Pressed Criminal Charges in the Fiscalia - being threatened - need advice.

Ok this is a rather complicated story but it I really really need advice on what to do.

I ask my American friends and my Colombian friends here on this forum. I have posted before but here I am posting this under a pen name.

It’s a very precarious situation and I would love some input from people on what to do . .

One year ago I was duped doctor pretending to be plastic surgeon.

Turns out he had no idea what he was doing and while I was under general anesthesia he hired another doctor to do the job…so they could split the money. . .

Well this doctor who came into my operation room while I was under general did the wrong surgery and subsequently my face was disfigured pretty badly.

I found out that the doctor I had initially authorized for the surgery was not a real one …..when I came running to his office crying . . .after the bandages had been taken off.

I had huge scars all running all over my face …and I demanded answers. I wanted to know why had he cut my face so badly.My face and eyes were never supposed to be cut!

Well he did not want to take responsibility for it and he introduced me to the “real” doctor the next day . The real doctor was rude and very mean. He would not give me his name either. I then asked the secretary , “What is the name of the man who operated on me …what is his name?”

`She claimed not to know and then said that it began with “R … R algo”. I then proceeded to call every doctor in the yellow pages with the last name R until I found the one that ruined my face. He was very cold and rude to me on the phone and then “Ya sey donde vives y donde estas”I know where you are now and where you live and he slammed the reciever down without saying goodbye. Basically he tried to intimidate me.

` Well I went to the clinic where I was operated on ..to get my medical charts. . . and lo and behold the doctor ….Rito Marino’s ( the doctor who operated on me without my permission) name comes out in my general anesthesia papers as my doctor and not the man I consented to while I was awake.

I also went to the Ministerio de Salud ( health department) and found out the bogus doctor was not a real one and the health department shut down his clinic. . .and is currently investigating him.

I tired to get the doctors to pay for the repair of my face. The muscles under my eyes are completely torn and truncated. My tear duct doesn’t work properly. I even went to Medicina Legal and they have given me an official document stating that I am disfigured. Well the doctor and the bogus found out I was taking action and decided to FORGE my signature . . .on a bogus consent form. They tried to say that I was crazy and forgetful …they even altered my preoperative image with adobe photo shop. Luckily I have tons of video and footage of how my face was before.

I have pressed criminal charges against them for fraud , lesiones personales , and for forging my signature. I have also received numerous threats …they went so far as to call my son’s school . . .and
They also called my 80 year old grandmother in the United States .

The Fiscalia has given them two citations and they don’t show up. The doctor who operated on me without my permission is a member of the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the society has have all of the proof and know about the case.

After I received the threats from Rito Marino …I also emailed the United States Embassy and gave them all the proof and medical, legal papers backing up my charges.

I also further investigated this doctor and he has previous charges of homicide and he is a sanctioned doctor from Tribunal de Etica Medica. He perforated one of his patients legs….and she died on the table.
He operated on her without a signed consent form ( as in my case) and that is why he received sanctioned from the Medical Tribunal.

One gone by and nothing ….they refuse to go to the Fiscalia …and the calls to my parents house in the States continue.

Can anyone please give me any advice ? How do I handle this matter. Two days ago while in vacation in Cartagena I did a mini protest at the Plastic Surgeons Conference ..and was interviewed by RCN. RCN wants to continue the investigation and help me out. I am also planning on going on a TV show called la Noche on R.C.N. with my story.

This man has an evil heart . . .is a criminal …and I want to protect any other possible victims.

Even though the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgeons knows all about this the President denied iknowing anything when he was interviewed by R.C.N. about the case...and thi sman is still allowed to remain a member.

Why do they protect this criminal? How can this man just walk around like it’s no big deal…the fact that he has an orden de captura ( warrant for his arrest ) out for him ? I know this is Colombia …but I have heard there is justice ….and that I am not wasting my time. Am I? Most Colombians tell me that ...that there is justice it just takes a long time. What should I do about all the threats?

I am not scared by them because they are the true cowards…nobody has the right to take advantage of a person while they are under general anesthesia and disfigure them…then forge their signature to make it seem as if that person was ok with it all. He didn’t even do the correct surgery!

I understand that there is crime in Colombia.However most of the crime is for necesity ..the need to eat ...the need to pay rent. The doctor who disfigured me comes from a privileged family and there is no excuse for his behavior. He was not hungry just greedy…and evil. I would have rather been robbed by some poor dude on the street than having to be disfigured for life by this criminal.

It was like going in to have your teeth whitened and waking up with no teeth . . .

They were also so stupid on the forgery that they left out a letter in my name!

Oh and by the way this guy is a dual citizen of the United States ( his father is a resident in NY). He also falsely claims to be a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons …and falsely claims to have gone to Tisch medical school. I contacted them and they said they had no idea who he is.

It's all lies and the Colombian Plastic Surgery Society all knows this. I am also thinking about going to the police in the Untied States. . . About the threats. . . I am just so confused right now.

Any advice input appreciated from the heart.
Thanks in advance!

By adviceplease on Apr 3, 2005, 14:45 in Friendly Talkzone.

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osoperisoso says on Apr 3, 2005, 15:01: Bad Surgery File on his father in the USA if you can find a lawyer that will take it. Put a lien on anything the father owns or any property that the bad man owns. Next time, don't look for bargain surgery. I had my eyes cut for myopia, but I used the Clinica Barequer. There are bargains to be had, but I only have two eyes. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

adviceplease says on Apr 3, 2005, 15:22: Thank you so much osopersoso for you advice. I hear you with the bargain surgery but I was charged quite a lot of money ( even for Colombian standards). I had had such great experiences with doctors here in Colombia before...so I sort of blindly trusted all of them. I also had no idea my eyes were even going to be cut :( It was a very scary ordeal. The guy who came in while I was under is just such a horrible person...dark and evil. He refuses offer a cent for my repair or show up to the Fiscalia for the criminal charges. He didn't even pay the family of the girl that died on the operating table. . .and she left three children. He said that her death was not his fault because she knew the risks. . .when it was he that preforated her vien and caused her death! It makes me so upset that he would even have the nerve to call my son's school :/ . . . ! I have thought about that...about the lein on the property in the United States...but the father is around 80 or 90 years old...and I feel terrible about getting the poor man involved with something his son did.I am more interested in getting the police in the United States involved. So many Colombians are warning me about these threats...saying I should be careful ...but I say I don't want to give up. I think if he knows I have a restraining order put him on there in the states in the city where his father lives and he visits. ..he'll be less likely to do anything. He will loose his medical license all together after this is all done and over... It's so ridiculous ..all he had to do was pay for my repair and I would have let it drop...but no...he wants to play 'el vivo' and try to forge my signature and intimidate me. The consul at the United States Embassy has looked into Rito Marino ..and said that his father is on record for having a visa...and is a legal resident in the United States ( I even have his address) but the consul can find no history or record of Rito Marino ever having asked for a visa ..which leads to the conclusion that he is either a citizen or a legal alien. However all the searching and no social security number ..nada! I have put all the proof of what happened to me on a webage ..when it is finished I would like to share it here. Once again thanks for your input. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Apr 3, 2005, 15:27: You can't possibly be serious ? I have heard of people doing silly things....but this one is about the silliest...if it is true 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 3, 2005, 15:49: If, and a big if If the guy is a US citizen and you are a US citizen, maybe your best recourse is by filing criminal and/or civil charges against him in a US jurisdiction. At the very least they may lead to him being detained next time he travels to the US. Sounds like you're not getting any luck under the Colombian system. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Apr 3, 2005, 22:16: Without going into details, there is a way that people who have been wronged in Colombia get justice. It's a lot cheaper than the methods that you have been trying. In fact I'm surprised the doctor hasn't had an "accident" before this. Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

arturo says on Apr 4, 2005, 05:19: i agree with utopia, i'm sure your surgeon will be eager to learn new technics...what about teaching him chainsaw surgery? http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~coeprodv/Chainsaw.jpg 0 funny, 0 helpful.

greenday says on Apr 4, 2005, 06:27: no way There is no way you can file against the property or assets of his father here in the United States. That is absurd!!! Just another reason why you shouldn't seek advice from people blindly on the internet. Get a lawyer if you're serious about taking action. Of course, he will probably rip you off too!! 0 funny, 0 helpful.

marco says on Apr 4, 2005, 09:46: intimidation... Intimidation works both ways... Let the doctor know is a subtle way that he should ALWAYS watch out for 2 Colombianos on a motorcycle... 0 funny, 0 helpful.

william_andrew_channell says on Apr 4, 2005, 10:18: I agree with Utopia, Arturo and Marco. But, don't kill the guys, just screw up their faces permenantly. Let them suffer the same thing that you've had to go through. Or better yet, screw up the faces of everyone that they love (wife, kids, parents, siblings). That should give them a lot of work fixing their loved-ones' faces. Then, after they fix their faces, kill them, cut the skin from their faces and send their faces to them in the mail, all except for one. Save his wife's face, and after he has suffered for a while, when he has almost forgotten his grief, kidnap him, lock him in a basement and force him to wear the face of his wife as a mask. If you want you can even sew his wife's face onto his face and go dump him in some alley late at night. Or you could cut out his eyes and tongue, pierce his eardrums and sever his hands and feet. Imagine how it must be to lose all of the body parts that connect you to the outside world. That'll teach the bastard. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Apr 4, 2005, 10:19: Ivé been offered several times by people that "if you have a problem, we have solutions". I don´t hink they were talking about my backed-up toilet. go and hang out in tuluá. "If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor 0 funny, 0 helpful.

william_andrew_channell says on Apr 4, 2005, 10:21: They say that some of those "solutions" guys hang out in San Victorino, too. Just ask around and you'll find them. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

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