During first week of April I was researching breast augmentations on the Internet. I had decided some time back to finally undergo the procedure, but needed to learn about the different techniques, recovery times, costs, and so forth.
Shortly after beginning my research, I was contacted via email multiple times per week by a group calling itself Doctors Say Yes, doctorssayyes.com. To say these guys were persistent would be an understatement. I finally called them on May 16 and spoke with Tara Cunningham.
I was told that the company name was My Choice Medical of California, a company that provides financing of plastic surgical procedures as well as referral to highly qualified and board certified plastic surgeons. I allowed them to run my credit information, and I was told I qualified with a $999 down payment ($490 before and $509 at initial surgical consultation), and $249 monthly for 36 months. I was also informed that should I choose to seek care elsewhere prior to my surgical consultation appointment, all monies would be refunded. If I attended the surgical consultation and chose to not undergo the procedure, I would be refunded all monies paid, less $49.99 for the doctor's time.
This information is later confirmed by Grace Wagner, both by voice telephone and by email. Ms. Wagner then called me a few times after that date to confirm I would make the June 29 appointment with a surgeon.
I did make my appointment with Jesse D. Mitchell, MD, but he wasn't even in town that day. I was seen instead by Mani Nambiar, MD, who represented himself as a cosmetic surgeon. We discussed methods and techniques, recovery times, and so forth. He also noted I had a latex allergy, and asked what kind of reaction I get when I come in contact with latex. Of course, the reaction is serious, hence the allergy.
I next spoke with Kate, one of several consultants I would meet with. She had me pick a surgical date while she obtained from my credit card the balance of the deposit due ($509, for a total of $999). I explained that Dr. Nambiar required I get a mammogram, due to my age, smoking, and long term hormone replacement therapy. Hence, a surgical date was set for July 25, giving me enough time to complete the mammogram as well as some pre-operative lab work.
On July 17, all my lab work was completed. I was also required to purchase a breast strap ($50) and medications ($100?). The total costs of the lab work (not covered under the agreement, it turns out) and medicines and strap came to $220 out of pocket. During the lab tests, a woman named Nila expressed concerns over my latex allergies, and ask a gentleman in the office about it. The man told her it was not a problem, and that they just need to order disposable materials and supplies that were non-latex.
On July 19, the mammogram was done.
On July 21, an attempt was made to cancel or postpone the surgical date. The claim was that they had yet to receive the results of the mammogram. When I contacted the hospital where it was done, they said it is up to the doctor to request the information be sent by a specific date, and that if the doctor doesn't do so, it could take up to 10 days. The doctor's office was informed, and my surgery was scheduled for 7:30 am on July 25.
On July 24, at or about 9:30 am, I was called by Nila again, this time to inform me the surgery had been cancelled due to my latex allergy. When I asked if it would be rescheduled, I was told no. When I requested an immediate refund of monies paid, I was told no refund would be given, since I had signed a contract saying that I would forfeit all monies paid if a cancellation occurred, regardless of who cancelled or the reason for the cancellation. For the remainder of the day, I could not get anyone to return my calls.
On July 25, I contacted Dr. Mitchell's office demanding an explanation and refund. When I was told at 8:30 am that no one was in yet (other than the person answering the telephone), I gave them 30 minutes to return my call or I would begin taking legal measures to prosecute those involved for fraud. About 40 minutes later they returned my call, but by this time I had called My Medical Choice of California, PMC and told them what was going on, and was on hold, so I bounced them to voice mail.
While on hold, I learned that the surgeon who was to operate on me was prohibited from performing surgical procedures as one of the many restrictions upon his license. I also read the transcripts of the medical board's decision, and learned that the doctor had acted in a way contrary to the safety and well
being of the patient, causing her serious harm. It was further determined that the doctor had actively sought to disguise and hide the seriousness of his actions. I even learned that this was not the first incident of its type with this doctor, as multiple law suits are on record with the Riverside Superior Court
On July 26, I was told at 2:15 pm that I had until 3:30 pm to get to a Dr. Robinson's office in Orange, CA, a surgeon who was willing to see me right away and get me in for surgery. I arrived at 3:10 pm, and completed any paperwork they required. Unfortunately, I was never allowed to even get a glimpse of the doctor. I was instead greeted by Kate, who told me that I would not be able to see that doctor because he was too expensive. For me. She told me she would arrange for Wallace Goodstein, MD or Alex Kim, MD to see me, both of Beverly Hills, CA. The tentative schedule was for mid September.
That night, I ran both names through the state medical board database. Dr. Goodstein apparently has multiple findings of negligence, gross negligence, incompetence, and failure to maintain accurate and adequate documentation against him, and is on probation for 5 years as a result. Mr. Kim shows no professional license of any kind issued in California, not even as a nursing assistant or home health aid.
On July 27, Kate contacted me to say she had not been able to schedule me with Dr. Goodstein. I explained my findings, and told her I wouldn't take an aspirin from him given the public information about him. I also told her that Mr. Kim was not a doctor or any other kind of licensed or certified health care professional, at least not in California. I explained that I wanted my money back, and she said she couldn't help me.
I then called My Choice Medical of California, PMC, and spoke first with Stephanie, and then Dana Tucker. I explained to both what I had been through, what I had learned about the doctors, and so forth. I insisted they refund the monies paid to date, minus the $49.99 for the initial consultation. I told them that I was uncomfortable dealing with them because at least 80% of the doctors had serious legal and ethical issues, one of whom may not even be a doctor to begin with. A random sample of 28 plastic surgeons taken from the yellow pages and within 100 miles of my home determined that only 3 had previous legal or ethical issues, with only one having been in the last 10 years (9 years 6 months ago). That puts the disciplinary rate at roughly 10%, compared to My Choice Medical of California's rate of at least 80%.
I was told by Ms. Tucker that she would have to speak with her supervisor, because they have a zero refund policy in the contract, regardless of what the circumstances are. She said, however, that it would be her strong recommendation that I receive a full refund as requested, given the circumstances and what I learned.
Given the number of times I have been lied to and so forth, I seriously doubt I will see anything refunded without a judge ordering it. More likely, this is a stall tactic to keep me from contacting my bank to dispute the charges made against my credit card for the down payment. So, I have contacted my bank, told them what is going on, and they have filed a dispute against the two charges for a total of $999, and issued a provisional credit to my account. They have also advised me to close my account at the earliest possible convenience, and to reopen the account under a different number. This is due to the fact that they required my banking information to automaticly pay for the balance of the procedure.
The following is a matter of public record on the doctors My Choice Medical referred me to.in some cases, transcripts are available to the public, either online or by mail (fee). Court records on these individuals is available from the various courts, except for Mr. Kim, the unlicensed doctor who appears to not exist.
Jesse David Mitchell, MD
2150 N. Sierra Way
San Bernardino, CA 92405
(909) 882-3838
CA Physician and Surgeon License C43311
Public Reprimand Case# 041999098286
Failure to maintain adequate and accurate records
Mani Nambiar, MD
2150 N. Sierra Way
San Bernardino, CA 92405
(909) 882-3838
CA Physician and Surgeon License A40026
Probation with restrictions Case# 182002140168
Failure to maintain adequate and accurate records
Negligence
Incompetence
Transcripts indicate Nambiar is on 5 years probation, violation of the terms of which will result in automatic license suspension or revocation. Probation began July 15. Nambiar is prohibited from supervising physician assistants. Nambiar is prohibited from performing surgical procedures and from working outside the area of specialty commonly referred to as ob/gyn. Educational requirements ordered as well.
Multiple law suits filed against Nambiar alleging medical misconduct.
Harrell Edward Robinson, MD
1140 La Veta Avenue, Suite 810
Orange, CA 92868
CA Physician and Surgeon License G38954
Accusation filed December 5, no action or hearing as of this writing, so I don't give the accusation by itself any weight. However, the doctor's association with My Choice Medical of California makes his record questionable at best at this point.
Wallace Allen Goodstein, MD
8816 Burton Way, 2nd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
CA Physician and Surgeon License G26339
Multiple probations and restrictions from 2 or more jurisdictions
Gross negligence
Negligence
Incompetence
Failure to maintain accurate and adequate documentation
Multiple instances on multiple patients
Alex K. Kim, MD or K. Alex Kim, MD
9001 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA
No record of health care licensure or certification issued in california
I am a medical emergency first responder and instructor, so I have an unusual level of medical knowledge, including how to investigate medical professionals. All of this information can be verified through the California Medical Board's web site, by clicking the link "Check Out You Doctor."
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