blatant and irresponsible malpractice. Nevada voters should demand that the doctors' special shield laws be repealed and that they be treated like the rest of us.
Having spoken to some good doctors, I believe there is a medical malpractice crisis in Nevada, with rising malpractice insurance rates and decreasing reimbursementments and I believe that there are frivolous lawsuits filed by greedy individuals who don't know the difference between a bad outcome and true malpractice. However, having said that, I hope that the doctors associated with this clinic are hit with both criminal and civil charges that include punitive damages. Any licensed professional associated with this group deserves to be disciplined to the fullest extent that their Board allows - take their license - so that they are never again allowed to inflict this type of pain on innocent victims. Where is the Medical Board, Nursing Board, etc.? Why haven't we heard from them? Kudos to Mayor Goodman for taking action.
Kudos to the comment posted by the Law Offices of Myers & Gomel for bringing this information to the public. I was Corporate Admin., for a medical practice that was forced to close; and I now wonder, were the doctors and nurses urged to practice in this fashion?
We need to realize what a real crisis this country is in. We are foolish if we believe that this was only happening at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. There will be many personnel across this great country that are now going to 'hopefully' question the cost saving measures they have been asked to make. Let's hope those in patient care have the guts to make the right decision and say it needs to stop. Make a hotline for anonymous tips, people will be fearful of losing their jobs. But we need to make the right moral decisions for these patients, because we are 'all' patients at one time or another. One of those patients put at risk could be one of your relatives; could be your mother or father or child.
The Medical Board, Nursing Board and other licensing bureaus will be busy, you can be sure. Judgement needs to be swift and carried out to the full extent of the law. Let's make sure these doctors never have the opportunity to do this again. This goes for the nurses as well. Sterile technique should never be allowed to be an option.
As far as the medical community, it will take a long time to recover. It will be costly and it will be brutal. Good doctors and nurses will be questioned and scrutinized; but they will prevail.
Shame on Dr. Desai and his partners. And shame on any personnel who followed this 'dirty little secret', all in the name of money.
God bless us.
We need your help! Want to make a difference? Reform is needed at all levels to prevent further Hep C outbreaks from occuring!
Join HONOReform (www.honoreform.org)- a non-profit foundation that advocates for patient safety, justice and compassion at both the state and national level. It was formed in response to hepatitis outbreaks caused by reuse of syringes and other types of substandard care in private physicians' offices in Nebraska, Oklahoma, New York, Michigan, and now Nevada. Through the outbreaks, thousands of people suffered because of deficiencies in our medical, legal and disaster response systems. The mission of HONOReform is to promote the lessons of the outbreaks so that these tragedies will never happen again.
Join our advocacy team today!
Did you know there was a $50,000 cap for medical malpractice in Nevada. This law was put into effect 2 or 3 years ago after doctors petitioned and paid high dollars for legal representation/counseling to get this law passed. Don't let that high dollar payment fool you. That cost saved them not only millions of dollars, but it saved them the requirement and necessity of being mindful and responsible in our health care. This law means that each individual affected by this negligent catastrophy can only recoup $50,000 from each doctor involved in the careless, wreckless greedy manner in which their health was taken from them. How far do you think $50,000 is going to go for these people? They are going to be so ill they will not be able to work for income, they will need very expensive medication, some will even need liver transplants, and some will possibly even die leaving their family with no financial support. What is going to happen to these people?
Attorneys are out here posting. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. We, "THE PEOPLE" can't just stand by and take or accept the standard of care this law has brought about us. Let's get involved and support these professionals in any attempt to turn this around. Since this law was passed, health care has become outrageously poor and now more aimed at making money than curing the sick. Diagnosis are not being given, true medical investigation is not happening. Patients are repetitively told to come back or just simply have to go back because their illnesses continue. Insurance companies are paying for these repetitive visits and Employers cost for insurance is rising. Not only are patients left to suffer between these visits, but they suffer adverse reaction of the employers. This is only the beginning, its going to get worse if we don't do something. We all appreciate a good doctor, we all believe they should be paid well for their work IF THEY EARN IT, but this law has allowed so many of those that got in the field of medicine for the money to take advantage with no consequence for outright negligence. This $50,000 cap has got to go!
In that same token, attorneys need to take the small medical malpractice cases as well. The reason behind not taking the small cases is also about money. It is not enough money, therefore it is not worth the time. If these cases were brought out, the wrong doers in the medical community would have been exposed before it got this bad and the people who over see them would by now have had more of a chance to see that this law is not helping but hurting the public.
(Removed by the site staff)
As an EMT and future RN, I am outraged by this blatant disregard for patient safety. I understand it is easy to blame the clinic's owner or medical director, but I feel that the RN/CRNA's (nurse anesthetists) involved should be down right ashamed of themselves. Whether an RN anesthetist or even an MD anesthesiologist, they have the responsibility of having the patient's life in their hands while the patient is under. It is shocking, and shameful, to hear that any licensed professional would knowingly take orders from a clinic manager, owner or whatever which would put people's lives in danger just to save a few bucks.
Shame on those nurse anesthetists. If I were one of the people involved, I strongly urge you to report the RN/CRNA's involved in your care to the proper state nursing boards so that they may be disciplined for their role in this shameful practice. How could this have been allowed to go on for 2+ years without any one of them speaking out about such an obviously unsafe practice?? This is terrible.
For information on the Nevada State Nursing Board's disciplinary and complaint process, go to:
http://www.nursingboard.state.nv.us/dact...
Kerla, you are the only bright spot in this nightmare. Thank you for my first laugh in 4 1/2 days!
I happen to be one of the unfortunate recipients of the Hep C award through this procedure. Curiously, all records are missing on my case. Not surprising considering the gravity of the situation for the gastroenterology doctors in Las Vegas. Each and every one of these centers should be investigated to ensure public safety. No amount of money will give me my life back. I had suspected all along since my diagnosis that this is where the disease came from. It almost destroyed me emotionally and it destroyed many relationships and even the way doctors and nurses treat me. I was told that either I was an intravenous drug user, a sexual deviant(although the disease is not normally transmitted through sexual contact), etc. Nice things to say to a patient who is innocent in all of this. If the investigation is only going back to 2004 and the other endoscopy clinics are not looked into than our Health Department is putting many more lives in danger. Dr. DeSai and his entire staff should be prosecuted for attempted murder for each case and if someone dies, they should be prosecuted for murder. Again as for me no amount of money can undo the pain and leper status that I am now dealing with. My trust in Las Vegas doctors was diminished a long ago when I went in for my very first colonoscopy and the doctor "forgot" to take a biopsy of a tumor the size of my thumb. I was told it was something else. Luckily my General Surgeon did a biopsy and I had a malignancy, which was promptly taken care of. He literally saved my life. I am now going out of state to MD Anderson Houston for treatments. I suggest anyone with any chronic disease get the hell out of this state before these morons kill you.
I am a practicing gastroenterologist and what happened at this endoscopy center is absolutely criminal! The physicians and the staffs who knowingly reuse syringes and vials should be prosecuted and have their licenses permanently revoked. As a physician I am ashamed of these people (I refuse to call them "Doctors") who compromise the health of patients who put their trust in their hands.
There are still good physicians, ambulatory surgical centers and hospitals in the state of Nevada. Patients should do their due diligence. Go and check physician records at the state medical board (available online), check JACHO score of your hospital, check for up to date State license, Medicare license and AAAHC licence for any ambulatory surgical center. By doing so, you will know if your physician and facility that cares for you have lived up to the standards of State, Fed guidelines.
As for tort reform, there will always be two sides to the story. Patients deserve to be compensated for treatment and pain/suffering. No one will disagree with that. But just look at this board and the advertisements made by various law firms on a google seach should tell any intelligent person that lawsuits and ambulance chasers are major problems in this society. Perhaps if we make lawyers and people who bring about frivolous lawsuits responsible for the TOTAL COST (ie. in many counties, the lawyers and the losing clients are responsible for total cost of the lawsuit and compensate the other side) we maybe able to increase the limits of compensation. If the lawyers truly have patient's best interest in mind, they should take a reasonable flat fee instead of the 40% of the awarded sum. After all, if they feel like their clients deserves $1 million dollars for their suffering, why are they taking $400,000 of that $1 M??
Dear Moscasti,
I feel for you... I am willing to fight with you for anything we can get you and the others affected. I have not gotten my hep c test results back yet, but I have gotten my HIV test results back and they were negitive. I can only pray for you and the others. I know how it is to have something affect your life. I was born with a heart condition and have had surgeries and two pacemakers to help me survive. Due to the meds I take for this, it is distroying my liver, but to have something you did to be safe cause you this pain is just WRONG. I have been chatting with others who are going through this also. We all need to stand up and fight. Please keep us updated on anything we can do for you. I will gladly join any class action suit and even I only get pennies from it, I think the ones who have recieved the negitive results on these tests should donate the money to people like you. I still have faith in some of the doctors in the town/state, such as my ped's cardiologist. And yes I do see a ped's doc even though I am 32 (33 this month) and at least she is wonderful.
If you need someone to help fight, I am here for you.
I am really sorry to hear that our nurses were involved in this negligence practice and my heart goes out to all the patients. I just can't imagine how nervous and frustrated all these patients would be feeling.
I dont care what the owners or those doctors do, as nurses, they should have known better that no matter what others tell you but if it is not within your ethical and moral you should have stop it. I can imagine that saving money by using the single-dose medications for multi-patients but I can't see that reusing syringes. That is purely negligence nursing practice not only medicine. All other nurses that used to work there and went against the cost cutting practice should have alert the boards and other authority since your nursing conscience knows that it's wrong.
I'm not on the doctor or nurses side, but I can see how the situation got this bad. I think what happen was that the admin. emphasize on cost cutting practice but the manager and I strongly believe are not a medical profession person ran the place and analyzed then enforce the reuse medical supplies then instructed nurses to do so. However, being a nurse we know damn well that you cant reuse syringe. No matter what the reason is out there. It is not within our nursing practice. It is a BIG NO NO NO TO REUSE SYRINGE. What is happened to all of their critical thinking skills and morales? As a nurse you have an obligation to PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND ALSO SERVE AS A PATIENT ADVOCATE.
THIS STORY IS REALLY BREAKING MY HEART TO SEE OUR NURSES INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION. I also sympathize for the all of the owner since I do own a health care practice that how nerve wrecking it is to run a profit co. while all operating expenses are high (doctor, nurses and other employees wages) while cont. to keep the fee for service at a minimal amount.
We should also blame it on our corrupted insurance system. All they always quack about cheap health care cost but expect for so much.
paine_girl, Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. I appreciate your comment very much. This has been a very difficult time for me, but in some ways I feel vindicated. It is difficult to talk about with anyone since the disease is so misunderstood. I wrote down every thing I could think of that may have caused me to contract this. I kept going over and over it in my head and could not come up with an answer. I was told to just forget about ever figuring it out. I even refused to believe the tests were correct for a long time. I blamed everything from the nail shop I went to( I no longer go for fear of giving it to someone else), maybe picking up the wrong tooth brush, the list is so long. I spent a year bleaching my hands and still am afraid that everytime I cut myself that I will give it to someone else. I don't think that I'll sue, since money won't cure me and I can't take treatments because of the cancer. I have however, since the infection, become somewhat of an advocate for hep c patients. I don't know that I'll ever be able to do enough to help them. Again, I thank you so much for your support and caring. It means alot to have a total stranger send such a powerful message. For that I will always be thankful.
KimRn,
It seems that you are feeling sorry for these people because their expenses are so high. Save money and kill a patient, is that right? You should have your license revoked just for that comment. You have no idea what it's like to live like this. By the way it is not insurance companies that take the Hipocratic Oath. Please let me know where your clinic is so I don't go there. You are the perfect example of why I go out of state for my complex medical conditions. You may be next on the prosecutions list if you believe in what you just said. So much for care, it's all about the bottom line isn't it?
KimRN:
You should be sorry that ANY medical professional was involved in this disgrace, not just the nurses. By the way, are you sure you are an RN and own a healthcare practice? It was difficult to make heads or tails out of your comment due to the horrendous grammar.
Everything boils down to money these days or, simply put, GREED..!! I truly pity anyone on the fast track to save a buck or make a quick one. Some people have no integrity, which is a very pathetic situation. Don't think for one minute that this is an isolated circumstance ... it WILL happen again, no matter how many laws are on the books to help protect people. It will happen again because of GREED...!!! No doubt about it!
There are some of us that choose to live life safely,
and practice not only common sense but get tested.
And for those of you who still support the criminals who did this, from the doctors to the nurses, remember the REAL victims are the people who went for treatment THEY DID NOT MAKE THE CHOICE TO BE POSSIBLY INFECTED. THEY DID NOT CHOOSE TO BE CARELESS, OR GREEDY. THEY SIMPLY CHOSE TO BE A PATIENT.
These doctors, nurses, cna’s, they need to get EDUCATED.
Oh yea right, I forgot they are the ones with the degrees…
Moscati,
I am so sorry that you contracted hep C from a physician without morals. Hep C have several types and some are much more responsive to treatment than other. You should still seek medical attention. I assure you that most of the physicians put their patients first and foremost. It only take one bad apple to ruin the whole barrel. Again, I urge you to look the state medical board and check your physicians for their past record before making an appointment.
I think you may have mistaken KimRn's intent. She is trying to point out a simple fact that many in the medical field are struggling to provide the best medical care in an environment of constant cost cutting regardless of consequences by the insurance companies, whose sole purpose is to make money (CEO of United Health took home over $1 Billion over past 5 years) and the government.
God bless
bcutter,
I did not miscontrue anything about KimRn. News flash, I have been typed. You try going through chemo and hep c treatments at the same time. I do give my doctors colonoscopies so to speak, but you know as well as I do that most cases are settled out of court and disciplinary action is normally covered up by an agreement with the opposing attorneys. I have two good doctors here in town. I have been through this system for years and know that I would have to hire a private detective to check out one doctor in all 50 states and now all over the globe. Las Vegas is notorious for letting doctors practice here when they can't get licensed anywhere else. I've been before the medical board before also. 2 attorneys, 3 doctors. Guess who spoke up for me? It wasn't the doctors.
Moscati,
The "professionals" who intentional inflicted harm to you not only should be banned from practice but also be prosecuted criminally. If the state of NV doesn't bring charges against them then Nevada has a big problem.
You made a very good point about the imperfections of the review system. If disciplinary actions were taken, they are and should be public record. That's how things works in most states (I can't speak for NV. If state of NV doesn't do that then the state board has a problem). If things are settled out of court and parties agreed to settlement then obviously it's not "in the books". Is it perfect? No. But, could you make a suggestion at making the system more transparent for the public? You have found doctors who are fighting for you now. They have earned your trust and respect. It wouldn't be right to see their reputations unjustly tainted if some ambulance chaser decides to files a frivolous lawsuit without merit in their records? It can be difficult to determine what is and what isn't published in the public records as you can imagine. Sometimes things aren't so black and white as it is in the current hep C case.
I don't know what other profession or vocation has as much informations made public other than the medical profession. It is work in progress. I know that lawyer, dentists and accountants (just to name a few) don't have these records available to the public.
Please remember you do have doctors who cares on your side. Don't forget them. There are good lawyers too who will fight for you for the criminal act committed against you. It is just unfortunate that many who advertise on TV and online are just greedy people try to cash in on other people's misfortune.
bcutter
I appreciate this comment. I do have 2 doctors that I trust here and you are right about the ambulance chasers. I have no respect for attorney's that advertise on television either. I have no intentions, at this point, of suing for that very reason. Not to mention there is no point since the damage is already done. I do love my internist and my general surgeon, if not for them I would not be here today. My greatest fear is that this bobble-headed doctor will shorten the blood supply because of his nefarious practices and this will go far beyond infection. People will now be afraid to give blood and many needy patients will suffer for it. The scope of this is like "the shot heard around the world". I have made many suggestions, and am heavily involved in many aspects of patients rights, etc. I do have a suggestion. The Health Dept. grades restaurants constantly, a good thing, however I have never seen a health inspector go through any private practice doctors office or go into a hospital to grade them. This would help patients make better choices and it would protect doctors from frivolous lawsuits. These grades could be posted at the place of business and in the newspapers, exactly the way they do it with restaurants.
Moscati,
For ambulatory surgical centers such as the endoscopy center Dr. Desai own can voluntarily go through a rigorous certification program called AAAHC (http://www.aaahc.org/eweb/StartPage.aspx...). They go through everything in your center from who you hire to how you keep medical record in order to safe guard the public. I am certain Dr. Desai would never spend the time or money to have his "center" audited. I have also noted that in the NV licensing board he's had issues since 1996 for false advertising. It should be a RED flag to anyone (http://medboard.nv.gov/publicinfo.asp?si...
This may not be perfect but it is certainly one step toward "grading" ambulatory centers around the country.
In addition, physicians ourselves are creating standard of care in each specialty to increase safety and quality of services we provide to our patients. You will see quality physicians stand out and adhere to guidelines and standard of care.
I am so happy that you have use this as a motivation to promote awareness. You are a very brave person and many people will benefit from your efforts. I thank you for that.
I agree this was purely for profit, However you must remember that these types of practices are very very common in INDIA and the third world were life is cheap. Perhaps someone should also look at the licensing requirements for Doctors that immigrate to the US only to make a killing ( literally) and send the money back home.
By recovery747,
I totally agree with you on this. Most doctors from third world countries go through 2 to 4 years of training, if that. Why we accept such totally inept "doctors" in the US is a matter of politcal correctness. How this happens is very well known. Most of the certifications are 1-2 day classes, these you'll find plastered all over the walls at these doctors offices. Alot of times all they have to do is join an organization, pay a yearly fee and it makes them look like experts. Thanks for not being politically correct. As far as I'm concerned these doctors are bio-terrorists and should be treated as such. As you can see I've had a back and forth with bcutter and if you read between the lines, he does not practice in Las Vegas, and I am unsure that he is even a doctor. If he is, he should say where he practices, his real name(bcutter sounds a little fishy, especially the cutter part). I'm happy that someone like you stands on your prinicipals and is not afraid to speak up. You are what is known as a "Stand Up Guy".
bcutter,
I reread your last post. Dr. Desai has myriad doctors working in all of his clinics. The doc that did my colonoscopy has no disciplinary record, neither did the anesthesiologist. If you truly understand what a clinic is, then you should know this. As I had said in my post to recovery 747, you obviously don't practice in Nevada and further anyone can post that they are a doctor. I am not judging you, it would just be nice if you gave your full name and where you actually practice. Myers and Gomel did exactly that, why can't you? If you are so willing to help, you should open up a hotline so people can call or e-mail you for support and suggestions. Give the facts and back them up.
I fully agree with moscati re: bio-terrorists!
My husband went for a colonoscopy to the Burnham clinic in Nov 2007. Thank God all came back clear on the test. UNTIL this week.
Now we sit in "terror" waiting for his blood results to come back, which he took yesterday at our local drs office.
My heart and prayers are going out to everyone that is a part of this living nightmare.
I blame not only the drs that own these clinics, but even more so I blame the nurses, drs and anyone that "knowingly" used dirty syringes etc,,
Let's face it,,,they are the ones that fired the fatal shot, the owners gave the word and they re: those who intentionally did this due to their own lack of morals, ethics, common sense, etc,,are even more guilty then the one that said lets save some money.
There is NO EXCUSE whatsoever and I believe that anyone who did this should be fully prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
What makes "them" any different then the terrorists we are fighting in Iraq? At least we can see them and are trained to fight our enemies and do it well.
All it took was for 1 person that knew of this disgrace in the clinic to make a call, without giving their name and this could of been prevented.
I know that God will be the final judge on these people.
With hope and prayers to all who have or are suffering now with these diseases, and are waiting for the "results" may God Bless you with HIS PEACE during this time of bio-war in our valley.
It is interesting that any medical professional who post comes under attack. It's unfortunate because not all of us are like Dr. Desai. You are correct to assume that I don't practice in NV but I do know the inner workings of a clinic and endoscopy center. Even though you are affected deeply (again the culprit should be prosecuted), it doesn't give you any right to insult other people. I have not made a single demeaning remarks to anyone on this board and have only try to provide information to other to screen their physicians and health clinics (obviously a work in progress).
As to why we all use usernames. You just prove why we all should when we get on the internet.
Good luck and God bless.
BTW
Myer and Gomel made 6 identical posts (cut and paste) on 6 different Las Vegas Sun articles. If you don't see that as advertisement, I don't know what is. It's a sad day for the medical profession when these lawyers are mistaken as "saviors" by the public.
bcutter,
I don't believe I demeaned you in anyway and if you feel I did, I give you my sincere apology. I believe that you were the one who insulted me in your comment about usernames. I was just questioning your credentials as you suggested I do with all doctors and you took the bait. I am not blaming you. I realize that you probably did not mean to insinuate that you practice in Nevada, but it sounds that way when you write. Sometimes writing can get in the way of a good face to face. It is a well known fact amongst native Nevadans that Las Vegas has an overwhelming population of bad doctors, we call it the Medical Mafia. Our own doctors go out of state for care! Of course we also have an overwhelming amount of tortes attorneys and none of us call them our saviors, believe me, we have the highest insurance rates in the country. Both are facts. Our doctors and dentists also advertise on television and the internet, etc. It's as bad as the prescription drug commercials in my judgement. It is extremely difficult for all of us and I do not want any ethical doctor to be hurt by this. At this point in my life it is difficult to trust anyone. As a doctor you would surely understand this. As mentioned in my previous comments, I do not plan to sue because the damage is done and no amount of money will give me my health back. All I can do is stand up for those who are hurting. I am calling for a Congressional Hearing and those that are behind this need to call and write their local, state, and national representatives. You should too.
bcutter and moscati,
I am in full agreement with moscati and many others that have posted on this site. We as patients or have loved ones who are "victims" due to trying to take care of our health, and have been lead down the path of destruction by mans own hand and sin.
Are you sitting bcutter and wondering if your spouse has contacted any of these diseases,,,and passed them on to you and loved ones? Tonight on the local news my heart broke when I heard of a women that had to have her 7 month old child tested because she breast feeds her child,,and had gone for tests at these clinics. This is all just the tip of the iceberg,,,,
You are correct bcutter that we all use "usernames" in here for a reason. But I do not see anyone on this board or any other board attacking anyone, as you stated "It is interesting that any medical professional who post comes under attack." And as all internet users know anyone can say they are.
Yes the "people" that did this horrid thing to over 40,000 people are under attack as they should be. I don't believe that those that did this horrid act will even post and if they do,,,I hope they read what we all think of them. As I said in my earlier post God knows who they are.
There is no need to come against any of us with attacks. We have already been hit and are in "shock" over it all and this city is in turmoil.
Unless you live here and have been through what many of us have been through with the medical mafia in this city, then I would sincerely think twice,,, for one,,, thinking any of us believe that these lawyers are our saviors.
I have posted the same comment on several of the blogs here also,,I am not advertising anything! Just stating what I feel and know what is going on.
Personally I have only one Savior and that is Jesus,,,so for all of those who are believers and those of you who aren't, I do want you to know that there are two very big religious corporations that I have called and they are free to call 24/7 for prayer for my loved ones and for everyone that has been affected in this city due to this devestating evil act of greed. I was very surprised that these ministries were only "slightly" aware of the situation here, but they offered to keep us all in their prayers.
This is surely a time to unite and not a time to divide.
May God Bless all of us who are "waiting" and for those who have already been diagnosed such as you have moscati. My heart goes out to each and everyone one of you.
KC
Thank you for standing up. It is a little confusing for me when a doctor from out of state claims to know how the medical board works here. Maybe now the truth about LV medicine will come out. As I said, I have a couple of wonderful doctors here and I don't want them affected. The other thing I wanted to say is that I just had an ovarian tumor that weighed 7 pounds. I called a friend who works for a great doctor and the doctors words to me were, "If I had any major illness like that, I'd get the hell out of this city". Her recommendation for MD Anderson was a Godsend. I am 14 days post op and doing just fine. Thanks again for your comment. It is CHILLING to think that this WILL become a national health care crisis. I too am a believer and know that prayer works. I pray that your husbands results come out negative and I pray for the terror that is stalking you. I also pray for the doctors and nurses that are innocent and get caught up in this nasty web of lies and deception.
With the exception of defending using a username, I have not "attacked" anyone and apologize if anyone felt otherwise. If one read my posts, it's merely pointing out some ways to screen your health care providers. Was I wrong to post these information? What is available to the public is limited but again it's work in progress and I challenge other professions to do the same.
I don't know it's right to assume I have no knowledge of the Vegas situation. I know some good doctors who practice there and have looked into the health care system when I finished my training several years ago. People need to ask themselves and the State needs to ask itself....."why can't we get better physicians and keep them in NV?" I commend Moscati for getting involved in Congressional hearing to help bring about change. Physicians want change in our health system as much as everyone else. Right now, the insurance companies and lawyers drive up the cost medical care and control access. We as people need to take back control. We need to band together and bring our dissatisfaction of poor quality healthcare system to our representatives. It's the only way to bring about change.
My only motivation of posting is to educate and inform people. I hope some of the information is used. People like Dr. Desai exist in every vocation. They have no morals and GREED is their only motivation. I hope all those affected do bring criminal lawsuit against him and those who are active participants.
Jail? Jail?!? How about lethal injection? Turn about is fair play. And who really owns the critical finger in a contract shooting, the guy placing the order or the one who pulls the trigger? WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS. You own the finger, you own the problem. If you're the one who did it to me, then you're the one I want to see have it done to you.