New Trend of Healthcare Companies Sending Patients Abroad for Surgery is Dangerous Says James Goldberg Whose Son Died Following Surgery in Thailand

SAN FRANCISCO- Sept. 29 /Xpress Press/ -- Since the death of his only son on Feb. 23, 2006 at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, James Goldberg has attempted to see the killers brought to justice.

"As I followed the story to its roots, I was astounded to see that foreign hospitals have gained legitimacy in the eyes of the American public due in part to rubber stamp approvals from the Joint Commission International," said Jim Goldberg in San Francisco about the death of his 23-year-old son, Joshua.

Following his son's death, Mr. Goldberg lobbied the Senate Finance Committee as a patient advocate. His work with the Health and Human Services Committee and Medicare led to the revocation of all accrediting power of the Joint Commission and its subsidiaries within two years.

Goldberg stated, "I had to endure the proliferation of deceptive information constantly being circulated in the press about the miraculous benefits and cost savings associated with offshore medical care. It was time to put an end to the false information."

In December of 2007, a European television shot a documentary about Goldberg's experiences. The unedited film, with its revelations of corruption and fraud can be seen on Google Video:

Part One:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2541172325991739673

Part Two:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4774600238421011332

Part Three:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8546130908978679014

"Anyone buying into the advantages of overseas surgery needs to understand the financial interests behind what is being sold as the cure to the American healthcare system," said Goldberg. "We need to fix the problem here and not believe magic solutions."

Goldberg feels there is an enormous push inside American insurance companies to send patients overseas for procedures.

"Patients' rights are last on the list. Many of these foreign facilities sell themselves as being the 'best,' but a careful examination of the facts shows that foreign facilities are staffed by inept individuals who overdose patients, and botch procedures causing maiming and death."

"Patients and their loved ones need to know that there is no legal recourse for the injured patient having surgery abroad," stated Goldberg.

Related website: http://www.bumrungraddeath.com

Contact: James Goldberg
415-877-4280
jimgoldberg@optonline.net
http://www.bumrungraddeath.com

Source: James Goldberg, Author, Lobbyist and Biomedical Engineer