vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Jan 25, 2012 12:28:58 GMT -5
Doctor alleges attempted coverup in Simi woman's death after Lap-Band surgery
Posted January 20, 2012 Two brothers accused of running a weight-loss business where a Simi Valley woman had Lap-Band surgery pressured her surgeon to commit perjury to clear them in a wrongful-death lawsuit, the surgeon testified in a sworn deposition. Dr. Ihsan Shamaan testified that Julian and Michael Omidi wanted him to lie to shift the blame for Laura Faitro's 2010 death to Simi Valley Hospital, where she died a few days after the surgery. The Omidis, Shamaan and the hospital are among the defendants in the lawsuit brought by Faitro's husband, John, and grown daughter, Cheyenne. "They wanted me to lie to exonerate themselves and harm others," to say that Simi Valley Hospital was "at fault ... and they were not," Shamaan testified last month in his deposition, which was filed this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court as part of the lawsuit. Attorney Robert B. Silverman, who until recently represented the brothers, said in a brief email Friday that "they unequivocally deny the allegations made by Dr. Shamaan." Shamaan said the brothers threatened to withhold his salary if he didn't do as they said, putting him "under tremendous mental pressure." But "lying is against my principle, especially when it is connected to medicine," the Iraq-born Shamaan testified under questioning from Woodland Hills attorney John M. Walker, who represents the Faitros. "I said, 'The hell with my money. I will not tell a lie. I will tell the truth even if it harms me. And I will see if the truth will set me free.' But "lying is against my principle, especially when it is connected to medicine," the Iraq-born Shamaan testified under questioning from Woodland Hills attorney John M. Walker, who represents the Faitros. "I said, 'The hell with my money. I will not tell a lie. I will tell the truth even if it harms me. And I will see if the truth will set me free.' "Mrs. Faitro unfortunately die because of faults of this group," he testified. "Poor selection of the patient. Poor preparation of the patient. Poor surgery. Poor post-op care. All controlled by the Omidis." He admitted that he lacerated Faitro's swollen liver during the surgery, a factor that the lawsuit alleges contributed to her death. Walker's co-counsel in the lawsuit, Westlake Village attorney Alexander Robertson, said the Omidis run the Beverly Hills-based weight-loss business associated with the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing campaign. But Silverman previously said that Julian Omidi "is not involved in the operation of any medical facility" and that he and his brother deny any wrongdoing in Faitro's death. Faitro "did not die of a Lap-Band-related issue," Silverman said. "There is nothing in the autopsy report that states the Lap-Band medical device contributed to the death. ... This procedure is safe." Simi Valley Hospital spokeswoman Alicia Gonzalez said Friday that the hospital does not comment on pending litigation. "Patient safety is our No. 1 priority," she added. "Simi Valley Hospital is committed to its mission of placing the needs of patients first." Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001, Lap-Band, or adjustable gastric banding surgery, decreases the amount of food a patient consumes before feeling full. During the surgery, a firm silicone band with an inner inflatable ring is placed around the stomach to slow the passage of food from the upper portion of the stomach to the lower portion. Laura Faitro, 50, who weighed about 250 pounds, had the $12,220 surgery on July 21 at Valley Surgical Center in West Hills. According to court documents, she was discharged the same day despite complaining of severe abdominal pain. Two days later, still in severe pain, she was rushed to the emergency room of Simi Valley Hospital. She died at the hospital three days later, becoming at least the fourth Southern California patient to die after undergoing the surgery in recent years. According to the suit, Faitro's condition rapidly deteriorated after the surgery until she died on July 26 from sepsis shock and its systemic affect on her body, the lacerated liver, loss of blood, acute renal failure and cardiac arrest. But Silverman said previously the autopsy report and death certificate noted Faitro was in "overall poor health" suffering from "morbid obesity," type II diabetes and severe coronary atherosclerosis. The lacerated liver "was not the cause of death," he said. Shamaan, however, testified that Faitro was not a proper candidate for the surgery because of her swollen liver. "I had a conversation with Michael Omidi about that," he testified. "I said, 'You dump this patient for me to do surgery but you did not do an ultrasound to show me that this fatty infiltration or swollen liver has gone.' You just said to me, 'She's cleared for surgery.' "Michael Omidi had one policy, this policy is: lie, spy, buy, fry and deny," Shamaan testified, later adding: "His God is money. If the patient brings in money, he will give him service. His prerogative is not patient care, not patient safety, just 'Can he pay?' " Shamaan is scheduled to be deposed by the defendants' attorneys on Feb. 22. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in September. Last month, the FDA announced it had issued warning letters to 1-800-GET-THIN LLC and eight California Lap-Band surgical centers, accusing them of misleading advertising. The FDA charged that the Lap-Band advertisements, including billboards throughout Southern California, fail to provide required risk information, including warnings, precautions and possible side effects. Read more: www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/20/coverup-alleged-in-simi-womans-death-following/#ixzz1kUZW7ulp- vcstar.com
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Jan 25, 2012 12:34:52 GMT -5
House members call for probe into Lap-Band safety, marketingJanuary 20, 2012 Members of Congress are calling for an investigation into the 1-800-GET-THIN weight-loss surgery marketing campaign and the safety and effectiveness of the Lap-Band device. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) and two other House members called for congressional hearings to examine whether the sponsors of the ad campaign, their affiliated clinics and the device's manufacturer are improperly promoting a potentially dangerous surgery. articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/20/business/la-fi-0121-get-thin-congress-20120121
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Jan 25, 2012 12:40:30 GMT -5
Plaintiffs allege 'gruesome conditions' at Lap-Band clinicsJanuary 17, 2012 Workers at weight-loss surgery centers affiliated with the 1-800-GET-THIN ad campaign persuaded patients to have medically unnecessary surgeries and billed insurance companies for procedures that were never performed, a new lawsuit alleges. Two women who formerly worked at surgery centers associated with the Lap-Band ad campaign also alleged that executives covered up mistakes that contributed to the Sept. 8 death of Paula Rojeski, a Lap-Band patient from Orange County. The new lawsuit seeks damages from eight people, including brothers Michael and Julian Omidi, who the lawsuit says run the weight-loss business from offices in Beverly Hills. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, also seeks damages from 13 companies it says are controlled by the Omidis. Full coverage: Lap-Band investigation The Omidis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At least five patients have died since 2009 after Lap-Band procedures at clinics in Beverly Hills and West Hills that are affiliated with the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing campaign, according to autopsy reports, lawsuits and other public records. Manufactured by Irvine-based Allergan Inc., the Lap-Band is a ring that is surgically implanted around the stomach to discourage overeating. The 1-800-GET-THIN marketing company, whose advertising is plastered on freeway billboards throughout Southern California, said in a court filing last year that it scheduled more than 10,000 Lap-Band surgeries in its first 15 months. Former surgery center workers Dyanne Deuel and Karla Osorio alleged in the lawsuit that they were retaliated against after reporting unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the clinics. They also alleged that a series of missteps contributed to the death of Rojeski after Lap-Band surgery at a clinic in West Hills. Deuel said she was not present during the surgery but learned about the mistakes during discussions with staff members who were. "What the slick advertising campaign doesn't disclose are the horrific and gruesome conditions that our clients allege exist at these surgery centers and the fact that patient care is sacrificed for profit," said Alexander Robertson, the Westlake Village attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Deuel and Osorio. When the Rojeski surgery started, the machine that was supposed to be providing oxygen to Rojeski was inadvertently turned off, the lawsuit said. During the surgery, the tube delivering pain-killing medications to her bloodstream became dislodged and caused the solution to pool on the ground instead of flowing into Rojeski's blood, the lawsuit said. Further, the lawsuit said, the anesthesiologist treating Rojeski, Dr. Deming Chau, mistakenly assumed that a blood-pressure monitor was malfunctioning when it said Rojeski's blood pressure had slipped to a dangerously low level. The surgeon, Dr. Julius Gee, stopped the procedure several times and asked the anesthesiologist whether everything was OK because Rojeski was "bucking" on the operating table and alarms on the monitors were sounding, the lawsuit said. Chau told him the monitors were malfunctioning, according to the lawsuit. Chau could not be reached, and Gee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After surgery, Rojeski stopped breathing and did not have a pulse, the lawsuit said. Chau didn't notify the rest of the staff of Rojeski's dire condition for 15 minutes, the lawsuit said. When paramedics arrived, they were not told that Rojeski's pulse had stopped 15 minutes earlier, the lawsuit said. The patient was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/17/business/la-fi-get-thin-whistleblower-20120118
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Post by So Blessed on Jan 25, 2012 12:54:58 GMT -5
Horrifying. Oh my God. Those poor people. That last one almost made me feel ill to read it.
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Post by shellyac on Jan 25, 2012 13:20:37 GMT -5
As a band patient, I agree that these stories are horrifying and unfortunately I fear that stories like this are more likely to become more common before thing improve. I don't see the problem as being with the band itself but with "doctors" who are taking advantage of people who are looking for an "easy" weight loss method. The problem is with the marketing, I have the same issue with plastic surgery being touted as an easy thing to do. I also have a feeling that as the VSG becomes more popular it will become the next surgery to get this treatment (there are already signs of this happening when you read about some of the questionable doctors people travel to in Mexico).
As much as I don't agree with having to wait 3 or 6 months to have surgery, I do believe that patients should be required to do some kind of pre-op counseling before they can have surgery. I doubt the people who go to these places are given the information they need to have any hope of being successful or are even given adequate support and treatment after surgery.
I think that there should be a ban on advertising for any surgery that requires a patient to be put under general anesthesia, and honestly how many you have picked your doctor based on a sign that you have seen on the side of the road?
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Jan 25, 2012 15:31:31 GMT -5
House Democrats Urge GOP Leadership To Hold Hearings on Unsafe Medical DevicesWednesday, January 25, 2012 from Medical Devices Law & Industry Report A group of Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter to Republican committee leaders Jan. 20, urging them to hold hearings to examine medical devices that have developed serious defects after being implanted in patients. The members are also urging the committee to seek documents related to the Lap-Band weight loss device and urogynecologic surgical mesh. This request follows an October request for hearings on two other medical devices that have caused serious problems: stents and metal-on-metal hip implants (5 MELR 640, 10/19/11). “The Committee has failed to schedule the hearing we requested in our October 12 letter, and we remain concerned that the Committee's previous hearings on medical devices have presented a skewed and inaccurate picture of the importance of appropriate medical device regulation,†the letter stated. For example, in a Feb. 17, 2011, hearing, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said device companies “are being forced to market their devices first in Europe because the EU countries have predictable and consistent regulatory processes†(5 MELR 119, 2/23/11). The Democrats said, “We hope you will reconsider your approach so that the Committee can have a fuller understanding of these critical issues as we prepare to reauthorize the Medical Device User Fees Act.†The letter was signed by Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (Calif.) and Reps. Diana DeGette (Colo.), and John D. Dingell (Mich.). The letter was sent to Upton; Joseph R. Pitts (Pa.), chairman of the Health Subcommittee; and Cliff Stearns (Fla.), chairman of the panel's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Lap-Band Concerns The Democrats in the letter urged the committee to hold hearings “to examine whether FDA device regulation has been ineffective in protecting the public from dangerous medical devices like the Lap-Band and intravaginal mesh.†The Lap-Band is a gastric band device that is surgically implanted and wrapped around the upper portion of a patient's stomach to reduce its size. FDA approved the device for obese patients but has indicated that the device can pose serious risks, including erosion of the band through the stomach wall, stretching the esophagus, stretching the stomach pouch, stomach pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and vomiting, the Democrats said in the letter. According to the letter, Allergan, which manufactures the device, is seeking FDA approval to market the Lap-Band to children as young as 14, despite concerns among some physicians that the procedure is too drastic or extreme for a young person's developing body. “The adverse public health consequences associated with use of this device are exacerbated by aggressive marketing and by the lack of a national registry of implanted medical devices, like those that exist in Europe, which would enable public health authorities to obtain more accurate data on the rates of adverse events and device failures,†the letter stated. FDA in December sent warning letters to a California marketing company and several California surgical centers that sell the Lap-Band, telling them to immediately pull advertisements for the device that fail to adequately warn consumers about its risks (6 MELR 16, 1/11/12). >>>>>Read Complete article www.bna.com/house-democrats-urge-n12884907466/
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Jan 27, 2012 22:05:22 GMT -5
Department of Insurance confirms fraud probe into Lap-Band 1:06 p.m. The Department of Insurance in California has launched a fraud probe into Lap-Band affiliated surgery centers connected with the 1-800-GET-THIN advertising campaign, according to Aetna Insurance and the Department of Insurance. "I can now confirm that the DOI has initiated an investigation into the surgery centers of 1-800-GET-THIN," said Dave Althausen, deputy press secretary with the California Department of Insurance. Aetna, a major insurance company, is also working with the Southern California Fraud Division of the Department of Insurance to investigate "alleged fraud against our members by the surgery centers affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN," according to spokesperson Anjie Coplin. "1-800 GET-THIN does not, has not and has never engaged in any type of medical billing as it is only a marketing company that does not provide any medical services," said Robert Silverman, president of 1-800-GET-THIN. "1-800-GET-THIN has never engaged in any type of insurance fraud and has not been contacted by the Department of Insurance. 1-800-GET-THIN is unaware of any criminal probe or investigation." The probe comes a month after inquiries by the Food and Drug Administration into Lap-Band weight-loss surgery ads, and less than a week after calls from Congress to investigate the safety of 1-800-GET-THIN's marketing campaign. "We believe the Committee should hold hearings to examine whether FDA device regulation has been ineffective in protecting the public from dangerous medical devices like the Lap-Band," said Rep. Henry Waxman in a letter to the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the L.A. Times reported. Rep. Diana DeGette and Rep. John D. Dingell also signed the letter. At least five Southern California patients have died after Lap-Band procedures at clinics in Beverly Hills and West Hills that are affiliated with the 1-800-GET-THIN campaign, reports the Los Angeles Times after investigating various lawsuits, autopsy reports and other public records. The Lap-Band surgery involves attaching an inflatable silicone device placed around the top portion of the stomach to treat obesity by reducing excess body fat. www.scpr.org/news/2012/01/27/30988/department-insurance-confirms-fraud-probe-lap-band/
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Post by pumpkin on Feb 2, 2012 18:12:32 GMT -5
Thank you so much for posting these articles here. I am feeling very overwhelmed today because of what the damn band did to me. There are too many people sitting on their asses while a few of us keep spreading the word.
Some days I feel like giving up, Today a very gifted writer helped me out by writing down for me what I wanted to say, but couldn't. I posted this letter and sent it to over 333 people. I know it hasn't been very long, but I have had ONE person tell me that they would report their band to the FDA.
Maybe I'm PMS-ing, or maybe it's because I'm in a great deal of nerve pain today, but if people don't start stepping up to the plate by reporting their lap bands to the FDA...UGH...I THINK I MAY BE DONE ! FUCK !
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Post by muffinsmom on Feb 2, 2012 18:58:47 GMT -5
LA Times has a story today that Allergan will withdraw their device from the 1-800-GET-THIN group. Finally! Now if they would withdraw the device from the market. But that's wishful thinking I guess.
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Post by pumpkin on Feb 2, 2012 19:31:51 GMT -5
LA Times has a story today that Allergan will withdraw their device from the 1-800-GET-THIN group. Finally! Now if they would withdraw the device from the market. But that's wishful thinking I guess. I just spoke with John Walker and he has asked me to share what you just wrote with everyone....HELL YEAH !!! ;D
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 3, 2012 10:45:30 GMT -5
LA Times has a story today that Allergan will withdraw their device from the 1-800-GET-THIN group. Finally! Now if they would withdraw the device from the market. But that's wishful thinking I guess. Posting the article here. Thanks for the heads up,sure is time...and welcome news but I am still skeptical. When it comes to the almighty dollar it is hard to count many to do the right thing. I hope I am wrong.Allergan halts Lap-Band sales to 1-800-GET-THIN clinicsLap-Band's maker, Allergan, will no longer sell the device to facilities affiliated with the marketing campaign. February 2, 2012 The maker of the Lap-Band will no longer sell its product to clinics affiliated with the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing company — a blow to Southern California surgery centers that have built an empire implanting the weight-loss devices in people looking to shed pounds. Allergan Inc. said in a statement that it has "made the decision to presently discontinue the sale of the Lap-Band … to all entities affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN." The Irvine company's action Thursday comes amid state and federal investigations of surgery centers affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN, which touts the Lap-Band procedure on Southland freeway billboards and on TV, radio and the Internet. A representative for the surgery centers issued a statement saying the clinics were disappointed with Allergan's decision but would continue working with patients who want to lose weight. "Our surgery centers are staffed with experienced bariatric surgeons, trained by Allergan on the proper procedures for implanting the Lap-Band," the statement said. "Patients interested in weight loss solutions have a range of options, of which the Lap-Band is only one. We will continue to work with our patients to find the best healthcare options for their medical needs." Five Southern California patients have died since 2009 after undergoing Lap-Band surgeries at clinics affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN, according to lawsuits, autopsy reports and other public records. Each of the patients had been treated at surgery centers in Beverly Hills and West Hills tied to the ad campaign, according to the records. Allergan is the world's top manufacturer of surgically implanted bands that constrict the stomach to limit food intake. It controls more than 80% of the market, according to the company. 1-800-GET-THIN has featured the Lap-Band prominently in its advertising. Allergan spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove declined to elaborate on the device maker's decision to cut off a major group of customers. "We do not discuss our customer relationships with third parties," she said. Allergan has said in previous comments to The Times that it was legally prohibited from banning sales to the surgery centers tied to 1-800-GET-THIN. It did not explain why it was able to take that step now.In recent months, local, state and federal regulatory agencies have been examining the 1-800-GET-THIN affiliates amid questions about the advertising, surgery-related deaths and accusations of insurance fraud. The California Department of Insurance is investigating the surgery centers for alleged insurance fraud, said David Althausen, a spokesman for the state agency. In December, the Food and Drug Administration warned 1-800-GET-THIN and the surgery centers that the ads were misleading because they failed to adequately disclose risks of the surgery. Allergan's decision could prove challenging to 1-800-GET-THIN because its marketing campaign is so closely tied to the Lap-Band brand, said Lars Perner, assistant professor of clinical marketing at the USC Marshall School of Business. Lap-Band procedures typically cost between $12,000 and $20,000, according to Allergan. Publicity about the Southern California deaths and investigations of 1-800-GET-THIN have hurt at least one surgeon who performs Lap-Band surgeries but who is not connected to the marketing company. "Our Lap-Band business has come to a screeching halt," said Dr. Carson Liu, a Santa Monica bariatric surgeon who praised Allergan's decision. "I've been trying to get the word out that there's a difference between the Lap-Band and 1-800-GET-THIN." Alexander Robertson, a Westlake Village attorney who has filed several lawsuits against 1-800-GET-THIN and its affiliated surgery centers, applauded Allergan's decision. His clients include relatives of patients who died after Lap-Band surgeries and former employees who accused the surgery centers of performing unnecessary surgeries and of billing insurers for procedures that were not performed. >>>>>Read Complete Article www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lap-band-20120203,0,5789911.story
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 3, 2012 10:55:24 GMT -5
It appears Allegan is increasing global botox market....so maybe this will off set the decrease in Lap Band revenue?Allergan to rely less on U.S. for sales, Asia key4:53 a.m. CST, February 3, 2012 >>>>>SNIPPED (Reuters) - Allergan Inc, maker of wrinkle treatment Botox, eye drops and obesity treatments, said it will rely less on the United States for revenue in coming years as its products gain wider acceptance in Asia, particularly China. The company on Thursday announced 6.4 percent earnings growth for the fourth-quarter of last year, but forecast lower-than-anticipated sales for 2012 as austerity measures in Europe keep a lid on demand and force the company to hold down prices. Ian Bell, corporate vice-president and president for Asia-Pacific, was upbeat on growth prospects across Asia, with China appearing to be the main driver. Bell told Reuters in an interview that cosmetic clinics were popping up in big hospitals in major Chinese cities, presenting an opportunities for Allergan's aesthetics products. He said sales of Botox for aesthetic use in China in 2011 were encouraging and Allergan was trialling its skin filler Juvederm, hoping to make it available in China in 2-3 years. >>>>>SNIPPED Allergan obtained approvals in Asia in 2011 to use Botox to treat chronic migraines in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea and Vietnam.>>>>>Complete Article www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-allergan-asiatre8120ja-20120203,0,6352340.story
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 3, 2012 11:01:13 GMT -5
Lap-Band sales fell 16% in third quarter, Allergan says
October 26, 2011Sales of Allergan Inc.’s Lap-Band weight-loss device dropped 16% in the third quarter of the year, the company said. The Lap-Band is familiar to many Southern California residents because it is marketed extensively by a company called 1-800-GET-THIN on freeway billboards, television, radio and the Internet. The ad company is not affiliated with Allergan. In a Wednesday conference call with analysts, Allergan Chief Executive David E.I. Pyott blamed the slump in Lap-Band sales on the sluggish economy, high unemployment and steep insurance co-payment requirements. In a statement, the company said it “remains committed to the Lap-Band business, as we strongly believe it represents an important tool in addressing the obesity epidemic.†>>>>>Read More latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/lap-band-sales-dropped-16-in-third-quarter-allergan-says.html
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dawn
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Post by dawn on Feb 3, 2012 11:46:34 GMT -5
So sad it takes a death (or many deaths) for action to be taken. That story about Simi Valley patient was heartbreaking.
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Post by pumpkin on Feb 3, 2012 16:10:34 GMT -5
Lap-Band sales fell 16% in third quarter, Allergan says
October 26, 2011Sales of Allergan Inc.’s Lap-Band weight-loss device dropped 16% in the third quarter of the year, the company said. The Lap-Band is familiar to many Southern California residents because it is marketed extensively by a company called 1-800-GET-THIN on freeway billboards, television, radio and the Internet. The ad company is not affiliated with Allergan. In a Wednesday conference call with analysts, Allergan Chief Executive David E.I. Pyott blamed the slump in Lap-Band sales on the sluggish economy, high unemployment and steep insurance co-payment requirements. In a statement, the company said it “remains committed to the Lap-Band business, as we strongly believe it represents an important tool in addressing the obesity epidemic.†>>>>>Read More latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/lap-band-sales-dropped-16-in-third-quarter-allergan-says.html There sales were down which is why they were very close to the FDA approving Lap Band for 14 year olds. This is why I have been pushing so hard for everyone who has/had/ or knows someone to report their bands to the FDA. I'm getting PISSED that people are not doing this.
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 4, 2012 10:17:33 GMT -5
.....just keep your eyes open for this guy. Because even if they get his license in CA he may turn up at a Lap Band mill near you....Doctor accused of 'gross negligence' in death of Lap-Band patientFebruary 4, 2012 The Medical Board of California has faulted a doctor in the 2010 death of a Lap-Band patient who had surgery at a clinic affiliated with the 1-800-GET-THIN ad campaign, filing charges that could cause him to lose his license to practice. The board has accused Dr. Daniel Shin, an anesthesiologist, of "gross negligence" in his care of patient Tamara Walter, who died Dec. 26, 2010, at age 52, three days after she had a Lap-Band implanted at a clinic in Beverly Hills.The medical board said Shin failed to adequately respond to Walter's worsening condition after surgery and left her with a nurse for more than an hour, despite signs that she was struggling. Shin was on probation with the medical board at the time of the weight-loss surgery because of a 2007 criminal conviction for using a meat cleaver to assault someone attempting to serve him legal documents at his home in Torrance, according to medical board records. Shin could not be reached. The address he lists with the medical board is for a postal box rental business in Marina del Rey. He did not respond to a request for comment mailed to that address. The accusation requests that Shin be punished by suspension or revocation of his license. If Shin and the board cannot agree on appropriate discipline, the matter may end up before an administrative law judge, who would consider evidence and recommend an appropriate resolution. Word of Shin's potential discipline comes one day after Lap-Band maker Allergan Inc. said it would no longer sell the device to surgery centers affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN, a marketing firm that has plastered ads for Lap-Band surgeries along Southern California freeways and on television, radio and the Internet. 1-800-GET-THIN is facing a state Department of Insurance investigation for possible insurance fraud by the surgery centers. In December, the Food and Drug Administration accused the marketing company of misleading advertising for failing to provide adequate warnings about the risks of the surgery. The Wilshire Boulevard facility at which Walter was treated, now called New Life Surgery Center, said in a statement Friday that Shin no longer practices at the center or its affiliates. "First and foremost, we want to express our deepest condolences to Ms. Walter's family," the statement said. "With regard to Dr. Shin, he is no longer practicing at any of our surgery centers, as has been the case since the incident in question." Walter, a grocery store assistant manager who lived in Lawndale, is one of at least five patients to die since 2009 following Lap-Band surgeries at clinics affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN, according to lawsuits, autopsy reports and other public records. According to the medical board's accusation, Walter began to show signs of distress shortly after the surgery. She was unable to maintain adequate oxygen in her blood, so Shin transferred her back to the operating room and reinserted a "mask airway" to help her breathe, the accusation said. Walter continued to struggle to get enough oxygen, the accusation said. Medical staff suctioned pink frothy fluid out of Walter's breathing tube and administered medication to help her breathe, according to the accusation. Less than three hours after surgery, Shin left Walter in the care of a nurse with training in anesthesiology, the report said. The nurse later called Shin by telephone to say Walter was still struggling and might have a collapsed lung, the accusation said. Shin returned to the surgery center 85 minutes after leaving, according to the accusation. But within 20 minutes, Walter stopped breathing. Paramedics took Walter to a nearby hospital, where she later died. The medical board faulted Shin for failing to transfer Walter to a hospital much sooner than he did and for leaving her in the care of a nurse, despite signs of her deteriorating condition. The medical board accusation does not refer to Walter by name, instead listing her as "T.W." But the date and details listed in the accusation leave no doubt that it refers to Walter, said Kathryn Trepinski, an attorney who represents Walter's family in a lawsuit against Shin, 1-800-GET-THIN and the surgery centers. "The details contained in this accusation are extremely disturbing, chilling even. They chronicle the dying moments of Tamara Walter as she struggled to breathe," Trepinski said. "This is a series of medical catastrophes. Ms. Walter was struggling to breathe … and 911 was not called. She began foaming at the mouth and still 911 was not called. But most troubling is from 4 p.m. to 5:25 p.m. her physicians abandoned her. Her anesthesiologist, Dr. Shin, left her in the care of a nurse." The accusation also faults Shin for his treatment of two other patients, including a woman identified as "A.E." who died Oct. 29, 2009, after Shin gave her an epidural during childbirth at Hemet Valley Medical Center in Hemet. Trepinski said she hopes the medical board revokes Shin's license to practice. www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0204-get-thin-license-20120204,0,2468493.story
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Post by pumpkin on Feb 4, 2012 19:09:05 GMT -5
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 5, 2012 11:11:33 GMT -5
....there ya have it. where is Dr Daniel Shin most likely going to turn up next to practice some form of "anesthesiology"? .......Illinois ,where he is also licensed.Dr. Daniel Shin MD practices anesthesiology in Marina Del Rey, California. Dr. Shin graduated with an MD 21 years ago. Specialties: * Anesthesiology Anesthesiology Anesthesiology is the practice of blocking pain, discomfort or distress during surgery or an obstetric or diagnostic procedure. An anesthesiologist is specially trained to plan, monitor and administer pain relief before and during an operation, and assess the patient’s condition and recovery afterwards. This specialist consults with patients for pain management, such as cancer patients, and those with critical illnesses or severe injuries. Phone Numbers » Procedures Performed: * Pain management State License: * California * IllinoisYears Since Graduation: 21 Education: See Where Dr. Shin Attended Medical School & More www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-daniel-shin-xcj9b
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 8, 2012 21:04:39 GMT -5
Clinics halt Lap-Band surgeriesTwo centers tied to the 1-800-GET-THIN ad campaign say they will conduct review.February 8, 2012 Two clinics tied to 1-800-GET-THIN have temporarily halted Lap-Band weight-loss surgeries after the device's maker said it would no longer sell to companies affiliated with the massive advertising campaign. The two brothers identified in lawsuits as owners of the surgery centers also hired a top Los Angeles defense attorney to represent them in a flood of pending lawsuits. They retained John Hueston, a white-collar defense lawyer now at Irell & Manella who helped lead the Justice Department's criminal prosecution of Enron Corp. executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. Those steps come days after Allergan Inc., the Irvine-based maker of the Lap-Band, said it would no longer sell the device to clinics affiliated with the marketing company. The Food and Drug Administration, California Department of Insurance and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are investigating the ad campaign and its affiliated surgery centers. >>>>>Read Complete Article www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lap-band-20120208,0,6117596.story
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vervetomove
Full Member
"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 168
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 13, 2012 14:31:38 GMT -5
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vervetomove
Full Member
"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 168
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 16, 2012 12:22:13 GMT -5
1-800-GET-THIN president's suit against Times columnist dismissedFebruary 16, 2012 A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that accused a columnist for The Times of illegally recording conversation with the president of the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing firm. The company is known for its ubiquitous billboards plastered along Southland freeways, and its catchy jingle that pops up on the radio and television, which promotes shedding pounds via the Lap-Band weight-loss device. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Debre Katz Weintraub threw out the lawsuit that Robert Silverman, the marketing company’s president, had filed against Times columnist Michael Hiltzik. “The plaintiff has not satisfied his burden of demonstrating that there is a probability he will prevail on his claims,” the judge said in her Jan. 31 ruling. Silverman had accused Hiltzik of recording their telephone conversations without Silverman’s knowledge, which he maintained violated state law. The Times denied any wrongdoing. An attorney who represented Silverman in the lawsuit posted billboards along Southern California freeways that advertised “Class Action Lawsuit” under a bright blue heading. It urged motorists to contact San Diego lawyer Jeffrey Krinsk if they believed they were “Illegaly [sic] wire-tapped by the LA Times” or to “Report LA Times Fraud.” A Times spokeswoman denied any wrongdoing when asked about the billboards. In a separate development, 1-800-GET-THIN this week dropped its appeal of a federal judge’s decision to dismiss a separate lawsuit the company filed against The Times and its journalists for allegedly damaging 1-800-GET-THIN’s trademark through their reporting. Since 2010, The Times has published a series of articles and columns detailing the controversy surrounding the 1-800-GET-THIN ad campaign and Lap-Band clinics affiliated with the company. Last summer, Los Angeles Superior Court judges dismissed two libel lawsuits that involved Times publications concerning 1-800-GET-THIN. Both of those dismissals have been appealed. >>>>>Read complete Article www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-get-thin-lap-band-lawsuit-20120215,0,3461877.story
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 168
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 17, 2012 17:34:47 GMT -5
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Post by annmarie0613 on Feb 17, 2012 22:27:16 GMT -5
I cannot wait until the band is pulled off the market. Hopefully one day it will be.
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Post by petham on Feb 17, 2012 22:44:20 GMT -5
I cannot wait until the band is pulled off the market. Hopefully one day it will be. That's a little harsh don't you think? Please do remember that it does work for a lot of people. Making a blanket statement like that is like saying. " I hope they outlaw peanuts, because I am allergic to nuts. "
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vervetomove
Full Member
"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 168
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 25, 2012 9:45:41 GMT -5
Physician Files Lawsuit Against 1-800-GET-THIN President for I.D. TheftWednesday, February 22, 2012 An anesthesiologist has filed a lawsuit alleging that the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing firm's president committed identity theft, using the physician's name without his consent to establish a corporation that billed insurers, the Los Angeles Times reports. Martin Flynn, the anesthesiologist, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles. Background The lawsuit comes as the 1-800-GET-THIN campaign and its affiliated surgery centers face investigations by local, state and federal officials (Pfeifer, Los Angeles Times, 2/21). In December 2011, FDA sent warning letters to 1-800-GET-THIN and affiliated surgery centers regarding ads that it said were misleading about its Lap-Band procedure, which is used to treat obesity by surgically implanting a ring around the stomach to discourage overeating. Read more: www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2012/2/22/physician-files-lawsuit-against-1-800-get-thin-president-for-id-theft.aspx#ixzz1nPAnPobx
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 168
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Post by vervetomove on Feb 25, 2012 10:00:13 GMT -5
Vivus and Allergan Look to Capitalize on North America's Obesity Epidemic The Paragon Report Provides Equity Research on Vivus & Allergan Feb. 21, 2012, 8:20 a.m. EST NEW YORK, NY, Feb 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- While the North American economy continues to stagnate, the obesity epidemic in the United States and Canada shows no signs of slowing. According to ObesityEpidemic.org, the statistics show that roughly 33% of the US population is obese and 67% of the US population is overweight. According to The Obesity Research Journal, by 2030, 86.3% adults will be overweight or obese and 51.1% will be obese. Looking to combat North America's growing obesity crisis -- and capitalize on a highly lucrative sector -- several biotechnology firms have been working to develop obesity drugs and treatments. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Vivus, Inc. VVUS +1.40% and Allergan, Inc. AGN -0.04% . Access to the full company reports can be found at: www.paragonreport.com/VVUS www.paragonreport.com/AGN Vivus, Inc. is engaged in development and commercialization of therapeutic drugs for large underserved markets, including obesity and related morbidities, such as sleep apnea and diabetes and men's sexual health. The FDA had rejected Vivus' diet pill Qnexa in October 2010. Vivus has resubmitted the drug with additional follow-up information, hoping for a more favorable ruling. Earlier this month Federal health officials announced they still have safety concerns about an experimental diet pill from Vivus. Qnexa is a combination of two older drugs, the Associated Press reports -- the amphetamine phentermine, which is approved for short-term weight loss, and topiramate, an anticonvulsant drug sold by Johnson & Johnson as Topamax. The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the biotechnology industry register with us free at www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters. Allergan, Inc. is a multi-specialty health care company focused on developing and commercializing pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and over-the-counter products. Allergan's LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the first adjustable medical device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States for individualized weight loss for obese patients whose weight is affecting their health.
Earlier this month the company reported that fourth-quarter earnings climbed 6 percent, as sales for key products like Botox helped balance expense increases. On the downside, the company's obesity intervention segment has sales declining 23.0% to $46.9 million. In early February Allergan reported that it will halt the selling of its gastric banding device to a group of Southern California bariatric surgery centers.www.marketwatch.com/story/vivus-and-allergan-look-to-capitalize-on-north-americas-obesity-epidemic-2012-02-21
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 1, 2012 10:46:57 GMT -5
It's a struggle to turn fat into goldPosted: 02/29/2012 >>>>>SNIPPED Pharmaceutical and medical-device companies are quite good at treating the conditions that come with obesity. They are dismal, however, at helping consumers lose weight. This is not for lack of trying. Take the curious case of the gastric band. Bariatric surgery can lead to weight loss in the long term. Hospitals can make money from all bariatric procedures, including gastric bypasses (in which the stomach is partitioned and the upper part connected directly to the small intestine), but the gastric band is a rare example of an opportunity for device-makers to profit from weight loss. Allergan, best known for selling Botox, has tried to use its Lap-Band to tap the obesity market. It is an inflatable loop the surgeon fits near the top of the stomach, which helps the patient feel sated earlier. Allergan has captured about 70 per cent of the worldwide market for gastric bands and balloons, but sales are now shrinking. The recession has sapped consumers' desire for expensive surgery. Some patients have had bands removed because they slipped or proved ineffective. Last year, the FDA approved the Lap-Band's use in patients who are only slightly overweight, but insurers have refused to pay. In January, David Pyott, Allergan's chief executive, said he would scrap an effort to market the band for teenagers. He is now trying to convince insurers of Lap-Band's merits, arguing the $20,000 surgery is recouped in saved medical costs within four years. >>>>>Read Complete Article www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/its-a-struggle-to-turn-fat-into-gold-140836223.html
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 168
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 1, 2012 10:53:46 GMT -5
Medical Tourism: Oklahoma Man Says It Wasn't Worth The SavingsPosted: Feb 28, 2012 9:48 PM EST OKLAHOMA CITY - Jan Neufeld lost close to 200 pounds after traveling to India for gastric bypass surgery, a journey she says saved her. "It's given me my life back," Neufeld said. www.news9.com/story/16927359/medical-tourism-oklahoma-woman-travels-overseas-for-surgeryTony Lippe's medical trip didn't have the same story book ending. Wanting to lose weight, Lippe decided to have a lap band procedure in Tijuana, Mexico. "The price was probably 1/5th what it was here in America," Tony Lippe said. Lippe did his homework, after all he's a nurse. He researched the hospital, talked to former patients, and the surgery went even better than expected. "I woke up and didn't realize I even had the surgery until I saw the incisions on the abdomen" Lippe said. It wasn't until Lippe returned home to Oklahoma that he ran into a big problem. "They wouldn't work on me because I had no paperwork," Lippe said. "I had no medical records where the surgery had actually been done." Follow up care is imperative for a lap band to work. Doctors must periodically refill the saline used to tighten the band. Leave it alone and the lap band doesn't do its job. Local doctors told Lippe the only way they'd treat him is if he paid around $3000 in upfront costs, offsetting the money he saved by going to Mexico. That's something he isn't ready to do. Lippe's dilemma doesn't surprise local bariatric surgeon Dr. Russell Gornichec. "The most serious part is having a complication and not wanting to go see a local specialist because of fear of added cost," Dr. Russell Gornichec said. Lippe lost about 40 pounds shortly after the surgery. But hasn't shed any since. He hopes that will change. "I still hope to find a doctor," Lippe said. "Somebody will come in and say, 'we'll accept you.'" Doctor Gornichec says there are three things you can do before considering a trip for surgery. * Make sure you get support from a primary care physician at home. * Understand the risks. * And know the names of and costs for local specialists who will see you for after-care if needed. www.news9.com/story/17041099/medical-tourism-one-oklahoma-man-says-it-wasnt-worth-the-savings
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Post by pumpkin on Mar 1, 2012 18:31:59 GMT -5
I cannot wait until the band is pulled off the market. Hopefully one day it will be. That's a little harsh don't you think? Please do remember that it does work for a lot of people. Making a blanket statement like that is like saying. " I hope they outlaw peanuts, because I am allergic to nuts. " That is not harsh at all. ALL LAGB need to be pulled, This isn't about WLS, it's about safety regarding a medical device that causes serious injuries.
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Post by pumpkin on Mar 1, 2012 18:35:16 GMT -5
Physician Files Lawsuit Against 1-800-GET-THIN President for I.D. TheftWednesday, February 22, 2012 An anesthesiologist has filed a lawsuit alleging that the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing firm's president committed identity theft, using the physician's name without his consent to establish a corporation that billed insurers, the Los Angeles Times reports. Martin Flynn, the anesthesiologist, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles. Background The lawsuit comes as the 1-800-GET-THIN campaign and its affiliated surgery centers face investigations by local, state and federal officials (Pfeifer, Los Angeles Times, 2/21). In December 2011, FDA sent warning letters to 1-800-GET-THIN and affiliated surgery centers regarding ads that it said were misleading about its Lap-Band procedure, which is used to treat obesity by surgically implanting a ring around the stomach to discourage overeating. Read more: www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2012/2/22/physician-files-lawsuit-against-1-800-get-thin-president-for-id-theft.aspx#ixzz1nPAnPobx THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US INFORMED. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING. I don't care for the exalt stuff here, but you are getting one from me damn it.
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