Shoshanah

Hi Lexi. Your idea is a good one but impractical I’m afraid. What I do when selecting a doc is look at where they obtained their education: undergrad with major, medical school, specialty training and fellowship. I also read reviews. Though not reliable, they can be helpful. As an RN, I swore, along with my colleagues, that “no one will ever touch MY back!” But advances happen and desperation due to unremitting severe pain, has led me to surgery, twice. Bad choice in doctor the first time. Next week I will have lumbar repair by the Chief of Spinal Surgery at NYU Langone. So time will tell.

One more comment. Dr Hector Briseno (cardiologist) at Quality Care is excellent. As a retired cardiac nurse, I think I am a pretty good judge as I understand the physiology and disease processes. However, even with the best in Mexico, they lack technology, and in some cases, knowledge that a first world country has. I am so fortunate to live in Manhattan now, which is known for its top doctors and hospitals in the US. All I can say is, get a second opinion (I did that even here for my upcoming lumbar surgery.) Better yet, come to the US for the serous stuff.

Done with this thread. It was meant as a kindly warning. It does not call for debate or snide remarks which are typical of the current expat community. Oh for the days before these late comers added nastiness to the groups. That is why I quit all of them, and now I will sign of permanently again. No more “quoting vets and dogs.” Woof woof. Too bad they cannot read.

Physicians attend medical school to obtain their MD. Then they go into their specialty program, for instance, orthopedics surgery, where they spend years learning and practicing their craft. They are immersed in the CULTURE of their specialty. The culture is taught and absorbed from their professors. In surgery, part of the culture is to imbue a feeling of being godlike, to enable them to perform without fear. It is not a training class sir, it is a culture that enables them to perform. Perhaps, Ibarra, you should read a book on how surgeons think? And actually, this is not directly related to my botched surgery.

As an RN, Spent much of my life working with doctors. I don’t believe they all think the same. However, surgeons are trained to think they are God.

He did a perfect knee replacement on my husband. Too bad he did not tell me in 2019 that he does not do spinal surgery. Because he performed a botched surgery on me. As an RN, I am well aware that these surgeries do not always “work.” I chose to have the surgery because I was in extreme pain, but I did not expect total relief or really know what to expect in terms of relief. But I also did not expect him to botch my surgery and make my spine worse due to incompetence. If he had performed this surgery in the US, he would be sued for malpractice, because it was done WRONG!!! I don’t know what kind of orthopedic specialist he claims to be now, but I am glad to hear he is no longer doing harm on people’s spines. I have been suffering for four years due to his incompetence. This was indefensible!

I had bad care from two doctors at Quality Care, but was not even aware of it until I came to NYC. I thought these docs in Mexico were wonderful! The dermatologist at Quality Care, Danielle, missed two cancers. A malignant melanoma and a basal cell carcinoma. For a year I asked her about these marks on my skin, and she reassured me twice that they were nothing. If I had not gotten medical care in NYC, I would have died from the melanoma. And when I was looking at photos of melanomas, mine was there!! The basal cell was a tiny red mark on my chin which she attributed to my face mask. Unfortunately, it grew so large under the surface that it took over an hour for the surgeon to remove it, and I have a large scar. I also had a lumbar fusion of L3-L5 (back surgery out of desperation) by Dr. Gabrielle Martinez in 2019 and no pain relief. I just attributed it to bad luck, not anything he did wrong. I consulted the Chief of Spinal Surgery here at NYU in Manhattan. The pins in my back were placed incorrectly during the surgery with angles off 15 degrees. The surgery removed the normal curvature of my spine and my pain has been excruciating for four years. Next week this surgeon at NYU is redoing the surgery and extending it to L2 thru S1. I have high hopes for resuming a life!

While living in Ajijic, both of my dogs were diagnosed by echocardiogram and vet exam with heart problems and begun on meds. Zoe’s meds included a diuretic. When I moved to NY last winter, I took both dogs in for re-evaluation. Echoes and exams were completed and read by veterinary cardiologist. There was no sign of heart disease. I questioned could the medications or the change in altitude have made a difference. I was assured by vet and cardiologist that was not the case. My dogs were taken off the medications, but it was too late to save Zoe. She went into kidney failure and died. I had such confidence in my Ajijic vet, Dra Beatrice at Pet Place. I will never recover from the death of my six year old girl. Fortunately, she had not put my Cosette on diuretics, so she is fine. Beware and see ONLY Hector Ladron.