The Alphaklinik

[Nick]

I heard by way of a rotary connection in Munich that there was an article about bad operations at the Alphaklinik, lawsuits, and that the Alphaklinik will be going bankrupt. This is alarming as I'm scheduled for surgery at the Alphaklinik a week from this Friday. I have not been able to find the article online. Please help.

Thanks,

Nick

[chasswen]

nick
have no worries i have not heard of any such stuff happening.
dr zeegers is a awesome doctor and surgeon no worries.
chuck

[Jessica]

It is scary enough to plan these overseas surgeries without bad rumors adding to the stress of it all. I am sorry that you are going through this. Which doctor are you scheduled with and what procedure are you having? I do know of a bad knee surgery once, but nothing other than that. I do not think that would cause bankruptcy. It is hard to image a private medical firm in Germany going bankrupt.

I wish you all of the best. I have done the Germany trip to Pro-Spine and spent some time in Munich. If you need any tips, feel free to ask.

[Don]

I hope the rumor aboutt he Alphaklinik is false. Maybe this is a good time to pass this along.

My brother works in Germany many months of the year and works with many professional athletes. I asked if he knew anyone that would have an opinion on Stenum and on alphaklinik. Below is a letter to my brother from a friend who is the head of surgery in a German hospital. Doesn't say anything bad, but he would go elsewhere. He doesn't live near Munich, so he asked a collegue for their opinion.....

"Ok, the stenum hospital is not well known
in germany (ok it's far north when you come from freiburg). but their
webpage is typically to catch foreigners. my friend has worked in munich for
a long time, so he says alphaclinic is ok, but not very special.
he recommends a hospital in bielefeld (not too far away from julich).
webpage is only in german, but it looks very good. highest standard, not
moneydriven:"

That said, I personally have only heard good of the Alphaklinik and would go there in a heartbeat. I just passed this along because it surprised me that this guy wasn't very impressed.

Also, aren't doctors immune from lawsuits in Europe? I thought you can not sue a doctor there?

Don

[Don]

http://alpha-klinik.feed24.com/

I can't read German, but it looks as if something is going on. Maybe nothing - I hope.

[annapurna]

It isn't German. Babel fish parses it as Dutch but very poorly. From what I could gather Dekkers has been linked to a number of bad surgeries, seemingly the non-ADR stuff, and has been investigated or being investigated. Toft fired Dekkers as well and the numbere of patients going to the AK has dropped sharply. Remember, though, they almost run the place like three separate clinics, the knee clinic, the spine clinic with Hoogland and Zeegers, and the clinic where Dekkers worked with Bertagnoli showing up occasionally. I know everyone wants to know if this affects Zeegers but I simply can't make sense enough of the Babel fish translation to see if it is a whole organization problem, a clinic-specific problem, or a single doctor problem.

[Terry]

Hopefully this mess does not scare patients away. I have heard nothing but good things about Dr. Zeegers and Dr. Bertagnoli. I have heard of a couple of surgeries having complications from the both of them but that is to be expected when opening the human organism. I've said many times that we bring our own baggage to the operating table; i.e., smoking, drinking, being overweight, other lifestyle issues and choices, plus our own state and level of disease we bring with us. Anything can happen.

As most know I went to Stenum Hospital in Germany and had a successful surgery there.

I still believe that for many going overseas is a wonderful option as the United States is still not doing multi-level ADR which is needed for several people. I am a living example of four artificial discs.

Happily close to 400 miles on the bicycle so far this season .

Terry Newton

[Nick]

Thanks for all of your responses. I spoke to Nicole, Drs. Zeegers' assistant about the article. She informed me that Dr. Dekkers has been let go and did not specify why. I am still on schedule for my surgery on 5/16/08 with Drs. Zeegers at the Alpha Klinik. It appears as if Drs. Zeegers and Dr. Dekkers had no business relationship whatsoever from the above posts and from my conversations with Nicole. I am moving forward with my C5-C6 Moci-C and possible removal of C6-C7 fusion and replacement with Mobi-C. Wish me luck; I'll post the outcome on the Surgical Outcome board.

Nick

[Terry]

Good Luck Nick. We'll be cheering for you and here to support you when you are in the healing process. You are going to a fine place and surgeon. May the force be with you.

Hang in there.

Terry Newton

[Don]

Glad to hear you are on-track Nick. Good luck and we'll be thinking of you. I was getting nervous waiting to hear what was up with the Alphaclinic. I too am hoping to go there after the first of next year.

Don