Stenum Hospital: Deceptive Practices & Copyright Infringement

[ZorroSF]

wow talk about sleazy tactics. all you have to do is report it to the ISPs hosting the infringing material and send them a DMCA notice. they will usually be disabled within a week.

You can also report it here;
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Home

If they see something obvious with criminal intent has occurred and money lost they forward it to the district attorney's office where the crime was committed. In this case the address listed in the domains. Although, you would have to prove you lost money.

I also would've sent a complaint to Stenum notifying them that any referrals from Jim were fraudulent and that they should remove him immediately as a representative.

You can also do a reverse whois using his email address
http://www.domaintools.com/reverse-whois/

he has 31 domains registered. I'd find them all and double check what he listed. It also shows that his domain is registered in Las Vegas, but he lived in southern Oregon.

[Harrison]

OK, I am little slow to get things done sometimes (was gone all of November).

I finally reviewed some of the ads that are on the top banner, and found that once again, Stenum has snuck them in -- I just disabled one of their new web sites from being placed as an ad within this community.

Related question: what is doctor Clavel's relationship with Stenum? Does he work for them? It looks like he has for some time.

[laid up doc]

I never got any idea that Dr Clavel had anything to do w/ Stenum in my dealings with him - he apparently has some relationship w/ them according to that site...?

I never dealt w/ anyone but he and Dr Gilete (former surgeon assistant, now does logistics/finances), there was no feel of spine factory, never pressured, no sales pitch whatsoever. always talked to or met w/ him one on one.

price is quite different too...???

[Jstuckey]

Interesting and unfortunate that he's attached his good reputation to a bad one. It lists Barcelona as a location for Stenum, and he's right there on the home page listed as a surgeon along with Dr Ritter-Lang. Apparently he doesn't get on the internet much?

[jss]

Interesting... Since Stenum once hijacked this site, it wouldn't be beyond them to begin hijacking surgeons names too. I just emailed Barcelona Spine Center and asked them if Dr Clavel was now affiliated with Stenum. I'll post here if/when I hear back from them.

[Harrison]

Thanks Jeff, LUD.

The web site is here: Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery with M6

I have to tip my hat to Sue Hart and Jim Rider -- the people behind the Stenum marketing machine. These are the people that hijacked this web site and who carefully strategize new ways to recruit spine patients any way they can to go overseas for surgery.

Their planning & marketing skills are refined; I just wish they would not prey upon innocents like you and me. Perhaps some day, they will reimburse me the money I spent to hire a lawyer to get my web sites back. Yeah, right.

A few years ago, I spoke to the CEO of Spinal Kinetics in person about their tactics at a trade show. I don't think he wanted to hear about the Stenum issue; he was quiet and upset that I brought up the patient stories. What else could he do when Stenum was -- is -- their shining star? #1 customer? At that time, I mentioned that Ritter-Lang's negative reputation with the Charite' was well-documented and known in clinical circles (the subsided discs due to poor placement) that caused much harm with patients.

Perhaps the bright side is that patients and doctors have learned from these bitter lessons of pain and suffering. In the meantime, sales agents in the US are compensated to recruit patients who hope you KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THESE PATIENTS' STORIES.

[Harrison]

FAQ here:

What is Stenum Hospital's Reputation?

[laid up doc]

Thanks Jeff, for asking... If you dont get an answer then i'll ask too. I really, really hope it's just some sort of Stenum hijinks, bc imho he would be nuts to attach his name to theirs.... Per my knowledge of the shady crap theyve done to Harrison, for being such a factory, for not following pts after... I didnt even consider going there and instead had a personal, totally above board and above expectation experience with Dr Clavel.

Harrison, i know you arent so pro-overseas surgery, but it's the only option for some of us!!

[Harrison]

Dr. Clavel -- from Stenum site -- attached.

LUD, you are right indeed. And kind to be so polite. Sorry, I just think it's incumbent upon me to single out the obvious abusers. I've heard good things from all of you about Dr. Clavel, so I hope and expect this trend will continue!

I am not "against" people going overseas for surgery; it's just that I've seen so many people screwed over the last 7 years. And yes, so many have had great results. But I hear more from the people who have been hurt...and they have NO legal options.

[jss]

I emailed Barcelona Spine Clinic to inquire of their relationship with Stenum Hospital. He has given permission and so I have copied and pasted below the part of the reply relevant to my inquiry. The Barcelona Spine Clinic doctors will not be working for Stenum, but there will be a relationship.

Originally Posted by Dr Clavel

Nowadays, we are in the process of evaluating potential join with Dr Karsten Ritter Lang, and hopefully it will be soon public if a complete agreement is reached.

Thus, some internet base website testing have been done to show this potential agreement, but up to now nothing is definitive. If finally it will be final, you will be one of the very first to know about it.

Our idea is to build up an international team of ADR surgeons (World Spine Institute) working together to offer our patients the best of care. Actually, sometimes surgeries will be performed by more than one surgeon at a time. Most of the surgeries will be performed in Barcelona under the Barcelona Spine Center supervision.
In any case, and for the moment being, BSC maintains its own activity and “personality”. In that sense, patients may contact us directly and receive the same personalized assessment and eventual care.