Why American Doctors Cringe - Setting The Record Straight

January 6, 2004

I'm just trying to get the record straight here and am looking

for verification or disqualification of this statement. I believe

that the reason why American Doctors are so conservative about what

they want their patients to do or not do is NOT because they don't

trust the devices but because they want to see the devices get

approved so that insurance companies will cover all of us looking to

get a hip resurface.

At least that is the impression that I got with Dr. Kennedy

and his group down in Sarasota, Florida. They loved the devices but

want to go easy until this thing is FINALLY approved by the FDA.

The P.A. Mark in his office liked to share stories of people pushing

it past the limit even though he told me to go easy. One guy for

example worked on a fishing boat and invited Mark to come see him at

work and go off-shore fishing for free basically. When Mark first

got there he saw this patient who was 5 months after surgery slide

down the mast of the boat and bounce off a cooler and jump on the

deck, smiling all the time and saying " works pretty good, doesn't

it? " . He told of another (a foot doctor) who went back to work

only 4 weeks after surgery and I went back to work after 4.5 weeks.

So once again I think the American doctors may be getting a bum rap

for trying to look out for our best long term interests which are to

get these things out there for all patients. Also, we have to admit

that the lawsuit frenzy in this country has some down sides.

Jeff (01-03-03 C2K)

P.S. I walked and jogged last night as I tried to imitate normal

Americans trying to get back in shape after making a New Years

resolution.

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