Doctor Needs A Money Deposit

[SiamSuzi]

While we're on this topic, I had a surgery here, and I won't say with whom, but their anesthesiologist told me the mask they were having me breathe into was oxygen. It wasn't, clearly as I began to get "high" and giggle, and then go unconscious. No problem, but at least be truthful about what you are giving me.

[Dakhar]

In the states I have seen physicians:

Swindle, cheat their employees

Falsify insurance documents

Falsify medical records

Falsify diagnosis

Sexually harass their employees

Fire an employee based on their age

Engage Tax fraud

Falsify diagnosis commonly called up-coding or up-billing. Physicians do this because some diagnosis codes pay better & even some diagnose codes pay nothing so they make up something. The problem is, now the patient is diagnosed with a condition that he or she does not have and when they apply for insurance this could come back to bite them as a pre-existing condition. I was asked to do this, and simply refused. It was bad enough they were making me to fill out diagnosis forms after performing certain diagnostic tests… a person in my role is not supposed to fill out those documents… only physicians can “diagnose.”

I have seen physicians order diagnostic studies that could not be done…. PERIOD, but they would be attempted and be billed. An analogy would be ordering an x-ray on a person’s right ankle, although the person had that ankle amputated years back.

I have seen physicians order MRIs and forget to order the MRI with and without contrast, thus rendering the results inconclusive. Rather than telling their patient, they would just call the MRI negative and hope for the best.

I have seen physicians file claims against an employee’s license after quitting. The employee was a friend of mine, and she did nothing wrong and obeyed her contract in all parts. The only she did, was anger him by joining a competing physician. She did not have a “non-compete” contract etc with the physician she was working for. He was just plain angry.

I have see physicians not refer to specialists because they work with a competing practice in town. Consequently, they would tell their patients that there is no physician around that can take care of their special needs so they need to drive 300 miles out to a see a specialist.

I have seen physicians physically harm their patients and never tell them that had done so. Yes the harm was minor (relatively speaking) but the fact of the matter is, they harmed the patient and the patient should have been told so, such that they could take precautionary measures in order to prevent infection.

I have seen ER doctors make wrong diagnosis and consequently the patient missed their window of opportunity to be properly medicated ultimately leading to a chronic life altering condition. The specialist that would subsequently see these patients with their chronic condition essentially caused by the ER doctors never did not report these events nor would that tell the patients. (In other words the “good o’l boy system)

I have seen physicians participate in paid survey participation, technically legal but ultimately ends up as being a VERY nice kick back package.

This list could go on and on, and frankly it sickens me to reflect upon it all. Frankly I had hoped Roger Moore was going to focus on these types of activities in his movie Sicko…. But ultimately, I imagine even he feared the power that physicians wield.

Edited March 22, 2009 by Dakhar

[Sheryl]

We have strayed very far from the original topic and I don't think that long descriptions of the misdeeds of various unnamed doctors from various countries is of any particular help to the OP.

The issue was being asked to pay in advance for the cost of implants that need to be specially ordered. As I understand it, the OP is not being asked to pay for the procedure in advance, just the implant, presumably because the doctor is concerned that should she fail to go ahaead with the procedure he's be stuck with an implant for which there isn't much demand in Thailand.

Most respondents have agreed that this is not an unusual or unjustified practice, although some have mentioned other docs who may have this size already in stock, removing the need to specially order and pay in advance before even meeting the doctor.

No-one who has replied has seemed to have any first hand knowledge of the specific doctor in question (and neither do I). Some have suggested she go with better known docs. Some have also suggested that it might be better to have this done back home since docs there would have more expereince with large size implants.

[Dakhar]

We have strayed very far from the original topic and I don't think that long descriptions of the misdeeds of various unnamed doctors from various countries is of any particular help to the OP.

The issue was being asked to pay in advance for the cost of implants that need to be specially ordered. As I understand it, the OP is not being asked to pay for the procedure in advance, just the implant, presumably because the doctor is concerned that should she fail to go ahaead with the procedure he's be stuck with an implant for which there isn't much demand in Thailand.

Most respondents have agreed that this is not an unusual or unjustified practice, although some have mentioned other docs who may have this size already in stock, removing the need to specially order and pay in advance before even meeting the doctor.

No-one who has replied has seemed to have any first hand knowledge of the specific doctor in question (and neither do I). Some have suggested she go with better known docs. Some have also suggested that it might be better to have this done back home since docs there would have more expereince with large size implants.

Yea, lets not talk about "it" that way it does not exsist.

As far as the topic goes, and as with most posters, I can understand the request for money up-front. Try going to a jewelry store and request to see a 5kt diamond ring....

You will not geet too far in that situation either.

[jackoneilone]

despicable is all ill say on that topic.

but on the op's topic. I had been to tokai and checked it out etc. He seemed like a decent guy though seemed to maybe sell himself too much but his prices were definately cheap for Bkk.

though the cheapest prices from a board certified PS is actually in Hatyai Dr Nara.

From what I hear quite popular especially for VERY price concious singaporeans busing it into Thailand though I havent really heard/read anything really bad about him.

reallllly cheap prices eg BA using allergan about $1400usd ~$280usd for lipo per area 227usd for chin/nose implant $1700usd for tummy tuck etc etc etc

[djlest]

We went with a quality medical tour operator based in Bangkok called COSMEDIC JETAWAYS

But boy did we learn a lot - we got friendly with the Thai staff and foreign team, and they spilled the beans on a few things which really got us thinking...

Basically they told us this: in a nutshell

Why on earth are you even contemplating using a CLINIC in Thailand?

In Thailand a clinic can be opened by just about anyone and their extended family to act as nurses and antithesist, no certification needed, no quality controlled sterilization methods or Resuscitation machines should anything go wrong, heaven forbid. Basically they said a clinic in Thailand is not the same as perhaps a clinic would be in the UK or USA.

In reality having major surgery like breast implants really does require a Hospital with a registered team, especially if having surgery under a general sleeping.

The prices we were quoted at the clinics were almost the same as what Cosmedic Jetaways charged us for Breast augmentation with Mentor Memory Gel implants under arm. But the fact is we got more extras like free transport, hotel packages, cell phones, loads of aftercare, and basically a lot of mental and educated support from the foreign staff and surgeon that made us so glad we were not doing things alone, fighting with taxis in Bangkok and trying to book appointments ourselves and figure out how not to get ripped off when everyone is trying it on with you...

My advise:

For anyone wanting to use Thailand's amazingly affordable and quality Medical sector, Please do yourself a favor and either use an ISO9001 Registered private hospital.

Or give Cosmedic Jetaways a call and see what promos are on offer

That way at least you know you will be getting quality board certified surgeons and ISO Regulated methods and techniques. we actually chose Cosmedic Jetaways over Bummungrad which is saying a lot - but the team and staff just knew more and had more time to dedicate to us - and that's the kicker at the end of the day - you need reassurance in Thailand...

Using a clinic is like having surgery in your bedroom... maybe not for all clinics - but the the bad reputations thailand has wont be from registered hospitals.

Don't be lured into cheap and cheerful surgery... you wont be so cheerful for the rest of your life after...

In Thailand you really do get what you pay for.... but you can often pay more for less quite easily which makes it even harder to spot quality...

Edited September 23, 2009 by djlest

[lioness]

Well, I for one can understand why the Doctor needs a Deposit.

Suppose he orders the Implants and pays for them himself, then for some reason Kaye does not turn up for the operation?

He would never be able to find another "customer" in Thailand for such large Implants so he would have to take the loss himself.

Patrick

Ditto

[chiang mai]

I know absolutely nothing about the subject of breast augmentation but I do know loads about Bumrungrad Hospital. Bumrungrad does indeed provide an estimate, in a range, for each procedure, and a deposit is required beforehand, equal to an amount that is the upper end of the range. When everything is over and done with and its check out time (no pun intended) the accountants add up the bits and pieces and the bill is adjusted accordingly. In my case I received an estimate for heart surgery in the range of 250K - 350k Thai Baht and I made a credit card charge of 350K at check in. Actual charges turned out to be 120K and the balance was refunded at check out time.