Your message is replete with all the catch phrases and assertions of "snake oil salesmen" in many diverse areas, who always see some sort of self-serving conspiracy behind the reticence of well established and proven science and technology to embrace techniques which, though they are invariably quick and dirty, are claimed to not only be as good, but to be far superior to that which is traditionally accepted.
These zealots may be heard with claims such as "cold fusion" is being kept under the rug because the government and the oil energy wants it that way. Expensive human growth hormone injections can be replaced by much cheaper but still highly over-priced so-called human growth hormone progeners. "Male enhancement" and breast enlargement products work. The government is spraying something into the atmosphere to control us . . and other various and sundry nonsensical claims.
I well remember Dr. Prober and attended one of his instructional programs years ago. His devotees were said to be "Proberized." He offered procedures which were workable in an office setting at a time when podiatrists were generally excluded from hospitals, and that's where real surgery was and still is being performed. His procedures were of value in their day for the minimal conditions which they treated. Unfortunately, the speed with which these procedures could be performed and the poor techniques which he advocated were very enticing to the less qualified and less skilled practitioner who saw an easier way to make a quick buck. He was not much for sterility as I recall, banking on the free bleeding these procedures produced to flush out infectious agents. He generated a cult-like following which had at it's roots techniques to "sell" these procedures to as many patients as possible. Little has changed in the sales pitch today, as you can see here. What HAS changed is that those who saw a quick and easy buck from these procedures intended for minimal problems have now attempted to move into areas of surgery where they are clearly over their heads, but resolutely refuse to admit it. It's like the administration saying over and over again, "Things are going swimmingly in Iraq." The technique here is to stay on point until somehow they've convinced themselves as well as unsuspecting others with innuendo, overstated claims and frank mis-representation.
There has and there always will be the claims among these fringe practitioners that those who resist their ways do so because they fear that their own prestige and livelihood will be yanked from them, "If only the public were allowed to know the truth." say these present-day cultists. I've heard it all for years and years and the basic mantra never changes. It's always some sort of conspiracy by the powers that be who are withholding from the public the panacea that is available because they are eiter ignorant of it, or they fear being replace by it, or they don't understand it, or they're not good enough to do it . . . or ALL of the above.
To my knowledge, the Academy of Ambulatory Foot Surgery (AAFAS ), which Dr. Ozer references as a Board Certifying group does not offer Board Certification as he alleges. From information on the organization's web site it states that one can become a member on-line and that in order to become an Associate in the group the applicant is given 2 years to submit EIGHT WHOLE CASES.
Actual Board Certification in Foot and Ankle Surgery in Podiatry is the responsibility the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS). which is recognized by the Joint Committee on the Recognition of Specialty Boards of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education under the authority of the American Podiatric Medical Association as the specialty board to conduct a certification process in podiatric surgery.
I can tell you from personal experience that Board Certification by the ABPS is a through and exhaustive process. and by no means does everyone, including me pass it the first time. ABPS certification indicates that the podiatrist has completed a credentialing process including required postdoctoral education, at least four years of postdoctoral clinical experience, approval of documented surgeries on all areas of the foot and ankle, and successful completion of written and oral examinations. It was difficult, but well worth it for me.
Whether it's the snake oil salesman of the old west, replete with his medicine show or the "doctor" who claims to have the "golden painless scalpel" the more things change, the more they stay the same.
It's your body, folks . . . Let it be invaded only after you know the facts.
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