Lasik soliticitation extraordinaire-flunks the smell test

[Rojzen]

About 7 or 8 years ago, I was under the care of a respected University-based ophthalmologist, who treated me for my DES symptoms with a combination of Voltaren and Patanol. This doctor carefully documented the condition of my corneas, at each visit, and confirmed my incredibly low tear film-break up time. I eventually moved on, as this doctor was unable to make a dent in my symptoms.

Yesterday, I received the most blatantly commercial, hucksterish mass mailing ad for Lasik that I have ever seen, and to my amazement, this doctor's name and photograph were plastered prominently at the top of the cover letter. Inside the packet is an appointment card telling me that I have an appointment on November 10 to be evaluated for Lasik. That appointment is "free." A coupon for $100 off on Lasik surgery is also contained in the packet.

It is possible that my old doc got my name off of a mailing list having nothing to do with his practice records, but this episode does suggest the possibility that 1) doctors are using patient records to form mailing lists targeting potential surgery victims, and/or 2) that regardless of the origin of names on a mailing list, doctors are now willing to risk targeting patients with KNOWN CORNEAL DISEASE for surgery that would be dangerous to these patients.

Yes, if someone attends one of the free evaluations, the doc has a chance to conclude that he/she is not a good Lasik candidate, but huckstering to such patients in the first place, even if accidentally, does not pass the smell or laugh test for medical ethics.

I am not able to check in at the Zone much, these days, but if anyone else here has received such a mailing from a doc who actually knows his/her ophthalmological diagnosis, please feel free to chime in. . .

In meantime, I have notified my former ophthalmologist-turned-"barker" that I intend to investigate the manner in which he acquired my name and address, and the basis on which his office sends mass mailings to a potential patient population that includes many at very high risk for permanent injury through the surgical procedure being "barked."

[Rebecca Petris]

I'm afraid it's become almost common practice to turn patient lists into marketing lists for LASIK.

I receive a similar mailing about every 3 months from a large local ophthalmology practice where I went just once for a retinal examination last year.

[Teri]

Yeah, I pretty much go ballistic when I get an ad in the mail for Lasik, especially when it's from my surgeon.

I got a "Happy Anniversary" card from my surgeon one year after my surgery. He wanted me to refer a friend and that friend would get a discount.

I called his office and asked to be removed from their mailing list. I think my exact words were, "I don't ever want to receive another mailing from you." I was put on hold. When the receptionist came back, she told me that the mailings were handled by a "third-party" and that I needed to write a letter to such-and-such an address. It was the same address you'd write to to be removed from direct mailing lists!

I said, "You sold your patient list to a direct marketing company?"

Isn't that illegal? What of the HIPPA rules I have to sign every time I go to a doctor?