Weight-Loss Surgeon Accused of Negligence

News 07/27/2005 14:39:17 EST Weight-Loss Surgeon Accused of Negligence RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A weight-loss surgeon was accused by state regulators of gross negligence and incompetence in the treatment of 11 gastric-bypass patients, including six who died. Dr. Terry L. Sanderfer allegedly delayed treatment or failed to act promptly when problems arose, failed to adequately evaluate patients before and after surgery, abdicated patient care to others and kept medical notes that were incomplete or illegible, said the Medical Board of California. The board is seeking to lift Sanderfer's medical license. Sanderfer didn't return calls seeking comment and his lawyer, Robert K. Warford, wouldn't comment on the allegations filed by the board on June 30. Gastric-bypass surgery, performed on severely overweight people, involves reducing the size of the stomach and bypassing part of the small intestine, where digestion occurs. Sanderfer has been sued more than 20 times for problem gastric-bypass surgeries at Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside Community Hospital and Parkview Community Hospital, according to The Press-Enterprise newspaper, which reviewed Superior Court records. More than $1.2 million has been paid to settle three large malpractice lawsuits against Sanderfer. Thirteen of Sanderfer's gastric-bypass patients have died from complications stemming from the surgery, according to public records and the doctor's own accounting.

Wow, thats horrible. Thats why its important to research your surgeon and even talk to previous patients just so you can know what your getting into. After all, we are talking about our lives here...I feel bad for his patients...its a shame. Chi-Chi

It must be pretty bad if they are trying to yank his license. Scary stuff. I had to laugh at this, though: "kept medical notes that were incomplete or illegible" I've rarely seen a doctor's handwriting that was legible. That's like charging a hit-and-run driver with not using his turn signal when he left the scene. They are piling it on. Uh oh. Jeanie, thankful for OH and the information she found here!!

I made an observation on the oh memorial page, all the patients that died from nj and eastern pa/phila area had one thing in common, I hope its because of a lack of postings they are all about the same time, turn of the century,but for nj he has a 100% loss factor of the post. It must be for the lack of post?

Walter, Hijack! Any luck finding the Metropolitan Weight Chart? You might want to contact Metropolitan Life INsurance directly...or Google them. Just an idea. Good luck. Best regards, Fern B. 267/179/150 (who knows?)

yes, Its from 1983, Im 18lbs too light, Ive been good on my meds ,vacationing(more active than at work), but now back to work sitting all day and a new hormone to retain water might put some of that back.

How sad that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th--13th pt he lost all neglected to check his safety record. About time he lost his medical license. The hospital should be sued as well--they should have suspended his operating privileges long before!

We will put him on the BAD doctor's list for sure! Julia K

WHOA WHOA WHOA, Before we go and put him on the "bad doctor list" lets get all the information. Dr. Terry Sanderfer might have lost a total of 13 patients. But that is in a time span of 20 years. In my book that is a GREAT record. Both my Mother and my Step Father had Dr. Sanderfer do a wls on them. Both are now skinny and living the life they deserve. There are also claims that he was not licensed to do wls. This claim is OUTRAGEOUS....he is licensed and trained at what he does. For the board to want to take his license away is rediculous. THey need to get there facts straight. I am not trying to sound rude, but these claims are outragous.