Stenum Hospital

[Carmont]

I personally know too many people who have had surgery at Stenum hospital and have had serious life altering, life threatening outcomes to botched surgeries. So many of them still live in disabling pain.
My question to all of you is this, can anyone think of a way to permanently stop Stenum, specifically Drs. Ritter-Lang and Zechel from performing surgery? I have tried the lawsuit route and it was futile. Does anyone know of a board of medicine in Germany, a complaint board? Any ideas that could prevent further horrible outcomes?
Thank you, thank you!
Carmen Montgomery
L4-S1 ADR, 8/04 Stenum
L5 Vertebral Tilt, new pain 9/04
L4-S1 Dynesys, 11/04 Stenum
Long recovery, left with burning feet
April '06, recommendation for removal of both Charites and anterior fusion.
7-8/06 Seeing Dr. Peloza for tests in preparation for anterior revision
9/06 No decision about surgery, no communication from Dr. Peloza's office.

[Harrison]

Carmen,

Thanks for asking this question. The outcomes of so many patients under Ritter-Lang’s knife are just so unfortunate – as you personally know. For this reason and others, it should come as no surprise that the FAQ on Stenum is the most visited of all FAQs (unfortunately):

http://adrsupport.org/eve/forums/a/t...1/m/9281000181

I would like to know which German agencies should be contacted regarding complaints from patients and/or the patient community. Carmen, to your point, does anyone know? In the meantime, I’ll research the German process for filing medical complaints.

Patients (seven, eight?) on this forum have suffered from improper placement of artificial disc devices, lacerated arteries and life-threatening complications relating specifically to one doctor’s (Ritter-Lang’s) incompetence. And these are just the patients who are kind enough to post – how many more are there?!

As well, people can complain to Jim Rider, the U.S. salesperson for Stenum. He is paid money for the patients he refers to Stenum – so I encourage people to call and complain at the number he lists on the marketing website: Jim Rider, Stenum's US Spokesperson and an ADR patient, at 866-544-8252. Please Jim, get a conscience and stop the marketing, or assure the patient community that you care. As well, I invite you to post here and explain your side of the story. (I’ll email him this post today, to ensure his knowledge of this post.)

It is notable that Stenum is no longer implanting the Charite artificial disc. I don’t know the exact reasons why this occurred; they seem to offering the Maverick only. I can only imagine the list of reasons why!

For people here that have had negative experiences from Stenum, I encourage you to band together for support. Yes, one has to move on, but your situations are extraordinary difficult and you can help each other immensely. Many thanks for you, Carmen, Willy, Rob and many others that have shared the hellish experiences from Stenum.

Friends of the ADRSupport community: how can we help them? How can we properly alert the German medical authorities?

[spotty14]

From my short web search it appears that the doctor's are regulated by each State there. Check this out: www.aerztekammer-berlin.de
It looks like this is the physician's medical association in Berlin. They might be able to direct you to the German Medical Board.

Also, who is the patient laison for Dr. Bertagnoli who moved from the US to Germany. I can't remember her name but maybe she can assist you with finding the Medical Board.

[Rob Wilson]

To all,

You were reading my mind. As responsible human beings we owe it to everyone that considers Stenum that they know that Dr. Ritter Lang does not seem to be a very competent surgeon. Many of us have had our lives truned upside down by this man. We feel strongly that we prevent others from doing the same. I lend my full support to any initiative that takes place. Please keep me informed. As Jim Rider of getadr.com says "stop the fusions". I say "stop Ritter Lang from ruining any more lives".

[Harrison]

For what it's worth, I did not get any replies from Stenum or their U.S. marketing agent, Jim Rider. I'll continue to pursue this.

Stenum contacts are here:

http://www.stenumhospital.com/about/rider.asp

[ans]

I wonder if a German malpractice attorney could help. Of course if you were worth millions, and international law attorney.

Wonder why they are promoting the Maverick? I can't see why vs. Pro-Disc, etc.

ans

[chasswen]

its the only one that the mfg will let them install.
mfg pulled the charite from them
chuck

[jf110]

Probably just a matter of time before the Maverick disc will also get pulled from Stenum.
One of the members here had ADR done there with the Maverick disc and is having problems to. I totally agree with Carmon on Stenum. JF110

[Thomas]

They are now calling every one who has ever contacted them. They called me twice last month . I told them if and when I have ADR's it will NOT be with them . She said a couple of disgrunted patients are posting false statements . I told them , " you know better than that , there are many disgrunted patients - too many for me and others to even consider Stenum ", she then hung up on me.

[ZorroSF]

I spoke with some of my german friends and it's unanimous. Patients in Germany have almost no chance of taking a doctor to court for a botched operation. The laws are too relaxed and to be successful you have to prove maltreatment. Maltreatment would be botching an operation and leaving you in agony without any responsibility of trying to get you back on your feet again.

Cases I have seen posted here do no show that. They show that the surgery was botched due to a poor internalist, but they at least sent the victim to a real hospital for proper surgery to fix what they screwed up.

Some addresses in Germany to pursue Maltreatment (in german);

http://www.mdr.de/doku/358918-hintergrund-682390.html