Las Vegas Sun

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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??

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??