Las Vegas Sun

We were promised a lot of things, weren't we? I agree, real medical malpractice should not be tolerated. However, there are too many greedy attorneys and patients out there who don't know the difference between a known risk or complication of surgery and true negligence. What these doctors did was true negligence and they should be punished, but surgeries do carry risk. Someone wrote recently that if the lawyers truly felt their clients deserved $1 million, why do they take up to 40%? Plus, rising malpractice rates for doctors don't help patients...the good ones who treat patients with difficult conditions can't afford to stay, leaving us with mediocre docs or docs who won't touch a difficult case. We're in deep trouble with a bunch of empty promises.

I agree - sounds like Mr. Ralston is trying to tone down the rage felt by most of our community. Doctors are doing things intentionally, motivated by greed...knowing that by cutting corners allows them to see more patients is a great motivator. Health care in Nevada is abominable; however, it is true that there are some good doctors. I believe that if these good doctors have any sense at all, they will be leaving the state. Malpractice premiums are sure to rise, the Board will become more disciplined-inclined, and Medicare cuts are looming, decreasing reimbursement rates. It isn't about what you know and what you do; it's about what you know you should do to uphold your Hippocratic oath.

Please - Desai was on the Board when he was fined $2,500 for false advertising. He remained on the Board for approximately 4 years after that. The Board is politically appointed. For those physicians who are connected, like Desai and Sharma, the Board has always been silent. Contrary to Mr. Matheis' statement, the Medical Board did not launch the investigation and was quoted only a few days ago as saying they had no evidence of patient harm and therefore, would not take any action. It was only because of pressure from the public and good P.R. that the Board asked for a temporary voluntary surender of Desai's license. I'm sure he'll get it back.

Want to hear something really incredible? When Desai was "slapped on the wrist" for false advertising by the Nevada Medical Board, he was on the Board, served as Chairman of the Investigative Committee, and the Board actually discussed how they could dismiss the complaint against him. He got off with just a fine and stayed appointed to the Board. Seems to me that any other person would have been dismissed from any position of authority over their peers. Welcome to Nevada!

Want to hear something really incredible? When Desai was "slapped on the wrist" for false advertising by the Nevada Medical Board, he was on the Board, served as Chairman of the Investigative Committee, and the Board actually discussed how they could dismiss the complaint against him. He got off with just a fine and stayed appointed to the Board. Seems to me that any other person would have been dismissed from any position of authority over their peers. Welcome to Nevada!

It wasn't that the gastroenterologists were not licensed; they were not Board-certified and Desai advertised that they were. You cannot claim you are Board-certified if you are not. Board certification means you have passed Board tests; which those doctors did not do. Obviously, given the circumstances of the last few weeks, being licensed doesn't mean the doctor is a good doctor.

I agree, except that he should not voluntarily stop practicing medicine - his license should be revoked so that he never practices medicine again.

Unfortunately, those greedy doctors are still seeing patients and making money. They are on the staffs of local hospitals and nothing has been done to terminate their privileges. Their private practices are still open; they are still seeing patients, just not doing endoscopies. Again, where is the Medical Board? These doctors violated the law, committed criminal acts, and the president of the Board stated the Board needed evidence that a doctor was a threat to the public before suspending a license. Perhaps it's time to appoint a new Board.

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.

I'd like to know if the Center is paying for the testing for these 40,000 patients. I don't imagine that these tests are free and it doesn't seem right that individuals who are at risk through no fault of their own should have to pay for their tests.