S. Kent Brown, M.D. Anesthesiologist
Havasu Surgery Center
1775 McCulloch Blvd.
Lake Havasu City, AZ. 86403
 
November 12, 2002
 
Barry Cassidy PhD / P.A.C.
Board of Medical Examiners
State of Arizona
9545 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona  85258
 
Re: Dr. Abe Saiz, recent allegations brought before the board.
 
Dear Dr. Cassidy:
 
I have had the honor and the pleasure of working with Dr. Saiz for nearly six years. I still do a few of his minor cases at the surgery center, but previously, l did many of his major cases at the hospital. I have been in private practice since 1985, both in the Phoenix area, and in Lake Havasu City. As an anesthesiologist, I have the opportunity to work with and observe many different surgeons. After a time, it becomes fairly obvious who is good, who is adequate, and who is profoundly talented. Dr. Saiz is one of the best surgeons I have ever known. His surgical talent is extremely rare.
 
Furthermore, he is one of the best physicians I have ever known. He takes very good
care of his patients postoperatively. If he is not in the OR, he is usually in the ICU. He is a very relaxed, confident individual. You won't find him yelling at nurses. In fact, in all the years I have worked with Dr. Saiz, I don't think that I can remember him ever yelling at anyone. What one usually finds Dr. Saiz doing besides working, is teaching. Even during critical emergencies in the middle of the night, Dr. Saiz's soft spoken resolve makes him a true pleasure to work with.
 
His patients love him. To my knowledge, he has no law suites regarding any of these mortalities in question.
 
There is no other surgeon on our medical staff that can do what he does. Not only is he a very accomplished general surgeon, but be does thoracic and vascular work as well. As one female anesthesiologist who has three young children put it to me, "if Dr. Saiz does not get his operating privileges back, I will probably move from this town. Because, if anything were to happen to me or one of my faculty members, there is no one here to take care of us." If we lose Dr. Saiz as a surgeon in this town, the loss will be irreplaceable.
 
Dr. Saiz is Chief of Surgery because he is highly regarded by the medical staff.  Yet, I am sure there are exceptions.
Apparently, one of the allegations brought against Dr. Saiz is that he is operating on people who don't need surgery, or that he is too quick to operate, when more conservative measures have not been all exhausted. I know that 1 do not have all of the information before me that the board has to consider. However, of all the hundreds of cases that I have done with Dr. Saiz, I cannot ever remember seeing a case done by him that was unnecessary. In fact, I don't remember ever seeing him do a negative appendectomy or cholecystectomy.
 
I do remember one case that Dr. Saiz did three years ago. My own father in law was slowly dying of an undiagnosed, walled off abdominal abscess that was associated with a perforated diverticulus. Dr. Saiz saved his life. My father in law is today, once again a vibrant, energetic grandfather who spends most of his energy helping to take care of my three kids. Dr. Saiz was my clear choice of surgeon for any family member.
 
I ask the board to think long and hard before putting Dr. Saiz out of practice. He is a very cherished asset in this community, one that will not be replaced.
 
 
Sincerely,
S. Kent Brown, M.D.

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