November 14, 2002
Today's News-Herald
2225 West Acoma
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
To the Editor:
After reading the article in the paper about Dr. Saiz being viewed as "immediate threat to the public" we felt compelled to respond.
We are the ICU staff of Lake Havasu Regional Medical Center and have cared for Dr. Saiz's patients on numerous occasions throughout the years. He is, without a doubt, a highly skilled surgeon whom has never given "below standard of care" to anyone.
For those of you not familiar with the medical field, at times the required paper work involved in treating patients is monumental for not only the doctors, but also the nurses. A favorite reminder exists in the hospital community that says, "if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done." This is sad but true. One doctor can devote all his time seeing, teaching and caring for a patient, but little time "writing" about it. Another doctor could "peek" in a patient's room, do poor quality surgical work but write extensive notes about all the care he delivered. Guess which physician "looks" like the better doctor?
Let the public rest assured, Dr. Saiz does not "exercise poor surgical judgment". The majority of the ICU staff would not hesitate to put their lives in his hands in the operating room at any time. I know there are many members of this community who feel the same. Dr. Saiz performs many high-risk surgeries on some extremely ill patients. To be sure, these higher risk surgeries carry a higher rate of complications.
The bottom line is we the community has suffered a great loss because of the actions taken by the Arizona Medical Board. When the news about Dr. Saiz spread throughout the hospital, we were left with feelings of shock, anger and despair. We can only think Dr. Saiz must have made a powerful enemy somewhere for such a vicious attack on his reputation to take place. Some person or persons have gone to great lengths to try to destroy his reputation.
Speaking as the staff who has cared for his patients over the years, we can say that Dr. Saiz is not, nor has he ever been "a threat to the public." How sad for all of us. The ICU staff
Submitted by Patricia J. Bialach, RN CCRN
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